Carpentry in miniature - what to do with a dollhouse?

November 26, 2014 8:28 AM

For reasons I can't possibly explain, I have always wanted to build and decorate a dollhouse. The problem is that I don't actually want a dollhouse. What I'm trying to figure out is whether I could find a good home for one if I do this.

So my question is whether kids actually still play with dollhouses and if a dollhouse is something is something that would have value as a donation. Google reveals some US sites but nothing I could see in Canada.

I really don't want to add more unwanted 'stuff' to the world, and I've spent enough time in the charitable sector to know how frustrating well-intentioned but misguided donations can be, so I really want to know if my dollhouse would be wanted, and who might actually want it. I'm not sure where to start.

I'm in Toronto, if that helps.

posted by scrute to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (21 answers total)

Best answer: You might try looking at homeless or DV shelters with large populations of children. When I had a similar compulsion to restore an old dollhouse, we wound up giving it to a women's/family shelter and they were very appreciative.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 8:38 AM on November 26, 2014 [6 favorites]

There's a Ronald McDonald House in Toronto. I'd start by asking them, and also maybe looking into residential mental health treatment facilities (for kids or adults).

I think elaborate, beautiful dollhouses can be soothing or interesting for some adults, even more than for little kids. For kids, one has to worry about choking on furniture, breaking things, etc.; however, they may be a nice conversation center for adults and kids together, hence my (totally uninformed) ideas above.
posted by amtho at 8:38 AM on November 26, 2014 [1 favorite]

Even though you yourself wouldn't "play" with a dollhouse, if you're actually creating it and all its furnishings yourself you may feel inspired to display it all. Your dollhouse wouldn't be a toy but a beautiful, interesting display of artisanship and art.

And, yes, many kids still play with dollhouses. I think tiny things will always be a source of delight and fascination for kids (and adults).
posted by primate moon at 8:40 AM on November 26, 2014 [2 favorites]

Have you thought about contributing it to a charity auction? There are probably a lot of people who will want it but they will be self-identified. Some of them may be adults who are into crafting though and they may want to redecorate it.
posted by BibiRose at 8:45 AM on November 26, 2014 [6 favorites]

There is a group in Vermont that has done what you're asking about, see here.

It's not as noble, but if you can't find a charitable outlet and still want to do the project there are hobbyists who collect them. You could consult the Minature Enthusiasts of Toronto.

There's also the National Association of Minature Enthusiasts. (And probably a Canadian equivalent that didn't come up as quickly on Google.)
posted by Wretch729 at 8:46 AM on November 26, 2014 [1 favorite]

I gave my old dollhouse to my former after-school care, because they hadn't had one, and I'd been resorting to building houses from stacked-up doll furniture. They were delighted to take it.

Kids definitely still play with dollhouses!
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:54 AM on November 26, 2014

My local library has this amazing dollhouse inside a plexiglass case. It has all sorts of miniature furniture and decorations (which they change seasonally!). Next to it are laminated cards with lists of stuff for the kids to find inside (bird cages, newspaper, basket of eggs, etc etc) like a scavenger hunt. I enjoy it as much as my 4 year old sometimes.
posted by chiababe at 9:00 AM on November 26, 2014 [3 favorites]

Best answer: This is 25 year old anecdata, but when I was a kid my grandfather built me a dollhouse, and it was the Best Thing. I loved playing with it*, and it's still one of my favorite memories from childhood and a thing that will always be important to me.

So if you have a little girl in your life, even if it's a niece or cousin or someone you're not terribly close to, they make fantastic gifts.

If you don't find a specific nonprofit that does this, what about donating it to a children's hospital or even some kind of pediatric physical therapy center or the like?

That reminds me, when I was a kid and had any interaction with therapists/social workers and people of that ilk, there were always lots of cool toys to play with. Do you know someone who works with kids in that capacity?

