This week I focused on getting the cork stones and fireplace completed. Unlike the exterior porch posts, I thought keeping the interior fireplace stone more neutral in color and tone would allow me to indulge in more vibrant colors and patterns for the walls and furnishings. The stain, a Minwax cherry stain pen, is also pretty light and neutral for the same reasons. I still need to stain and apply trim to the landing stair, and stain the powder room door. All in good time...
I played around a bit more with shape and size for this cork stone work. It almost has a flagstone feel in addition to stack stone. I had fun with it, in spite of needing to do a thorough vacuuming afterwards! All those nicks and chips in the stones have to go somewhere, and that place was my floor!
After the last stone was hot glued on to the MDF wall, I applied a base coat of Thunder Gray, just to erase the cork color. It's too hard to envision colors onto an already colored palette for me. After that I began to lay on the layers of Honeycomb and glazing medium. After that I applied several washes of Burnt Umber diluted with water to let the paint seep into the crevices to add dimension and shadow.
For the log grate and the surround, I played with an idea in TinkerCad and then 3D printed them with black PLA. The log grate is made with 7 parts and then glued together. It is really nice having the ability to custom make and fit things into your exact space!
The "gas fire" look light bulbs and logs will be installed later, as will the "glass" panel.
Here it is with the chunky wood mantle, stair landing and seat/step stained. I will stain the doors down the road a bit, to allow myself time to change my mind. I may even warm up the cherry stain a bit, too. Right now I am back and forth whether I like it or not.
In it's place, and then the view from the porch window. I forgot to mention the wooden bannister, too.
So the next task is finishing up the second floor layout plans which include making an enclosed, tiled shower for the main bathroom. I need to finish that piece to get exact measurements for wall placement before I can take the kit out of dry fit for wallpaper and wire channels. Here's a sneak peek of the tile, made with scrapbook paper and matboard.
More next week!
xo xo,
Jodi
UPDATE!
My sincere apologies to all of you who commented and that it has taken me so long to read them and respond! My parent's visit has been a wonderful 11 days full of family from everywhere and loads of busy activities, but it's left little to no time for "normal" things. Please bear with me as I catch up! đ
Wow! The fireplace is looking fabulous! And that tile shower is going to be gorgeous! So many !!! about this already.
ReplyDeleteThanks Emjay! I am having so much fun! I wish I could indulge and immerse myself completely, but real life has it's demands. :o(
DeleteJodi that wall is awesome and so pretty.
ReplyDeleteThanks Stephanie! I am excited to see it with the wallpapers, but that may be a bit. Now that Covid is under control, real life has gotten BUSY!!!
DeleteYou are making such good progress. The fireplace will be amazing. And cork! Who would think to use cork. It does replicate flagstone and is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ann! I hope you try the cork - I think you would really enjoy the process!
DeleteThe fireplace and its surroundings are beautiful, Jodi, I love the warm, stylish modern look of it. Oh my, the sneak peek of the tile is just amazing. I truly can't wait to see more fo this project, Jodi!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a lovely weekend!
Hugs, Ilona
Thanks Ilona! I am having so much fun with these ideas! I hope I can get back to find some mini time, soon!
DeleteThe wall looks wonderful. I like the texture you have achieved with the cork. I was intrigued with your process of painting over the cork color so as not to be confused when you add your preferred colors. I like the light wood stain. I can’t wait to see the assembled shower, the tiles will be so cheerful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sherrill! It's probably good to have some time away from my table to look at everything with new eyes. Hopefully, when I get back to it, I'll be certain about what to do!
DeleteVery clever use of cork - never thought it could used that way. I usually use carton egg containers to imitate stone or tiles.
ReplyDeleteThanks Millimari! This was the first project that I used the cork as stone. It was about as simple as egg cartons, but with the ability to get more dimension. I hope you'll have an opportunity to try it!
DeleteFantĂĄstica ¡que perfecciĂłn! queda una habitaciĂłn muy fina para que encajen perfectamente los muebles, estoy impaciente en verla llena. Feliz domingo, besos
ReplyDelete¡Gracias Rosa Maria! Cada vez que mido este espacio me siento incĂłmodo de que pueda haber tanto espacio para trabajar. ¿Puede ser verdad? ¡Seguro espero eso! ¡Lo averiguaremos juntos, pronto espero!
