Monday, February 2, 2015

It's a small world – unless you're the dolls staying in one of the 43 rooms of this stunning 1920s replica hotel: Dollhouses in the News

Creator, a former software developer, has no formal training in making dolls' houses

  • Miniature marvel weighing 60st has everything from a wood-panelled bar, to revolving doors and a boiler room
With its intricate detail, beautiful craftsmanship and 43 rooms, the owner of this 1920s replica dolls hotel will undoubtedly be the envy of other collectors.

The miniature marvel is the handiwork of talented Tim Hartnell, a dolls house maker who has spent seven months creating the glitzy masterpiece

The 56-year-old took seven months to complete the work for a delighted American private collector in Texas.

Miniature marvel: As normal dollhouse electrics could not support the massive wattage needed for the complex lighting scheme, Mr Hartnell had to use mainstream components to light up the masterpiece
Miniature marvel: As normal dollhouse electrics could not support the massive wattage needed for the complex lighting scheme, Mr Hartnell had to use mainstream components to light up the masterpiece

The former computer software developer quit the rat race in 2008 to chase his dream and make bespoke dolls houses.
Mr Hartnell, of Soham, Cambridgeshire, said: 'I really love what I do now and I've never looked back for a minute.'

TIM SAID HIS BREATHTAKING HOTEL WAS INSPIRED BY THE GRAND HOTELS OF THE 1920S SUCH AS THE RITZ AND THE HOTEL DE LOUVRE, IN PARIS.

It's a phenomenal feat of design and creativity on a small but beautiful scale, measuring 6ft wide by 48' deep and 8ft 6' high.

Every 12th scale guest requirement is catered for as the hotel features a wood panelled bar, restaurant, ladies powder room, shops, a wine cellar, luggage store, pantry, laundry and boiler room.

Can we stay there? The hotel has it's own wood pannelled bar, shops, restaurant and ladies powder room
Can we stay there? The hotel has its own wood panelled bar, shops, restaurant and ladies powder room
Fancy: The creator spent seven months completing his brilliant 43-room masterpiece and says he has learned a lot about engineering - despite having no formal training in the miniature craft
Fancy: The creator spent seven months completing his brilliant 43-room masterpiece and says he has learned a lot about engineering - despite having no formal training in the miniature craft
The grand building boasts six floors with five staircases and each of the 80 windows has been specially hand-made to get the big panes and for the glazing in the revolving entrance door.
Incredibly, Tim has only been making dolls houses full time for four years and has no formal training except for advice given to him as a youngster by his uncle, a top cabinet maker.
'I've learnt a huge amount about engineering something of this complexity as the project has evolved,' he admitted.
'I've also been overwhelmed by the help and kindness of fellow miniaturists who have advised and assisted me on specialist areas of the build.'
Each bedroom is themed and fully decorated - from an impossibly opulent Louis XIV room with gilt details and vaulted ceiling to a Georgian room and panelled oak Tudor room.
The commercial kitchen features quarry tiles on the floor and typical kitchen doors with round porthole windows leading to hotel staff stairs and service corridors which span to the 6th floor.
The majestic entrance to the hotel has a canopy, working revolving door and an elevator, which was very typical for a post-war hotel of the Roaring Twenties.
Spotless: The carefully crafted design brings the roaring twenties back to life (in a very small version)
Spotless: The carefully crafted design brings the roaring twenties back to life (in a very small version)
The foyer is elegantly tiled in a chequerboard style and a luscious marble staircase, with glorious wrought iron balustrade, spirals gracefully to the mezzanine floor and doors to the giant ballroom.
The ballroom itself showcases a minstrel's gallery and fabulous plaster mouldings.
The hotel has been fully decorated and fitted with lighting throughout.
That was an achievement itself as any cabling and circuits needed to run seamlessly and discreetly within the 11-piece structure of the building.
As the hotel is so large, normal dollhouse electrics could not support the massive wattage needed for the complex lighting scheme.
'So mainstream commercial components have been used to feed the tiny room circuits,' said Tim.
He has installed 70 electric sockets and over 200 metres of cable with 42 switches to control the lights in each of the rooms and the chandelier lights in the ballroom have 36 tiny bulbs.
Tim established Anglia Dolls Houses in 2008.
He specialises in hand-making 1/12th scale Georgian and Regency dolls houses which he exhibits at doll house and miniatures events across the UK.
His tiny but perfectly-formed works of art cost from £1,850 up to £8,500.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2189623/Its-small-world--unless-youre-dolls-staying-43-rooms-stunning-60-stone-1920s-replica-hotel.html#ixzz3OuuAXmuv
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11 comments:

  1. Hello from Spain: I love this house. Awesome home ... pretty pictures. Keep in touch

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    1. Thanks Marta! It is such a lovely house. I'd have fun furnishing it.

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  2. Beautiful! I would love to see the rest of it!

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    1. So would I. I wonder if more pictures will be put online soon.

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  3. Replies
    1. Wouldn't you love to have it? Or a talented dollhouse builder to make a smaller version for you? I'd need a bigger house for this one.

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  4. Hello Shale,
    It is a masterpiece. thank you for the pictures.
    Big hug,
    Giac

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    1. Thanks Giac! It reminds me a little of your beautiful house.

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  5. My dolls can't afford the room rates? Any mirrored ceilings??? CM

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    1. Ha ha ha. And a jacuzzi tub instead of a hot tub... then it would be our kind of place.

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  6. Unreal, simply unreal......:)
    All the best
    Vivian

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