Baxter Pointe Villa - kitchen

by brae  

Half of the first floor of Baxter Pointe Villa is dedicated to an efficiency kitchen.

I added 2 1/8" to the depth of this addition, which gave me a lot more space to work with in the end.  With the addition's window wall flush with the main house front wall, I was able to open up the space between the living room and the kitchen.  I padded the wall separating the two rooms with 1/8" plywood to aid in supporting the ceiling and to give a little more thickness to the walls surrounding the opening.  It wouldn't have looked realistic to have a tiny wall separating the two rooms.

I used Houseworks cabinet kits that were partially assembled but unfinished.  I tried to build one of these cabinets from kit pieces once before without much success.  This was before I had any mini furniture assembling experience, so I might be able to put them together now...but time was short for all the things I wanted to do for the Spring Fling build.  So, I compromised and bought them partially assembled to save time.  These are painted basic white and finished with Delta Ceramcoat Satin Varnish which warmed up the white quite a bit.  I used the brass knobs that came with the kits, but I spray painted them flat black.

I cut the bases off the cabinets since they were going to be too tall with the added countertop to sit under the window trim.  I added a new base from 1/16" thick balsa wood to raise them back up just a bit.

Instead of using a hidden corner unit to connect the sink and side cabinet, I just glued a dowel to hold them together.

To support the countertop in the corner, I added a "post" made from corner trim.

The counter top was made from 1/16" thick bass wood painted to look like stone using a similar method to the one I used in the Newport kitchen.  I started with a cardboard template to check for fit and then used those pieces as patterns for the bass wood.

I primed it with Folk Art's Tapioca and then just spattered a bunch of paint all over it.

I set it aside until almost completely dry and then dabbed it with a paper towel to take away any huge clumps.  I covered the pieces with wax paper and pressed it under magazines overnight.  The next day, I sanded the surface smooth.  I brushed on a thin layer of Delta Ceramcoat Satin Varnish, which I rubbed around with my fingers until I achieved a slight luster resembling stone.  Here is the counter in place before I made the sink.  The sunflowers were made from a Bonnie Lavish kit.

In the above photo, you can see where I added interior mullions to match the laser cut ones of the exterior wall.  This helps keep the acetate window film flat and just looks more realistic, in my opinion.  :]

The range hood is from the same Houseworks line, but I installed a NovaLyte LED fixture under it...also like the Newport range hood.  I accidentally bought a daylight one instead of warm white but I still like it.  The Houseworks range top was plain metal that I spray painted gloss black.  The fish trivet is from The Dolls House Mall.

The sink was made in a similar fashion as the one in the Newport kitchen, minus the last step of spraying it with Krylon gloss white.  Time will tell if I need to spray it due to yellowing of the Triple Thick Gloss Glaze (yes, it says non-yellowing...riiiiiiiight).  ;]

The faucet is by ELF Miniatures.  I offset it from the sink for two reasons.  I was unable to center the sink with the windows so I figured a centered faucet would make this more obvious (I've seen this in real life houses as well).  Second, it would have been a tight fit to get the faucet between the sink and the window behind the sink.

Rounding out the appliances is the Meile half fridge (love mini Meile appliances - so realistic).  Though there was probably room for a full size refrigerator next to the range, I opted for this smaller unit.  I also omitted a full oven.  This is a luxury vacation villa...you don't need an oven or a huge refrigerator!  :]

After coming up with the best layout possible for the kitchen and padding the dividing wall between the kitchen and the living room, there was still extra space between the fridge and the sink unit.  To bridge that gap, I installed a built-in wine rack (shown here before countertop installation).  :D

I built a breakfast counter and stools to sit in front of the room-divider aquarium.  The flowers were from Bonnie Lavish kits.  The metal bud vase is from Manor House Minis.  The apples are by Pat Richmond.

The breakfast bar is made from a scrap leftover from the kit and the two front eave brackets from the main house.  The scrap piece was the exact length I need, but I had to cut down the brackets just a bit.

What I like most about it is the curve.  In real life, you'd likely curve a counter instead of leaving a blunt edge for people to bump into through the doorway.

