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Thursday, August 26, 2021

Contemplating Kitchen Styles

It's always a fun decision process for me when it comes to my mini kitchens. I generally begin with deciding what type and period of appliances I want to utilize in order to emphasize the style of the project. Naturally, different builds call for different looks, different methods, different kits and many "made by me" challenges. I have spent a lot of time reflecting throughout the Beachside Bungalow project about what style of kitchen I wanted, and that has lead me to revisiting decisions I made about many of my past kitchens...

A cutsie cottage style kitchen seemed to fit the bill for the Storybook Cottage. Here, I made the cabinets from chipboard and assembled/finished kits for the stove and fridge from Phoenix Models. That was an odyssey to get them assembled and painted. I did it twice! But I truly LOVE the end result. Who wouldn't want pink appliances in their cottage kitchen?!? The sink was a Reuter Porcelain free standing that I took apart and built into the cabinets.



Cutsie was also the style for the Lisa's Country Cottage kits in which the mice, Vera and Virgil, reside. Their ovens and cabinets were created in Design Space and cut with the Cricut Maker. The sinks were created in Tinkercad and printed on my 3D printer. The stovetops were Houseworks kits I had in my stash for years. Here, simplicity was called for, and I wanted kitchens that you'd expect to see if you were reading a bedtime storybook about Vera and Virgil to your grandkids. Seeing these photos makes me excited again to decorate them!

Vera's Kitchen

Virgil's Kitchen

Sometimes it's fun to take a kit and make it your own. I reconfigured a Realife Miniatures Kitchen kit to create a country retro look in the Real Good Toys Barn Bash. I love these types of projects because perfectionism can be put aside for fun and frivolity! The crooked little stools were made from take out chop sticks.


In The Three Pigs build I delved into the Tudor style. Here, an open fire oven and hearth made perfect sense. Indoor plumbing by way of a Chrysnbon sink kit was an added luxury for the time. But who could deny these happy little fellows anything? With The Big Bad Wolf stuffed and hanging above the mantle, they are able to fully enjoy the first peace they've had for a long, long, time! The hearth was my first venture into foam core and egg carton bricks. Making it was so much fun, it added fuel to my mini fire!


There were also a few modern kitchens along the way, like the one in the New Orleans Kit. The cabinets were Elf Miniatures kits I purchased in 2016 for the Beachside Bungalow. When that project kept being put farther back in the queue, I was inspired to use the cabinets here. While I'd love to have a kitchen like this in real life, building this dollhouse kitchen was also a dream come true!



Alki Point was my first venture into 3D designing and printing back in 2015. Back then, I had to design something in Tinkercad, upload it to Shapeways, order and pay for it, wait for shipping and then hope the piece came out great. If not, I had to tweak the design, re-upload, reorder, pay for shipping again and hope the second time was the charm. It was expensive to keep trying until I got it right.... All the white pieces in this kitchen were my first designs, including the sink. I have come a long way since those early days, and am so grateful to have a 3D printer at home now! The design to printed prototype process can be counted in days now instead of weeks!


My latest attempt at a modern style is Natasha's Kitchen. I had kits for the ovens and dishwasher from Elf, but the sink, gas cooktop and wine cooler were my own design and build. I printed the sink and cooktop pieces on the 3D printer, created the cabinets and housing with the Maker, and cut my own aluminum. It was very exciting to know that, if very careful, I can make my own! Natasha and I are still eagerly waiting for our opportunity to set it up with all it's décor. A summer virus has her sidelined, but we're grateful that the Covid test came back negative!


The Sweet Christmas Cottage was meant to be a 40's era confectioners paradise! I combined opened barewood Dollshouse Emporium shelves with a Jane Harrop Sink Kit so that every Christmas themed food and treat could be seen and appreciated. There was even a gingerbread house decoration station with all of the candy decorations in glass jars. This was as whimsical a house as I could come up with, down to the paperclay cookie roofing shingles. The thrill of looking at every tiny thing in this house never wanes. This one still takes me the longest, for all the time I sit and daydream, while dusting.


