You should always assemble, paint, wallpaper, and trim your dormers away from the dollhouse whenever possible. Once the dollhouse is finished, it’s hard to reach inside them. Being able to turn the dormer in different directions makes it much easier to finish. I painted the ceilings of this dormer, but sometimes sandpaper ceilings work well too. Start by shingling the roof panel where the dormer will go, then glue on the dormer. This creates cleaner joints between the roof and the dormer, reducing the need for wood filler.
I assembled and painted the chimney before installing it. You can cover the chimney with brick or stone prints or use real mortar and bricks.
I finished shingling the dollhouse. The roofs are easy to shingle because there are no difficult angles, except for the area with the chimney. I made a template to fit around the chimney, which worked well. Using templates for shingling is very effective. I chose to use varnish on the shingles and left them their natural color, just like in the box photo.
I installed the dormer and then added the top roof trim. Remember to paint all parts before assembly. To make touch-ups easier later, use masking tape along the bottom edge of the installed trim to protect your shingles while painting. When you remove the tape, your shingles will be safe, and you’ll have a neat line of paint on your trim edges. I used stainable wood filler in several areas around the roof; it closely matches the color of the shingles. I didn’t use the shingles that came with the dollhouse because they were square and came in sheets that would have needed separating. Instead, I used some loose octagon-shaped shingles I had on hand, which I preferred for this style of dollhouse.
The entire interior of the dollhouse needs trimming for a clean look. I used balsa wood strips along the floors and dowels along the ceilings. The attic required the most work since I had to trim around the entire opening for the dormer on both side and front walls. I added small wood caps where the trims meet for extra architectural interest. Trim not only beautifies the interior but also strengthens every joint. I also trimmed all of the back edges of the walls and floors and added two decorative finials to the gable peak backs.
I added little felt pads along the base to prevent scratches on any surface it rests on. You can find felt pads at stores that sell furniture gliders.