The counter stools are modified versions of the side chair pattern found in the book Finishing Touches by Jane Harrop.  I made the front leg pieces 2 1/8" in length and the back leg pieces 3 5/8" in length.  I used wider wood for the upper slats of the seat and waited until the stools were constructed before cutting out the seat pieces.  Good thing, too, since I ended up needing to cut them a bit larger than indicated in the pattern (likely operator error and not an issue with the pattern).  :]

There is a door on the kitchen side of the aquarium soffit that allows access to the tank.  I hardwired the lighting, so it's meant only as a means for the residents to feed the fish!  :D

I installed a NovaLyte can light over the sink.  These require a 3/8" thick board to hold them in place, but I was able to use this light without building up the entire ceiling since I put in a false wall in the bathroom above.  I just added an extra piece of 1/4" thick wood as a stabilizer across the front of the upper floor board.  This also evened out the tiny bit of warping left in that board.

The wallpaper is Natural Linen by Recollections.  I love the texture, but the aquarium divider certainly made wallpapering a challenge.  I made several attempts with drawing paper first and finally ended up with a precise template measured down to 32nds in some areas.  This was also a popular paper so I had a limited amount to work with...I probably would have cut one of the final pieces again had I been able to find more of the paper, but I am happy with it for the most part.


my drawing paper templates

I applied regular drawing paper to the ceiling after priming it with white acrylic paint to achieve a cleaner finish.  Unfortunately, there were some noticeable gaps along the outer wall.  To fix this problem, I added some 1/8" cove molding along the ceiling, leaving the natural wood finish as is.

The flooring started out as Houseworks Southern Pine with 1/4" wide planks.  This is what it looked like before I painted it with an equal mix of Staining Medium by Americana and Payne's Grey paint by Liquitex.  I then finished with two coats of Delta Ceramcoat satin varnish, sanding once between the two coats.  I needed a dark floor to anchor all of the light finishes.

To be honest, the dark flooring I used was a happy accident.  I cut my room pieces and then used the scraps to try out a few different finishes.  It was blueberry but it was the one I liked best of the bunch!  Somehow it just works.  :]

I found the adorable semicircle rug image online but have no idea who makes it or where to buy the real deal.  I printed two of the same on Velour Card Stock by The Crafty PC.  I love this paper!

For artwork, I used two images by Steve Terrill, one of which has very long title: Sunflowers Displayed in Enamelware Pitcher, Willamette Valley, Oregon USA and Window with Sunflowers in Vase.


Some of the accessories I had on hand and don't recall exactly where I got them.  I bought the mini watercan above at the Bishop Show.  The light switchplates throughout the house are actually stickers from miniatures.com.  They photograph wonderfully!  I've had the copper tea kettle for some time, and the trivet under it was also bought at the Bishop Show.  The crocheted sunflower potholder is by Blohm Design.

11 comments

Comment from: cinderellamoments [Visitor]  
your house is amazing! You do such perfect work. Everything is so precise and meticulous. I'm so impressed. hugs, Caroline
07/07/11 @ 10:30
Comment from: Marlene [Visitor]
I hope you do not mind but I have put a link in my blog about your great blog, your work is just stunning
07/08/11 @ 01:16
Comment from: Margriet [Visitor]
This house is so real...I can easily imagine myself walking around in that beautiful kitchen!! Love the paintings and the other sunflower accessoires!!
07/09/11 @ 00:03
Comment from: Ann [Visitor]
Finally was able to read through your latest Baxter posts... I always feel like I learn so much from you! From the aquarium to the fake sand to the counter tops... I really want to build a beach villa now!
07/09/11 @ 03:48
Comment from: brae [Member]
Thank you all so much! Marlene, that was very nice of you. :]
07/09/11 @ 10:05
Comment from: Jollie [Visitor]
I just found your blog and I LOVE the dollhouse you are building and decorating!! Warm hugs from Greece, Jollie
07/10/11 @ 00:46
Comment from: Julie [Visitor]
I so love all your details, that counter is awesome! looks real...and you know, I have, in real life, 2 under counter fridges like that, instead of a huge one due to space LOL
07/10/11 @ 07:47
Comment from: Cecelia [Visitor]
Brae, thank you so much for sharing all these wonderful photos and tips for building. Your creations are outstanding! Love the beach house!!!! so many beautiful items you have made.
07/11/11 @ 15:04
Comment from: Barbara E [Visitor]
I am astounded at how beautiful this looks, like a real kitchen. A kitchen I would love to live in! The counter tops are really great. Great job!
07/21/11 @ 15:37
Comment from: Kathi [Visitor]
Sigh... If only I could make a kitchen as beautiful... I keep coming back for more!
10/13/11 @ 11:04
Comment from: brae [Member]
Thanks so much! :D
10/13/11 @ 11:15


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