DeleteWow - the fireplace wall looks amazing. How thick is the cork you used? Is it the kind you buy in little rolls or flat sheets? The idea for the shower tiles? Brilliant! So - the strips of scrapbook paper off to the side - are they already glued onto mat board and then cut and placed or are they just the paper which is then applied to the large sheet of mat board where the tiles are already spaced out? Do you just separate the little tiles a wee bit or do you actually cut a tiny bit from the pattern so that, by spacing them, it does not distort the pattern at all?? Sorry for all the questions but enquiring minds want to know! *smile* Bug Hugs, Jodi. Thanks for a great post. - Marilyn D.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marilyn! The cork I used is about 1/8" thick and comes in a pack of two 8.5"x11" sheets on Amazon for around $8:
Deletehttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WMR31ZY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I used it on three porch posts and this fireplace wall and still have at least half a sheet left. I am sure you can find something perfect at the dollar store or Walmart, too.
For the shower's tile walls, I sprayed the scrapbook paper on both sides with matte sealer, then used wallpaper adhesive to adhere it to mat board. Then, I cut strips, then cut the strips into individual tiles. I placed them by hand, and my later tiles definitely came out better than the first ones. Practice makes perfect, but if you aren't hyper critical of yourself it's a lot of fun! I'll share more in depth in my next post.
Me encanta como ha quedado la pared.
ReplyDelete¡Gracias Isabel! ¡Fue un proceso sĂșper divertido! ¡Espero que lo pruebes tĂș mismo!
DeleteWhat a wonderful post! ;O) But now we should take the time to honor a silent, nameless hero always being in the background but at once at your side whenever it's needed: Here's to Jodi's vacuum cleaner!!! Woohoooooo!!! *applause* I'm so glad you sacrificed the tidiness of your floor in honor of the cork producing the most awesome, stunning wall bricks with realistic cracks. This turned out so beautiful and I really love the color shades. But I can also see why you're still undecided with the cherry stain and its reddish tone while the stone wall tends to being yellow-ish (is this even a word to be found in the dictionary??? *LOL*) But I think it's the door being still bare wood that's disturbing the impression at the moment and everything will match perfectly in the end, even more regarding your color scheme which already shows in the tiles you're now making. Yes, I guess all of this will come together very soon... the cherry wood, the wonderful fireplace in the most awesome stone wall and of course a powder room decorated with the most impressive designer tiles behind a beautifully stained door. I am already looking forward to see it - and also to the tile tutorial which you'll have to make after Marilyn has so many questions. *grin* Have fun!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Birgit
Thanks Birgit! I completely agree about the vacuum being the silent hero! I rely on mine a couple times a week, because we are particularly messy around here! I have tried to ignore my floor and table for the sake of just being totally engrossed in a project, but find that when it comes to feeling debris on my feet I am a wimp! I just can't ignore it very long! Luckily, it only takes a few minutes to erase the carnage, then I can get back to making the next big mess! :O)
DeleteThe stones were so fun! I hope you get to try the cork for a project! And the stain will have to be improved after a bit of time to think about what I really want. I'll share the whole tile saga in my next post, though I did give some hints in my reply to Marilyn, above. Have a great week and we'll see you again soon! Hugs!
Wow! That stacked stone wall looks amazing. I'm not sure about the cherry stain or not... sometimes going with a darker wood gives you even more freedom with color, because your walls are able to compete with the tones.
ReplyDeleteThat shower is going to be so pretty! And I love peekaboo type views through windows. They always make the house feel lifesized.
Thanks Sheila! The stone was a lot of fun and I hope you'll get to play with it yourself, soon! I bet you'd really enjoy the process and the results!
DeleteYes - the golden tone of the mantle is what I am really after, so the red in the cherry is bothering me. Maybe just going over all the pieces with golden oak will do it. We'll see!
I am totally on the same page with the peeks in dollhouses! There's just something magic about your brain getting a glimpse and having to wonder about the rest!
Ese muro de piedra es impresionante.
ReplyDeleteMe encanta el diseño !!
¡Gracias Eloisa! Fue muy divertido, y con todos los ejemplos de piedra para inspirarte en Internet, ¡no puedes equivocarte! ¡Espero que lo pruebes tĂș tambiĂ©n!
DeleteI'm always eager to see more when I read your posts. This "cork-stone" wall is incredible. I love the way it surrounds the fireplace. I know you'll choose a perfect color for the door, just cover it with disposable pieces of color-toned paper to see how it could look.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Drora
Thanks Drora! I hope you come across some cork one day, too! I think you could do amazing things and have a lot of fun with it! The color card is a great idea! I'll definitely try it out the next chance I get to play minis!
DeleteMe encanta la pared de piedra. Ha quedado fabulosa y bien rematada.