CannaBliss, done back in 2012-2013, was one of the first mini projects I embarked on after my long hiatus from the hobby. I think I ordered every item from the HBS/miniatures.com catalog for this kitchen! Never one to leave well enough alone, I added wallpaper to the drawers and cabinets, "glass" to the cupboard doors, and painted the appliances with the best silver paint they had at the time. I also covered the countertops in "marble" paper, applying it with Mod Podge. Boy I've come a long way since those early days! Knowing what is possible and not being afraid to try (and fail) is the key! I guess I'd call this style contemporary. This project was dismantled and sold a few years ago to make room for new dreams.


So what am I trying to achieve with the Beachside Bungalow's kitchen? Referring to the broad story for the era and occupant, I see the house in current times. Being built in the 1940's, the house has received small renovations and improvements through the years, but kept it's simple character. I see a kitchen that you'd commonly see in any American neighborhood today. It should be clean and contemporary, simple, not dated but definitely not top of the line. Great meals can be prepared here, but it's not going to make the cover of any design magazine. It's efficient and open to the great room because time with friends is Kairi's top priority in life. She is an artist, after all, and though she inherited the house from her great aunt, she just doesn't have the budget for swanky.

Doing something fresh, new and a little challenging is always an exciting goal for me, too. When I got out the graph paper to begin putting ideas down, here's what I came up with...

Right wall with side by side fridge (old MBS kit in my stash), drawer units, gas stove
with microwave overhead, a combination of closed and open cupboards above.

Island with sink and dishwasher, drawers and under sink cabinet.
Countertop overhang on the opposite side to provide eating surface for meals.

With all of this in mind, I'll be designing the appliances to print 3D, and the cabinets to cut with the Maker. The appliances will be standard white with a few fun details, and the cabinets will be painted. I imagine if you stripped them, there would be several layers of color from over the years. Even though the style is simple, designing the parts and pieces that make up the appliances is going to be a big challenge. It's also a great opportunity for me to dive a bit deeper into my Qidi XOne2's capabilities (and my own).

Sneak peek stove/oven design.

Sneak peek prototype.

This will be a big endeavor with lots to print! With luck, I'll be back next week with progress to report! And hopefully, with some tips to share for those of you considering taking the plunge into the world of 3D printing.

Have an inspired and creative week, my friends!

xo xo,
Jodi

P.S. This week I wanted to share a link to a new blog started by a longtime Blogger mini community member, Marilyn O. (burygardeners). It's called Mini-Epilogue, as this is Marilyn's last mini endeavor. Her most recent big project, Dalton House, was dismantled and sold to become someone else's dream come true. Marilyn kept the furnishings and fixtures from six of her favorite rooms, and will reassemble each of them into room boxes. It's going to be a great adventure, and so apropos for all of us facing the inevitable downsizing of our collections. Just think: If you had to give up 90% of your collection, what would you keep and how would you display it? Marilyn has come up with a great solution!

She's had several blogs over the years, and even had a YouTube channel for a time where she shared her amazing knowledge with the mini community! If you click on her profile, this is the amazing body of work you'll see:


I hope you'll treat yourself to to Marilyn's work, and that you'll Follow Mini-Epilogue!

32 comments:

  1. I love your kitchens. They're always unique and I think the New Orleans house is one of my favorites. Soooo elegant! I'm excited to see the Beach House kitchen come together!

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    1. Thanks Sheila! I think my favorite thing about minis is the ability to try so many different styles, time periods and genres! It must be at the top of your list, too, because you've got so many amazing kitchens in your repertoire!

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  2. You have such a great portfolio--if it can be called that--of work. I especially love the the Storybook with all of its charm and whimsy, but I find myself returing to the New Orleans kitchen for inspiration and instruction for the Manchester. One problem that I mentioned was finding ways to make my houses different in style, especially. I took the approach of a time period or a period style, which I suppose does determine the kitchen. Tasha's kitchen is over the top and showed us just how much better we can do. At this point with the Manchester, I am struggling with the counter top. I certainly admire your 3-d work. The Beach House kitchen will be amazing. Can't wait.

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    1. Thanks Ann! I am so glad you you can find ideas and inspiration for the Manchester in my past projects! Keeping each other creative and creating is what it's all about!

      As for the countertops, think about what era you want the house to be in and what was popular during that time. Then it's easier to begin narrowing down the material, and then the technique. Just don't be afraid to try, and to try several times until you get what you love. It's in that process that we learn so much and become less and less afraid of scrapped experiments.

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  3. Nunca dejas de sorprenderme. Tus proyectos siempre son magníficos !!!!
    No conocía la casa de los tres cerditos, y me ha encantado.

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    1. ¡Gracias Eloisa! ¡Hay tantas ideas para probar! Y si alguien sale inspirado para probar sus propias ideas brillantes, ¡la ola de creatividad sigue recorriendo el mundo y lo convierte en un lugar mejor! ¡Estoy tan feliz de que seas parte de eso conmigo!

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  4. What a great trip down your Kitchen Memory Lane as well as a brief yet delightful introduction to several tiny kitchens which I hadn't met until today!
    Each one is so unique and are filled top to bottom with a sense of time and place and their individual stories.
    I am even more Impressed with your entire body of work, which in my eyes, just keeps getting BETTER AND BETTER!

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    1. Thanks so much, Elizabeth! There is so much to try, and often you start out with one idea and are lead down a completely different path. Isn't it wonderful!

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  5. Hi Jodi, just passing by to say hello! Sorry if I missed leaving comments on some of your posts, I have been really busy with work and overwhelmed by the heat. Certainly a trip around your kitchens has been just what I need it!! I have enjoyed it so much, all your kitchens are gorgeous and just perfect for each project, a source of inspiration. You made me laugh when talked about your beginnings and how you did things and where you are now, I am still there where you were lol! Take care xxx

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    1. Hi Alex! Not to worry! Life is amazingly FULL and I am just happy when I see your name! Are you guys experiencing unusually hot temps, too? We have had some miserable days, and our A/C needs a servicing but they are booked months out! It will be a summer to remember here in the NW US!

      I'm glad you enjoyed your visit and got a chuckle out of my first attempts at kitchens! Me too! And it feels so good to see progress and bravery. But you are way more skilled than you give yourself credit for, and make some of the warmest, full of character and detailed kitchen and I love them all!

      Enjoy the rest of the summer and I hope you make it to the beach on a cooler day!

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  6. It's been a pleasure visiting your kitchens and I loved all of them. Wow, what a long way you have reached from your first one and how fortunate you still have a photo of it.
    As always, I'm looking forward to seeing your new kitchen. BTW,The stove/oven in my r/l kitchen is very similar to the one designed by you in the last photo.)
    Hugs, Drora

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    1. Thanks Drora! I would not trade the excitement I experienced with my first few mini projects for the world! I really enjoy going back to look at photos and reconnecting to that joy. When you gain a little experience, you make better minis, but you lose a little freedom in the creativity, too.

      My mom and dad have white appliances, too! I love to see a nice white kitchen with white appliances, no matter what is fashionable these days! I am really enjoying this style for the Beachside Bungalow and am happy you are here to see it become who it is with me!

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  7. Oh my goodness Jodi, thank you hugely for passing on my name… with all the links too. Incredibly flattered to receive an accolade from you. Your post reflects why I blog. It is lovely to go back through your previous creations now and then and remember the joy and challenges they gave you as you have done here. It is especially necessary for me as I haven't kept a single one of them. No room for them. Also as you said it is rewarding to see the skills you have acquired and perfected over the years and the incremental mini knowledge acquired. I loved your review and thank you again not only for your help but for 'being here'.

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    1. Glad to be the connecting conduit, Marilyn! There is so much greatness to see in your projects and methods!

      I am in total agreement with you about looking back at photos and reexperiencing the challenges and the joy that went into them! We were made to min and that's all there is to it!

      Giving up some projects is easier than the thought of giving up others. When that time comes for me, like you, I will be even more thankful that I have chronicled their becoming!

      I am so happy that we have found each other through this passion, Marilyn, and am happy to be of assistance in any thing or at any time! I'm so excited to follow along with your projects!

