Shell Assembly
Assemble the dollhouse in a subassembly that will connect to the first floor foundation. The walls can be tricky to hold together, so use masking tape to clamp them as you work and be patient. Only use the walls specified in the instructions, as adding extra walls will interfere with fitting the first floor staircase.
Shell Preparation
Before installing the staircase, prepare the walls that will surround it. You won’t have full access to this area once the staircase is in place. Wallpaper these walls after priming them. If your wallpaper paste bottle is hard to open, turn it upside down and tap it against a hard surface like concrete to break any dried glue around the cap. Do not apply ceiling paper yet, as it will prevent proper installation of the staircase. I also primed the floor since I plan to use a flooring cover. Cut out the doors when the wallpaper is semi-dry. Waiting for it to dry completely can make cutting more difficult and result in rough edges.
Keep In Mind
Allow enough time for the wallpaper to dry thoroughly before installing the staircase. Installing it on damp walls can make the process harder and increase the risk of damaging the wallpaper.
Bashing Options
A reader asked about modifying the foyer/dining room/living room area, and I thought this information would be helpful for others as well. To create a larger dining/living room space, you can remove parts of the middle wall that separates the foyer from the living room. However, do not remove this wall entirely; keep the section that is circled in my diagram but feel free to take out the two sections marked with X's. This will open up the area while still maintaining a separate foyer.
You can also leave the door in the circled wall opening and wallpaper over it, as a door here would not make sense if you are opening up the foyer. Do not remove the circled wall because it supports the second floor and is where the staircase ends.
Finish this wall by adding a trim piece along its back edge.
