Finishing the Dormers' Exterior
This time, I chose a different approach to finish my dormers. I wanted to add detail to the walls without using siding. Many dollhouse builders prefer shingles for bays, dormers, or other architectural features, but one-inch scale shingles can appear too large or clash with shingled roofs. A better option is to use half-scale or quarter-scale shingles on a one-inch scale dollhouse.
I had quarter-scale shingle strips on hand, which were the perfect size for my dormers. They are small enough that they don't resemble roof shingles, and half-scale shingles would work similarly. Since I covered the dormers, they required corner trim. I made this using strip wood and also added thinner strip wood along the joints between the dormer's front wall and roof. The gap was too wide to fill with spackle alone, and even with gingerbread trim on the roof, the gap would still be visible from below.
With the walls of the dormers covered, the shingles will be visible through the top opening of the exterior window trim. To address this, I used a small piece of thin cardboard to cover the opening. This way, when I install the window trim, the shingles won't be seen through the decorative hole. As with all other windows in the dollhouse, it's important to use spackle to fill the gap between the wall and exterior window trim before adding the interior window trim. This gap occurs because the exterior trim is placed over shingles. Properly finishing this edge requires spackling, sanding, and painting.
I created wooden window mullions from square dowels that match the size of the silk-screened ones. I applied these wooden mullions over the painted ones for both the interior and exterior of the windows, similar to what I did for the living room French window. The interior mullions should be added before installing the window, while the exterior ones go on afterward. Although it can be challenging, it's worthwhile because wooden mullions add realism and depth to the windows.
For the dormer window, I made ironwork using leftover pieces from a widow's walk. To give it a unique look, I cut it in half and glued it over the exterior window trim. Finally, I created a flower box from strip wood for the dormer window. Adding these details really enhances an otherwise plain dormer and makes it stand out.
