Finishing the Attic
Today, I installed the flooring in the attic. It’s much easier to work on the flooring, wallpaper, and dormers with the roof removed, but the chimney could pose a challenge.
You have a few options at this stage. You can choose to install the chimney before or after the flooring, or you can decide to omit it altogether. If you install the chimney first, you'll need to fit the flooring around it and add baseboards at the bottom for a polished appearance. Since the chimney is attached to the roof, you’ll have to work with both the flooring and wallpaper in place. If you choose to install the chimney after laying the flooring, you'll need to cut off its floor tabs since they won't be necessary anymore. You may also need to trim a bit from the top or bottom of the chimney to adjust for the added height of the flooring.
Some people prefer not to have a chimney dominating their attic space. If you feel this way, you can simply remove it from the roof section without affecting the exterior chimney placement. I enjoy having an open attic but appreciate the architectural details of the dollhouse, so I plan to keep the chimney while also replacing the ceiling with a mural instead of leaving it open-beamed.
Finishing the Dormers' Interior
Like with The Beacon Hill Dollhouse, these dormers require considerable work. I recommend covering the ceilings with ceiling paper, sandpaper, or another textured material for a better appearance since gaps are too large to be filled with spackle. If you want to stain your dormers, consider using thin, flexible wood veneer from a craft store. This veneer can be easily cut with scissors for a perfect fit and can bend into an arch. To enhance their look, frame your dormers with strip wood. This will conceal any uneven edges and gaps for a more finished result.
