Caroline’s Home – A Vintage Treasure in My Collection

 Hello Everyone,

How are you? I hope that your week is  good. As my glorious Summer is coming to an end, I am extremely busy preparing for the kids to go back to school, while preparing for the Dolls House Nederland Show in Arnhem. But it's not all doom and gloom. 

Every now and then, a very special dolls’ house finds its way into my collection; even when I’m not looking for one! Recently, I was lucky enough to acquire a Caroline’s Home dolls’ house from a lovely Maltese couple, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. 

Caroline’s Home was first introduced in 1975 by the British company A. Barton & Co. Known for their dolls’ house furniture, Barton created this charming line in 1:16 scale, which made it slightly smaller than the standard 1:12 collectors’ houses. Later, in the 1985, the Swedish company Lundby continued the production under their name, introducing even more accessories and the famous low-voltage lighting system.

What set Caroline’s Home apart at the time were its thoughtful details: working shutters, printed wallpapers, opening windows, and the possibility of adding electric lighting. These touches made it stand out as both a toy and a collector’s piece.

Older dolls’ houses carry with them a character and history that newer models simply cannot replicate. Their little marks, faded wallpapers, and quirky imperfections are part of their story. For me, renovation is not the game; preservation is. To over-restore would be to erase the very history that makes them so special. 

This particular house hardly needs any work at all. It just needs a touch of care on the windows and then it will be left as it is, a slice of the past perfectly preserved.

To make this house feel alive again, I’ve added some beautiful vintage furniture pieces that suit its period and scale. The 1:16 size has its own charm, and it’s been such a joy to dress the rooms with items that complement its history. Each little chair, table, or lamp adds to the atmosphere, making Caroline’s Home feel warm and inviting once more. I still need to add more furniture and definitely I need to fix the lighting system.

One of the most talked-about features of Caroline’s Home is its nursery wallpaper. Collectors will often smile when they remember the bold prints . In some houses, the nursery was decorated with oversized motifs of animals such as giant chickens and horses!  These quirky designs gave the dolls’ house an unforgettable personality and made it stand out from other models of the time.

Other charming details include:

• Back wall windows, unusual for many dollhouses.

• A distinctive copper strip lighting system (in the Lundby era) which allowed tiny plug-in lamps.

• A scale of 1:16, which meant specially made furniture which is smaller than standard 1:12, but full of character.

Caroline’s Home is more than just a dolls’ house ,  it’s a piece of toy history. From its origins in the Barton workshop in the UK to the hands of collectors like me today, it carries with it decades of stories, play, and memories.

Sometimes, the best treasures are the ones you don’t go looking for… they simply find you. 

I will be sharing more on Caroline's Home once I furnish it and add more details to it. This is all for today, Make sure to keep tuned for the next updates on the ongoing projects and the latest news.

Take Care and See You Soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx