Kitchen Part 2 - The Sink
Choosing what style of sink to use took a bit of thought. I had wanted a nice farm house sink with built in cupboards, but I also didn't want to swamp the space with large pieces of furniture. So I opted for a Belfast sink on a frame with a draining board.
This design is by Jane Harrop from her wonderful book '30s and 40s Era Dolls House'; the sink is available in kit form on her website, which I was going to buy, but realised that even I, with my terrible wood cutting skills, could probably have a go at making it with the bits and bobs I have in my craft room.
It turned out ok, better than I expected (the eternal pessimist), and I'm just looking for a plug and plug hole and piping to finish it, and wondering if I should put a fabric skirt around the bottom...
I wanted a good splash back with tiles, and decided to make them out of cereal packet squares glued on to a thin piece of wood, with a picture rail along the top. I then painted the lot in a nice ivory colour, and handpainted little dots of dark blue in each of the corners. I finished it with a coat of triple thick varnish, which gives a lovely deep glaze to the tiles.
The taps were painted bronze, but I think I might gunge them up a bit, and I painted the tops white to imitate enamel, and put a TINY dot of blue on one and red on the other. The little soap dish came from Art of Mini, and I just need to find the tiny weeny bar of soap that Ilona made for me a few years ago....
The draining board was stained with water colour paints, and I left a little bit of gunge in the bottom of the sink - though I'd hate to have that in my RL sink! Perhaps the inhabitants have just finished washing potatoes....
Above the sink went the draining rack, from Viliaminiature on Etsy, painted a nice ivory, and stacked wih various plates I have seemed to gather along the way. Kitchens are great for using up all the little things that you can't quite find a home for in the rest of the house.
A lovely ray of sushine across my new sink...
And showcasing one of my favourite miniatures - a miniscule yet perfect cleaning sponge from Elizabeth at Studio E Miniatures ... Elizabeth very kindly sent me a wonderful little collection of miniature items for a kitchen, and I have been waiting to find a place for them for a while.
The new kitchen at Daviot House is the perfect place, and I'll be showing them to you as we discover the kitchen bit by bit. There is something really lovely about having items in the mini-house that have been given to us by mini-friends... thank you Elizabeth!
Jonquil
super, beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteGIVEAWAY on my blog
Looks so lovely! I especially like the tiles! Very nice work.
ReplyDeleteMe encanta el estilo.
ReplyDeleteHi Jonquil! I think your kitchen is Wonderful! I never would guess your tiles are made from cereal boxes!!! (I need to try that for the tiles around the hearth in the Lovely Old Dollhouse.... one of these days!) I think your sink is just perfect for this room, and I had no idea it was called a Belfast sink as opposed to a Farmhouse sink!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that the tiny things Elizabeth makes are Amazingly perfect, and it is such a treat to have treasures from blogfriends sprinkled through the house! I can't wait to see more of these tiny things in your scenes... you are so good at setting the mood for your rooms!
Just perfection. Your work always looks so lived in - in the nicest possible way! You know there are living breathing 'people' inhabiting this space - they've just popped out for a while. Marilyn
ReplyDeleteOh! Comme il est beau! Propre, lumineux, ancienne cuisine confortable! Cadeaux Belles Elizabeth, il est très réel.
ReplyDeleteО! Как Красиво! Чистая, светлая, уютная старая кухня! Прекрасные подарки Элизабет делают ее очень настоящей.
For a kitchen that "almost never was", it's coming along famously. You're creating real atmosphere already and that's without all it's wee accessories. I'm very impressed with your cereal packet tiles - they do the job perfectly - and we all love cost effective too!
ReplyDeleteHello jonquil,
ReplyDeleteThe kitchen sink is fabulous. You did a great job on the sink itself. It looks very realistic as do the lovely tiles. The plate rack was the perfect choice. I really love it as well as those terrific miniatures from Elizabeth!
Big hug
Giac
I'm always excited when I see that you have posted Jonquil, and now you have done more Wonderful things on your house. Your Belfast sink is PERFECT! I love the depth of it and also the tiny amount of grunge in the corners which is just enough. Your craftsmanship in the construction of it and the drainboard is IMPRESSIVE! I've had a look at the sink kit you've mentioned and your custom sink looks BETTER so I am very glad that you decided to make It as well as the tiles, yourself- BRAVO! :D
ReplyDeleteI hadn't expected to see my kitchen sponge gracing your drain board, but how Marvelous that you have found a place for it in your Daviot kitchen addition; seeing it there makes me smile! :D
elizabeth
You did a great job with the sink and I love the little display you put on the draining board. It's going to be a great kitchen.
ReplyDeleteGeneviève
Loved your site. Thanks for sharing this post. Joseph
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