Wednesday, March 9, 2011

A little building renovation...

When I first joined the miniatures club they were building Victorian shops to be displayed at their next show and I was asked if I'd like to build one too. I said 'yes' and was given the pre-cut pieces of wood to build the shop. One of the ladies from the club helped me with the building and wallpapering - it was a great way to learn the basics.

The bricks were the most tedious part. They're made of sandpaper that I added a little grey paint to before I cut it up into bricks. I can't say I ever want to brick anything again!

I made the upstairs shop a Victorian photography studio called 'Liberty Art Portrait Studio'.

The downstairs was a toyshop called 'Noah's Arkade'.
But that was five years ago...and I've grown tired of looking at these shops and thinking how much better I could do things now that I (almost) know what I'm doing...

So I've been renovating and here's the downstairs shop now.
All shabbied up of course! It's not quite finished yet.
I had to make a new front window which turned out to be quite a challenge - the weather was so humid the glue wouldn't dry.
I love that wallpaper (Roosevelt Rose by MiniGraphics).

The flooring and ceiling are scrapbooking papers.

The newly shabbied brass light.

It's not a toyshop any more...soon I'll show you what it's going to be.
I'm having so much fun with this little renovation!

Mercedes

40 comments:

  1. It looks great...looking forward to seeing what you do with it :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. A new project, what fun! It looked lovely before, love all the toys, and the darling little dollshouses in there, where do you find such an array of tiny goodies ! I need lots of little things for my antique shop, think it will take some time to source and fill that one! So a new shop, hmmmm what will it be! Excited to see! Kate xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nice renovation Mercedes! it is aboslutely charming with these new wall paper and colors inside and outside as well... And now I am really curious to know the next step and for what will be all this... Doei, Claude

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow! What a beautiful renovation. I love your flooring. Did you age that paper or did it already look like that?
    I've such a house too. One that I made about 10 years ago and it's not exactly what I want anymore. Perhaps its time for a renovation too ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love shabby style...so I can´t wait to see your work!!!
    Mini-kiss
    Marina

    ReplyDelete
  6. The renovation is so posh and girly, even just with the wallpapers. I can't wait to see the fully renovated house. I will never get tired of seeing your works. Seeing those small yet beautiful things relieves the little stress I encounter everyday. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  7. your new house so wonderful! It's real city house!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow. That's a LOT of little bricks! All perfect too! Love how you changed the window and added another door. The colors are so pretty. Can't wait to see what this house will be.
    Hugs,
    Kathi

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love Renovations and that is a great little house! I too can't wait to see what you've come up with!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I always admire your courage. You have a lovely little shop and you bash it regardless of hat you have done before. And you make it even prettier! The Roosevelt Rose paper is the same I had in my first dollhouse, I still love it. I truli love the floor as well, fab paper!hugs Rosanna

    ReplyDelete
  11. What will it be??????? I know, but will not tell anybody,lol!

    Know it will be very very nice...can't wait to see more!

    Sabihax

    ReplyDelete
  12. El cambio va a ser importante y más actual, seguiré los progresos que hace ya que me encanta el estilo shabby. Un saludo, Eva

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love the papers you used for the floors and the wall! Can't wait to see what you do next!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love the new look is full of light now.
    Mini regards.ñ

    ReplyDelete
  15. HOLA MERCEDES ¡ me parece uno de tus mejores proyectos, claro está que todos tus trabajos me parecen maravillosos...un saudo ,. y felicidades por todo ,todo tu blog...disfruto mucho cada vez que lo visito ¡¡¡ besos. Angeles.

    ReplyDelete
  16. What an interesting project to follow - I'm looking forward to seeing it progress.

    BTW - we don't have problems with glue drying here - lol

    ReplyDelete
  17. Mercedes, you're so talented when it comes to picking wallpaper. Thank you for sharing where it comes from. I just love the colours of the paper you selected for the floor. Glad to see you're having fun. It's good for the soul. I'm so happy whenever I see you have a new post because your creations bring me so much joy. I often come to your site just to look around and get away from everything. So cute that you had named the shops after your children. I must say I love the dark blue colour scheme you had selected for the camera shop. Looking forward to seeing what comes next.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Mercedes- I am excited to see what this will become! That paper for the floor looks amazing! I've just ordered a gold light fixture that I hope to paint white and shabby like you have done- hope mine turns out half as pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Lovely renovation! I must say I prefer the way it looks now, the colours are great and I love the floor.
    Geneviève

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love it so far Mercedes. The floor paper you picked looks amazing my friend. I agree with Kate it looked awesome before too, Mini hugs~ Kim

    ReplyDelete
  21. How exciting! Can't wait to see what it will be. I love the flooring! =)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I clicked on the photos from the shop before you started the renovation and you did a wonderful job on that too as a beginner :)
    But I love your renovation project much more (more my kind of style too ;) so I am very curious what you will be making of it now.
    I love the wallpaper, it looks more lovely now with the sweet roses :)

    Hugs, Jollie

    ReplyDelete
  23. I was lovely...but I understand about taste/style preferences changing. How fun you are to re-do it! Looking forward to the new one!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I loved the shop how it was, but i think it is going to look more nicer.
    I absolutely looooove the floring. I am also curious what shop it is going to be.
    Hugs
    Maria

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'm loving the transformation. So happy that we are a part of the journey. Can't wait to see more!

    ReplyDelete
  26. ik vind het erg mooi worden ,ik blijf je volgen
    groetjes adrie

    ReplyDelete
  27. How fun to do a renovation! I love the colors and how the different patterns work together. Can't wait to see more!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love what you've done so far, although the original was very nice, too. I love your blog, in general! Everything's so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Looks like a lot of fun, the papers in the ground floor space are super gorgeous :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Me encanta, menudo cambio le estas dando.
    Besos.
    Gema.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Oh you have done a marvelous job of renovating the toy store. I just cant wait to see it done. They have brick kits so easy to do today that my house is made of brick and it was no sweat. You take a stensil, lay it over the wood, slather on the grout that comes with the kit, it drys for a bit and then remove the stensil and there you have the brick. easy peasy...

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love it, it looks great with these wallpaper, lovely colors.
    regards

    Eli

    ReplyDelete
  33. Very impressive and amazing. I love your creations.
    --
    Seattle Real Estate

    ReplyDelete
  34. O yes Mercedes, I remember this shop well and somehow I knew it was only a matter of time you would want to bash it and make something that is more signature you.

    A great job so far!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I liked the toy store but the photostudio I thought a little to dark for my liking but of course quite right for the period it was set in. Now I'm curious how the new interior will turn out.

    Aurora

    ReplyDelete
  36. would you be so kind as to share where the floor and ceiling papers are from and the name if you have it. I know it is a long-shot, but I'd love to find some for a project I am working on!! Thanks so very much. hugs, barb

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your comments!