I have completed all the shingling. I chose not to stain the shingles because I couldn't find a color that would complement the overall color scheme. I believe the natural look of the shingles is beautiful, with their varying shades coming together perfectly.
The corners of the roof are tightly fitted, eliminating the need for trim. For any small gaps or incorrectly cut shingles around the dormers, use Minwax Stainable Wood Filler. This brand is essential, as it matches the color of birch veneer shingles perfectly and hides any imperfections seamlessly. Other gaps around the dollhouse can be filled with lightweight spackling compound, which should be sanded and painted over afterward.
I encountered an issue with the roof fascia; it was cut too short in the kit and didn’t fit properly. To resolve this, I made my own fascia using leftover trim of the same thickness. The corner joints will still need spackling and sanding.
I have also finished all the interior trim work, including trimming the back walls. This is important because they will be visible through the windows.
I added trim to the back edges of the floors to ensure they are smooth and straight. Initially, I painted the first-floor ceiling white to match the wallpaper, but I regretted not using stucco like on the second floor. To fix this, I turned the dollhouse upside down and added a white stucco texture to match both floors.
I painted the tops of both the main and porch roofs smoothly, but there are many creative options for these roofs. You can cover them with sandpaper or tin, or apply texture with paint or stucco. Remember, sandpaper can also be painted to fit your color scheme.
The Brimbles Mercantile Dollhouse includes shop furniture, which I plan to start building tomorrow.
