Today, I worked on the fireplaces and the staircase on the second floor.
Second Floor Staircase
The second floor staircase was straightforward, and I completed it in the same manner as the first floor staircase. Since this staircase has no sides, I was able to finish it completely after assembly, even while using two tones.
Fireplaces
For the fireplaces in this dollhouse, I wanted a look that resembled ornate plaster. I started by assembling them without the mantels and hearths. To create raised decorations along the front trim, I used spackle and a stencil.
I placed the stencils where I wanted the designs and pressed spackle into them. After flattening the spackle and lifting the stencil, I was left with a raised design. I find that a fingernail file works well for applying and smoothing the spackle. It also helps clean up any excess that may have seeped out. It's important to let the spackle cure for 24 hours before painting over the designs.
To finish the fireplaces, I used brick-printed paper to cover the backs and create their interiors.
