How to Build a Modern Wooden Dollhouse

You can recreate the modern architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright by building a modern-style wooden doll house. Modern architecture is characterized by the sharp angles and gravity defying cantilevered rooms of Frank Lloyd Wright. To some, modern architecture is atrocious, but to others it is the essence of mathematical and architectural elegance and the reason for replicating it in a wooden dollhouse. Modern architecture has few soft curves, but it makes efficient use of available space. Use thick, solid floors and ceilings, as well as squared, dark wood columns for the supports between the floors of your modern wooden doll house. Sand, ochre, burnt umber and sage are the most appropriate colors to use with modern architecture.

Things You'll Need

• One 4 feet by 4 feet by 1/2 inch sheet of plywood 2 slabs 32 inch by 48 inch by 1/2 inch pecan wood 2 slabs 32 inch by 32 inch by 1/2 inch pecan wood 24 pecan columns 2 inches by 2 inches by 4 inches Carpenter's glue Clear silicone adhesive Box of 1 inch wood screws Four 1 inch long, 1/4 inch diameter dowel rod pieces Power drill, 1/8 inch drill bit 9 inch piece of threaded rod 1 bag river gravel 1 bag crushed lava rock 4 to 6 small cactus plants 4 to 6 small aloe plants 1 bag sand 1 bag rose mulch 8 to 12 empty tuna cans without lids, pianted silver 10 inch long 1/4 inch diameter jeweler's bit

Instructions

1. Lay first 48 inch by 32 inch by 1/2 inch pecan slab on the 4 feet by 4 feet sheet of plywood. Use a 1/4-inch drill bit to make a 1-inch deep hole at each corner of the pecan slab, into the plywood sheet. Coat dowel rod pieces and the inside of each hole with carpenter's glue. Hammer dowel pieces into each hole and allow glue to dry overnight.

2. Glue 4 pecan columns flush with the corners of the 32 inch by 48 inch pecan slab. Mark a chalk line across the slab width, 16 inches from each long end. Glue 4 more pecan columns in place so that their corners are flush with the outer side of the line and the front and rear edges of the pecan slab.

3. Glue right hand 32 inch by 32 inch pecan slab on right-hand set of columns. Slab should be flush with the inside columns and overhanging the outside set of columns at the left and right ends of the slab by 7 inches. Repeat for left hand set of columns and left hand slab.

4. Measure 7 inches from the outside edge of each 32 inch by 32 inch slab. Mark a chalk line across the board from front of house to backyard side. Glue the second story columns in place, lined up square with the first floor columns.

5. Glue final 32 inch by 48 inch by 1/2 inch pecan slab into place. Use a power drill and a 10 inch long jeweler's bit to drill down through the center point of each of the 2 inch by 2 inch columns, through the floor slabs, from roof of house to bottom. Coat 9-inch threaded rod with 5 minute epoxy and insert through each hole. Allow to set and harden before moving the house.

6. 

   Landscape using river gravel, crushed lava rock, cactus plants and aloe to resemble an Arizona back yard.

Resources

• Doll House Building Tips
• Images of Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture