Inspecting The Chantry Manor and a Hidden Discovery

 Hello Everyone,

Welcome back to the workshop for another exciting update on our newest arrival! Since introducing The Chantry Manor to you all, I have spent a lot of time carefully inspecting every single corner of this beautiful vintage build.

 

My main goal right now is to plan out the restoration process. I want to be very clear that my intention is purely to restore the dollhouse, not to renovate or change its original character. I would love to keep it exactly as it is to honour the original builder. It definitely needs a very good clean up, and I spotted a few errant paint marks on the roof that will need some gentle attention, but overall the bones of the house are absolutely fantastic.

 

Another testament to the incredible craftsmanship is the windows. I was absolutely thrilled to discover that all the window panes are made of real glass! It is such a beautiful and delicate feature to find perfectly intact on an older piece, and it adds a wonderful sense of realism to the exterior.

 When I first started examining the outside, I immediately noticed that both of the chimney stalks appeared to be completely missing. I made a mental note that I would probably have to build replicas. However, as I moved my inspection to the interior, I noticed something incredibly interesting. 

Every single room had tiny ceiling bulbs, indicating that the house was fully wired for electricity. Naturally, I started trying to track the source of the wiring to see if the system was still viable.

 My search led me to the top of the house, where, to my absolute delight, I discovered a hidden compartment built right into the roof. 

Inside this secret space, there was a designated area where batteries can be fixed, complete with a switch to turn the lights on. But that was not even the best part. 

To my absolute biggest surprise, tucked away safely inside that hidden roof compartment were both of the missing chimney stalks! I was so incredibly happy to find them there.

 It means I have the original exterior pieces and I will not have to worry about replacing or colour matching new wood.

Moving back down to the rooms, I took a closer look at the décor. I am thrilled to report that the original wallpaper and flooring are all in remarkably good shape. While the retro patterns and shades are certainly not my usual colouring, I am determined to embrace them and make them work perfectly for my vision. The layout itself is what truly captures my heart. I am completely in love with the top floor design. 

The staircase cleverly hides behind the central room, and you can see a beautiful line of sight looking straight through the doorways.

Down in the main hallway, there is a lovely mirror fixed to the back wall which adds so much depth to the space. I did notice one tiny flaw, as a small piece of the stair railing has been knocked off, but that will be a very simple fix during the cleaning process. 

The more time I spend with The Chantry Manor, the more I truly love it. It is full of surprises and character, and I cannot wait to start the delicate process of bringing it back to life!

Here is a short video of part 2 of The Chantry.

So this is all for today. Make sure to keep tuned for next update and latest news.

Take Care and See You Soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx

Introducing The Chantry Manor

Hello Everyone,

How are you all? I hope you are doing well. Welcome back to the workshop for a very special update! Today I have the absolute pleasure of introducing a brand new project to My Miniature World. 

Recently, this beautiful vintage dollhouse was passed down to me from The Catechism Centre right here in Marsaskala. The house was most likely given to them as a donation at some point, and unfortunately, they simply no longer had the room to keep it.

When they realized it needed a new home, they contacted me directly. They expressed a strong desire for the house to remain within the Marsaskala community, and knowing that I operate the only dollhouse museum in Malta, they felt they could not imagine it going to a better place. I am incredibly honoured to welcome it into the collection, especially since I do not actually have any old dollhouses in the museum! This makes it a completely unique and exciting addition to our displays.

Finding the right name for such a special piece is an important first step. I decided to name this wonderful house The Chantry Manor. The word chantry refers to a building, chapel, or endowment dedicated to religious and community purposes. Choosing this name is my way of honouring the fact that it came to me from The Catechism Centre.

I have to say, I am completely blown away by the craftsmanship. Whoever built this knew exactly how to construct a sturdy, beautiful dollhouse.

Looking at the exterior, the manor is a beautiful solid wood construction featuring a natural wood grain finish, a wide pitched roof, and a wonderfully symmetrical façade with multiple paned windows. The architecture has a very distinct British influence. This does not surprise me at all, considering Malta spent over a century as a British colony. Especially around the time of World War II, we had a large number of Royal Navy officers and British families living on the island, and those architectural tastes clearly is visible in this dollshouse.

The front panels of the house swing open like grand doors to reveal a fantastic interior layout. The centre of the home features a beautiful main hallway complete with a wooden staircase leading up to the second floor. Surrounding this central hall are five spacious rooms, some of which still feature vintage floral wallpaper.

Having a hallway and five full rooms gives me an incredible canvas to work with. I am already brainstorming how to restore these spaces while respecting the vintage charm of the original build. I absolutely cannot wait to share more of this restoration journey with you all as I bring The Chantry Manor back to its full glory!

Here is a short video too

This is all for today. I hope you'll like it and follow the journey with me. Make sure to keep tuned for the next update and latest news. 

Take Care and See You Soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx

The Disney Dolls House Exterior is Complete

Hello Everyone.

Welcome back to the workshop for a very special update! After a few years of incredible patience and careful crafting, I am absolutely thrilled to finally share the completed exterior of my Disney Dolls House. Building this miniature masterpiece has been a true test of endurance, but seeing it fully assembled makes every single moment worth it.

Because this build was a part work collection, I had to wait patiently for all the individual magazine issues to arrive before I could truly make significant progress. On top of the waiting game, this particular dolls house has a permanent home in my summer quarters. That meant I only allowed myself to work on it during the summer months. It became a beautiful seasonal tradition, adding piece by piece while enjoying the warm Maltese summer weather, but it certainly stretched the timeline!

Now that the exterior is fully complete, the results are simply enchanting. The architecture captures that quintessential whimsical Disney charm perfectly. The vibrant yellow siding provides a cheerfully bright base, which is perfectly offset by the striking teal and blue trim surrounding the large, elegant windows.

A sweeping view of the completed exterior featuring the incredible turret and the delicate white roof cresting.

One of my absolute favourite features has to be the roof. The intricate, scalloped tiles in varying shades of pink and red give the house a truly magical storybook quality. Capping off the left side is a stunning, towering turret that draws the eye upward to the delicate white metal cresting running along the main roofline.

The ground floor features a welcoming front porch with beautifully detailed white railings and steps, leading up to a charming double front door inset with pink panels. The entire structure sits on a beautifully patterned cobblestone style base, anchoring the vibrant colours of the house.

A closer look at the beautiful porch details and the bay windows that bring so much character to the ground floor.

Taking a step back and looking at the finished exterior, I am so incredibly proud of the dedication it took to see this through. It stands as a proud new addition to My Miniature World. 

I can't wait to share with you the interior of the house. So this is all for today. Make sure to stay tuned for the latest news and updates.

Take Care and See You Soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx