I took a break from working on the interior of the dollhouse to focus on the front wall, which is the most challenging part. This wall contains all the components, and finishing it with siding can be tricky.
First, I painted and installed the exterior trim on the front wall. I also installed the interior trim for the front door since I needed to complete that step before applying the baseboards in the living room. I painted the front door white on the inside and light brown on the outside. It's important to finish these parts before laminating them together, as the acetate window will be sandwiched between them.
Next, I drew lines for the siding. This step could have been done before installing the trim, but it doesn't make much difference. When I began siding the front wall, I made sure that the siding lines aligned perfectly with the right side wall and around the windows and door, as this is crucial for a cohesive look. In the dollhouse box photo, the bays are painted rather than sided. To prepare them, I sanded them down, filled any gaps with spackle, and painted them. I used masking tape as a guide to ensure that the foundation matched from the front wall to the living room bay, as shown in the box photo.
Once I finished siding and painting, I added other components like window sills, bay roof trims, a stoop roof for the front door, and fascias. I also sanded and installed the front door. It’s essential to install the pane and interior trim for the oval window on the staircase wall before putting in the door; otherwise, it becomes very difficult to do later.
For added architectural detail, I placed round finials on the staircase post caps and added trim along the side of the staircase to separate the railing from the wallpaper. I then added right corner trim to the front wall by making my own L-shaped trim using a basswood strip that matches the thickness of the plywood at 1/8 inch. This way, I ensured that the front edge overlaps for a cleaner appearance when viewing from the front. Finally, a fine-tipped brush is necessary for touching up details and reaching tight spaces.