*Be aware that kids will play with it fairly roughly and on their own terms, of course! I used mine as a sort of second home for my Ewok action figures, when they were sick of hanging out in their treehouse.
posted by Sara C. at 9:02 AM on November 26, 2014 [2 favorites]

Oh, and an addendum: my brothers also loved playing with my dollhouse, so even if all the kids in your life are little boys, it's still worth considering as a gift. Though I think boys probably need some kind of social "permission" to get psyched about a dollhouse. Which is unfortunate, because dollhouses are the best.
posted by Sara C. at 9:03 AM on November 26, 2014

I am going to build a dollhouse bookshelf one of these days - seems like the utilitarian aspect would make it less of a space waster.
posted by davey_darling at 9:31 AM on November 26, 2014

I'm seconding build it and sell it, donating the proceeds to your charities of choice.
I've often played with the idea of commissioning a bespoke model for the joy of it.

(Also in The Big Smoke if that makes a difference.)
posted by whowearsthepants at 9:53 AM on November 26, 2014 [1 favorite]

My old library had a mysterious dollhouse whose people moved and the outside changed to match the weather. It was quite the hit with the under 10 set.
posted by spunweb at 10:36 AM on November 26, 2014

Nth building it, selling it, and donating the proceeds.

There are some real adult dollhouse enthusiasts. I know a lady with grandchildren who is a serious collector and spends more money than many wealthy people do on their thoroughbreds. You might even discover a new hobby + revenue stream!
posted by Punctual at 10:43 AM on November 26, 2014

I love the idea of building it, selling it, and donating the proceeds. If you don't like that, what if you donate it to an auction to sell? We have a lot of charitable auctions for different causes where I live, and I could see this being very popular at one of those.
posted by notjustthefish at 11:55 AM on November 26, 2014

My parents somehow wound up temporarily storing a wonderful dollhouse that someone had donated to their church - the church did some kind of fundraiser with it; I don't remember if it was a raffle or an auction, but I seem to recall that it was a success.

Our local historical society has a dollhouse that is a replica (at least on the outside) of an old house in town; that might be another avenue to consider.
posted by usonian at 12:15 PM on November 26, 2014

Yes, some kids are definitely into dollhouses if given free rein to play with one. My 3 year old gravitates toward them, so we're planning on getting one for Christmas this year.
posted by stowaway at 12:31 PM on November 26, 2014

I desperately wanted one as a child (specifically a beautiful, detailed handmade one, not a plastic pink Barbie one) and I would have been thrilled to get one 1) as a gift from a relative or 2) a Christmas gift from the Salvation Army, because our family was signed up for these "donation" gifts (where a family volunteered to put together gifts for another less fortunate family, sometimes based on a list of suggestions). If you did this kind of charitable Christmas giving, at least here I think you're allowed to give whatever you want, and a handmade dollhouse would be perfect.
posted by stoneandstar at 1:23 PM on November 26, 2014

Best answer: There's at least one 6 year old girl in Toronto who loves and plays with dollhouses (my daughter).

I'll repeat the suggestion of donating it to a charity auction for a cause you support. You'd be surprised what people pay for these.

Have you visited The LIttle Dollhouse Company on Mt Pleasant? We've been considering starting with one of their kits and building a dollhouse for/with my daughter.
posted by samhyland at 1:52 PM on November 26, 2014 [1 favorite]

My wife went to one of the Minature Enthusiasts of Toronto's shows and picked up some items (we don't have any dollhouse yet, but I have the feeling that may change soon). If you feel like this may be a hobby then selling items at shows may he a way to get rid of them once they are made.

Worst case scenario you could put it on Kijiji if no one you know wants it, but I'm sure that if you do a half-way decent job someone will take it.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 1:53 PM on November 26, 2014 [1 favorite]

Put an ad on craigslist, maybe there's a therapist who'd want specific attributes, or a person with money who'd want a design similar to their home. You can still donate money if it's a commission. I looked on ebay; there are kits, but few completed doll houses.

My aunt made a dollhouse and furnished it, and her granddaughter adored it. Satisfying project all around.
posted by theora55 at 11:05 PM on November 26, 2014

If it is built to work best for 11.5 inch dolls, like monster high or barbie, it would be more likely to be played with as that is a really popular doll height
posted by NorthernAutumn at 9:32 PM on November 27, 2014