Today, I finished the interior trim of the dollhouse. As I've mentioned before, real miniature molding can be quite expensive, so I prefer to reserve it for architectural features like staircases or gazebos. For crown molding, baseboards, and general trimming — which I need to do repeatedly on all my dollhouses — I use basswood strips and thin dowels. These materials are relatively inexpensive and easy to work with, eliminating the need for miter cuts. They are especially suitable for tab-and-slot dollhouses, which have unique measurements that don't always accommodate real molding well. Since tab-and-slot dollhouses are more true to scale than others, real molding can often appear too large, particularly in smaller cottages. Additionally, varying angles and heights for windows and doors can complicate the installation.
In this particular dollhouse, the front door nearly touches the ceiling, making it impossible to apply molding above it. Instead, I will need to cut the molding to fit around the door frame and continue on the other side. While this isn't ideal, it's a common challenge with tab-and-slot designs that requires creative solutions.
Trimming is crucial for these dollhouses. While trim may be merely decorative in other types, it significantly enhances the overall appearance of tab-and-slot models. Without proper trim, the dollhouse risks looking unfinished. It transforms a simple plaything into a personalized display case for miniatures, providing both aesthetic appeal and structural support.
I used basswood strips to trim the dormer openings in the attic, which conceals any wallpaper edges that were applied before assembly. Some miter cuts are necessary for this task; I usually eyeball my cuts. For the wall joints in the attic and first-floor ceiling, I used dowels. You can use as much trim as you like; some people even add it along straight wall joints. However, this particular dollhouse didn't require as much trim as I initially thought. I'm pleased with how it looks with what I've used.
I also trimmed the back edges of the walls and floors. This step is essential for achieving a polished finish. While sanding and painting can help, nothing compares to the clean look that trim provides. It can also help straighten any curves or slants in the walls or floors and conceal less attractive areas, such as the top edge of the staircase.
This little dollhouse is almost complete; all that's left is shingling, which I will start tomorrow.