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  8. Vistos asi todos juntos pues si que has realizado muchos proyectos de cocina.
    Estoy deseando ver el siguiente proyecto.
    Un saludo.

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    1. ¡Gracias Marian! ¡Todavía hay muchas ideas por explorar y estoy feliz de tenerte conmigo para lograrlas!

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  9. Jodi,ha sido muy agradable viajar a través del tiempo con tus cocinas (alguna no conocía) maravillándome de nuevo con cada estilo, con cada proyecto y certificando, una vez más, la gran capacidad que tienes para diseñar y crear tantas piezas hermosas!
    Sería muy difícil elegir cual de ellas me gusta más y como me gusta soñar despierta, me guardaré cada foto para inspirarme!
    Estoy segura que la nueva cocina en proyecto volverá a encandilarme!!
    Besos.

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    1. ¡Gracias Pilar! Ha sido un privilegio profundizar en cada una de estas ideas y llegar a una conclusión incierta. La creatividad es la vida en nuestra sangre y poder explorar tanto dentro de este pasatiempo ha sido la alegría de mi vida. Sé que puedes identificarte con esto, ¡y estar conectado con espíritus afines como tú es increíble!

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  10. Thank you so much for the encyclopedia of mini kitchens. It is amazing how you can take some boxes and add some details and come up with so many unique kitchens. It all reminds me of when I was preparing to update my real-life kitchen; so many choices.

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    1. Thanks Sherrill! Yes - so many choices just as in real life, and it is exciting to think of all the possibilities! With the ability to use chipboard boxes, the costs stay reasonable enough to indulge the curiosity. I wanted to encourage everyone by showing that you can make them as simple or as complicated as you like - a perfect kitchen for everyone!

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  11. Quite a collection of kitchens! I love Elf miniatures but also your pink fridge and cooker. Thank you for sharing!

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    1. Thanks Millimari! Elf is a treasure to be sure! The pink kitchen is one of my favorites, too!

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  12. Hi Jodi! I love the "review" of your kitchens! You have done such a wonderful job on every one of them! (My kitchens.... slower than a snail I am... The Castle one is "done" and so is The Lovely Old Dollhouse kitchen.... but I think my mini people are still waiting for the food to arrive! LOL!) The Beachside Bungalo kitchen is going to be a lot of fun to watch your talent unfold yet again! I am sure you will enchant me all over again! :):)

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    1. Thanks Betsy! You have to follow where the inspiration leads you, and for me that seems to be kitchens. They are just challenging and rewarding enough to keep me coming back for more! As for the food... I still have found no inspiration to work with polymer clay. Good thing we don't really have to fill all of the cupboards, though Kairi and her crew might appreciate a few snacks around. :O)

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  13. ¡Una buena variedad de cocinas! Son todas preciosas, cada una en su estilo.

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    1. ¡Gracias Isabel! Hay una mini cocina perfecta para todos los corazones. ¡Espero que cada entusiasta encuentre el suyo!

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  14. Your kitchens are one more beautiful than the other. You are a great artist.

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    1. Thanks Faby! I am just super blessed to be able to indulge in making so many different styles!

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  15. What a pleasure taking a walk through all your fabulous kitchens! I think the Storybook Cottage is one of my favorites, but they're each so unique and so appropriate for the houses where they live. All the little details you add make them look so realistic! I am very much looking forward to seeing your latest kitchen creation.

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    1. Thanks Deb! I think the Storybook is my favorite, too, and the one I would want to live in of I could shrink down to mini size! It's just so wonderful to get to try so many styles in so many different dollhouses, and still keep being inspired to try more!

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  16. Oh, what a wonderful post - and even more a wonderful restrospective of your work. I've enjoyed very much to see the amazing kitchens you've built so far! And it's totally amazing how many different styles you have in your repertoire - and in every style whether romantic, whimsical, modern etc. you manage to achieve stunning results. And it was also great to read your explanations what you wanted to achieve and how you managed to do so.

    And now I'm going to enjoy the advantages of being late (VERY late this time *gulp*) and will have a look at the result of your contemplation. ;O)

    Hugs
    Birgit

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    1. Thanks Birgit! You are never late, just saving the best for last. 💗

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