ReplyDeleteUn saludo
¡Gracias Marian! ¡Fue tan divertido de hacer que sin duda esperarĂ© mĂĄs oportunidades de corcho en el futuro!
DeleteDear Jodi, I sense a sixties vibe in this beach house... stone wall with fireplace insert... bench seating, half open stair wall... kind of takes me back there! LOL! I think it is looking fantastic! And I would never have thought of the cork for stone... is it durable? or does it chip later once it is sealed and painted? I also love the peeks in through windows... just a glimpse of a magical world! The shower tiles are definitely looking MOD and I can't wait to see more! :):) PS Enjoy your reunion with your family... those visits are never quite enough.... and over too soon. But it is great to know everyone is doing well! :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Betsy,Jodi! The stone wall is a throwback to the mid-century style which I grew up with albeit on the poorer end of the spectrum!
DeleteThe corkstone looks absolutely FAB!!! and as Betsy has stated the shower tiles "Definitely MOD"
The high quality of your work continues to set the mini bar higher and higher- Keep it Up! :D
elizabeth
Thanks Betsy! I have to admit that I was open to whatever style emerged from the stone work and it really does have that sixties/seventies vibe happening! I can't promise to stick closely to that look as I already have a lot of the furnishings and décor saved for the project. But maybe it could be a house created during that time and has been updated over the years? Anyway, it will be fun to see where it leads us!
DeleteThanks Elizabeth! The cork stone is definitely a great look for that era of style and I can see a project done with this stone and Sid's (Mad For Mod)amazing furnishings! I think this type of project created with your magic touch could be spectacular! What have you been working on? I miss you!!!
DeleteOh and Betsy... I sprayed matte sealer on the stones once they were finished and they are surprisingly hard. I imagine you could cause damage if you really tried, but they seem as stout as other stone materials. They feel safe and not at any risk of crumbling. I hope you try them!
DeleteI've never tried making stones with cork. Your fireplace wall makes it look very tempting though. After painting it appears realistic and it has a sandy texture. The shower wall is intriguing, can't wait to see how it develops!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to play with them, Megan! They are so nice to work with and a pleasant surprise in the quality and life like appearance even up close. Once painted and sealed with matte sealer, they are rigid and can't be pressed in with applied finger pressure. I feel good about their durability!
DeleteAlso, the cork I used had a smooth surface, but with Kristine's recommendation, I made nicks with my xacto knife, cut the surface with my scissors and sanded them to give them a more natural stone appearance. It was a lot of fun but messy!
DeleteThe fireplace wall is perfect, a masterpiece. The tiles, made with scrapbook paper are original.
ReplyDeleteThanks Faby! It is always so much fun to experiment with new materials and methods!
DeleteI am so excited to see you back working on this house. I can not wait to see the finished product. I love the fire place surround!
ReplyDeleteThanks Evette! I had the shower post pretty well finished before my parents came, so should be able to share it this week. They are on their way back to Arizona so I expect life will get back to normal. Unless a accompany Russ on a job in Camino Island. To be decided...
DeleteEsa pared de piedra te ha quedado absolutamente perfecta, me gusta muchĂsimo! Y el color crea un contraste maravilloso con la chimenea negra, que preciosidad, has hecho un gran trabajo Megan!
ReplyDeleteBesos.
¡Gracias Pilar! ¡Fue muy divertido de hacer y su apoyo me llena de orgullo! ¡Eres mi hĂ©roe de piedra! đ
DeleteHi Jodi,
ReplyDeleteWorking with all that cork must make a messy floor indeed. But oh the result! It really looks very realistic. It is nice to see how so many different functions can be incorporated into such a small space. The stairs, the fireplace, and the door. It looks very natural and has a classic Mid Century Modern feel to it.
Huibrecht
Thanks Huibrecht! It was so much fun thinking about the possibilities of combining so much function into such a small space! Us miniaturists really enjoy that kind of efficiency with so little space to cram ideas into! đ
DeleteI am liking the Mid-Mod vibe, too! I hope I can make the most of it with the other elements already saved for the project! Fingers crossed!
I want to thank you so much for all your posts and instructions on this dollhouse. What an amazing inspiration!!! This is my first (building for my granddaughter). She’s 15 months old right now, so I’ve allowed myself plenty of time. đ I’m gonna need it. Your blog has been extremely helpful in guiding me towards the house I want for her, inside and out. I love your taste in design. Wish me luck!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your lovely comments! I wish you the best of luck, lots of joy and a future full of happy memories with your granddaughter!
DeleteI'm so glad to know that the blog posts are helpful to you! Sharing this passion with fellow miniature enthusiasts is the best part!