Make mine mini...

MID-CENTURY MAGIC...

We have to admit that we have become completely obsessed with all things miniature, after featuring a story on US based Maryann Roy and her incredible mid-century modern dollhouse furnishings and dioramas. Make sure you buy yourself a copy of the latest issue to read all about it but while you are waiting for your magazine to arrive, please feast your eyes on just a few of Maryann's mindblowing mid-century modern sets below!

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NO SMALL MATTER...

What would you do if your father makes you an incredible doll’s house and then sells it before you ever really get the chance to play with it? You go and make another one. An exact replica. And start a business that sells dolls house supplies, that’s what you'd do!

We recently caught up with Rosemary Allen, dollhouse enthusiast based in New Zealand and proprietor of Minis4U, who turned the loss of her favourite toy into a successful business and got her doll’s house back at the same time. 

Aside from recreating the incredible Georgian style dollhouse (pictured above) that her father created and sold on before she got to really enjoy it, Rosemary runs Minis4U as a venue where miniaturists can spend time looking at other peoples projects while also learning valuable tips from each other.  She also sells an extensive range of both mass produced and artisan miniatures to those interested in filling doll’s houses they’ve made or bought.  Both International and New Zealand made products are offered, covering mainly the 1:12 scale, 1:24 and 1:48 scale. 

Rosemary says that she loves the work because, while most miniaturists stick with one style, she likes nothing more than to tackle a style or project slightly out of the ordinary. Like Room Boxes. These are exactly what they say they are, recreations in miniature of particular rooms in a house, such as Peter from Dunedin's incredibly detailed garage Room Box below. For more images you can visit the Minis4U website.

Some of the most interesting players in the doll’s house business are miniaturist speculators. These shadowy figures buy a run-down doll’s house on Trade Me, come to Rosemary for help and products with which to improve the property and then flick it on at a profit. The Reserve Bank could not be reached at the time of printing for comment about the contributory effect of this behaviour on the inflated New Zealand doll’s house market.  

With interest in doll’s houses on the rise, Rosemary will happily advise on purchase or creation of your own miniature haven and then the filling of it with all the small pieces that will make it your, or someone else’s memory. Just don’t go and sell it before they’re ready! 

Check out Minis4U online at www.minis4U.co.nz to see some of the amazing pieces she sells. 

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A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY...

We also featured some of the mid-century style miniature designer chairs from Homage in our latest issue (pictured above). We are completely in love with these perfect pint-sized replicas, and while we aren't in a position to own a human scale version at the moment, we can certainly fork out $45 for our dolls to be sitting this pretty!

Do you own a dollshouse or miniatures? Share these with us by commenting below or instagramming a snap of your favourite pieces with the hashtag #miniglorydays