Cassie Bustamante

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Emmy’s Custom Dollhouse Bookcase, AKA The Best Birthday Present Ever

January 16, 2013 by Cassie 63 Comments

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If you have been reading this blog for a while, you may recall last year when I decided to give Emmy my old dollhouse from when I was a kid.  I thought that she was ready, but I think I jumped the gun a bit.  Between her and her friends, the play was just too rough… furniture was breaking, a metal birdcahe was squashed, and the front porch was falling off.  When I saw the porch come off, I decided I had to take it away, but I told her I would save it for when she was a bit older for us to have as a Mommy/daughter project.  She was devastated and I felt horrible.  This happened early in December, so by then all big Christmas presents had been purchased, but I had not known what I would do for her birthday (which is tomorrow), and knew a new dollhouse that she could really play with would be perfect!  I looked online- I knew I wanted a solid wooden one that could handle her and her friends.  I found a few that were OK, but not perfect, and if it was going to be in her room for a long time, and I was going to pay a lot for it, I wanted it to be perfect!!!  I found the adorable Land of Nod dollhouse bookcase which I thought was perfect- aside from the size and colors.

But I loved the idea of a dollhouse bookcase that could be used just as a bookcase when she outgrew playing with her dolls.

Enter my AMAZINGLY talented neighbor who built my headboard, and has also started building amazing salvaged pieces for the barn.  I emailed him just before New Year’s and asked him if he thought he could build it for me with the size I needed.  I also found the plans for it on Ana White’s site, and  shared those with him, and provided him with the dimensions I needed.  I told him no rush, I could just show a picture to Emmy on her birthday.  Well, guess what…. he finished it this past weekend and I picked it up Monday after the kids got on the bus.  I wasn’t going to show you the before because it was just a plain wood house, but then I saw the ugly linoleum, the hello kitty slipper in the background and i couldn’t NOT share it.  Keepin it real!

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I have been painting and Mod podging fun paper on it in secret.   I cannot WAIT to see her face tomorrow when we present it to her!!!!!

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I wanted to use paints I had on hand (to save money).  I painted the exterior with tidewater by sherwin williams.  The white is a semigloss paint i purchased a while back at the Restore.  I wanted semigloss on those ateas as they would get the most play and I wanted the paint to be durable and easily cleaned.  I trimmed the interiors of the doors and windows with an acrylic red paint, and the roof was done in an acrylic black paint.  I had asked Travis not to attach the back so that I could paper it with fun prints.  I cut the paper to size, mod podged it on, and then nailed the backing in place.  I chose colors that worked with the house and would be fun for Emmy.  I wanted a retro fun vibe for her!

On the top floor, there is a vintage fee bohemian paisley paper, and a funky curvy chevron type print.

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Can you see the paper behind the vanity there?  It’s bicycles…. I had to!  And on the right polka dots, which Emmy loves.

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And on the bottom floor, a fun tree print on the left, and one that I selected just for the kitchen….

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How cute is it with the little whisks at the top….

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And measuring cups at the bottom?  Love it!

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You may have noticed some furniure in there, too!  I went through the existing furniture we had on hand and pulled out the pieces that I thought were sturdy and usable.

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You can catch a glimpse of the pained side tables above, and I also painted this adorable dining set that my amazing friend Gwen gave her.  I used old white chalk paint on the table, and provence on the chairs, and distressed and waxed it…. just like big people furniture!

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And I had found this little vanity at a yard sale…. isn’t it sweet with its new paint?

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She will also be receiving much of the furniture for her birthday from friends and relatives.  Sawyer si giving her a set of wooden dolls.

Is it the 17th yet, because I just can’t wait to give this house to her!!!  And if you are local and looking for a dollhouse bookcase, feel free to email me at [email protected] for pricing! Happy Wednesday!

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Comments

  1. Lady Courtney says

    January 16, 2013 at 11:29 am

    That is adorable, and she is going to be sooo happy!!! Well done Mom!!! 🙂 donna

    Reply
  2. Mel Mac says

    January 16, 2013 at 11:31 am

    What a lucky little girl! She is going to love it and one day will be able to give it to her own little girl. I just love that you painted that furniture like you paint grown up furniture.

    Reply
  3. Storywood Designs says

    January 16, 2013 at 11:31 am

    Completely adorable! You can see the love you put into it from the painted and papered rooms to the cutest furniture ever. She is going to love it!

    Reply
  4. Jaime Costiglio says

    January 16, 2013 at 11:34 am

    Cassie you are a wonderful mother. It’s thoughtful gifts like this that require planning, time and patience (and a lot of hard work painting on your part!) that make a young girl’s birthday truly memorable. Love the little pieces, especially distressed and fresh. Hope she has a great day tomorrow and you’ll be feeling over the moon too.

    Reply
  5. Heidi @ Decor & More says

    January 16, 2013 at 12:00 pm

    This is my “happy” for today, Cassie! Your joy just leaps from this post — can’t wait to hear how she reacts!!
    xo heidi

    Reply
  6. [email protected] says

    January 16, 2013 at 12:07 pm

    Love this! I especially love the furniture that looks like the pieces you do! She will be so excited.

    Reply
  7. Terri says

    January 16, 2013 at 12:12 pm

    This is freakin’ adorable! I WISH I was local..my little granddaughter would LOVE this and I would love helping her decorate! That shabby chic kitchen table and chairs is too cute! Great job!

    Reply
  8. The Far Fifty says

    January 16, 2013 at 12:25 pm

    So awesome! I’ve been thinking of doing something similar but for dinosaurs. I love that it stays a bookcase.

    Reply
  9. Jennifer {The Chronicles of Home} says

    January 16, 2013 at 12:28 pm

    It looks AMAZING. Emmy is going to be so thrilled. You must be jumping out of your skin to give it to her!!

    Reply
  10. Susan - Uniquely Yours or Mine says

    January 16, 2013 at 12:41 pm

    I so love the fact you put “wallpaper” in the rooms.. Very cute and I’m sure your little girls will love it for years to come!

    Reply
  11. Julia Konya says

    January 16, 2013 at 1:04 pm

    Oh Cassie, it is beautiful. I love the red detail on the windows and doors. And the painted furniture is so cute! This is truly a special present.

    Reply
  12. Shari @ turnstylevogue.com says

    January 16, 2013 at 1:26 pm

    Wow. What a special gift. You have put so much thought and work into it. The painted furniture makes me laugh – it is just like what we see everyday on our blogs – and your “wallpaper” is awesome. She will love it!

    Reply
  13. Julie @ followyourheartwoodworking says

    January 16, 2013 at 1:32 pm

    She will just LOVE it! I made my daughter a similar one, many years ago (she is now 19) and she spent a lot of hours playing with it.

    Reply
  14. Cathy Wall says

    January 16, 2013 at 1:38 pm

    OMG what a wonderful gift. Every little detail is so well executed and personal and I love that Emmy can use this as a bookcase one day. Hope you’ll share her happy little face upon seeing this on her birthday!

    Reply
  15. Gail Wilson says

    January 16, 2013 at 1:56 pm

    ohh how sweet Cassie! The dollhouse is great, but those touches that only you can do really make it one of a kind! Emmy will LOVE it!
    I love all the papers and colors you chose, especially the kitchen! and the furniture? the distressing? sooo perfect!
    make sure you take video of her receiving it! 🙂
    gail

    Reply
  16. Carmel @ Our Fifth House says

    January 16, 2013 at 2:09 pm

    I can’t wait to see a pic of her face when she sees it for the first time! I LOVE it! So cute!

    Reply
  17. Between Blue and Yellow says

    January 16, 2013 at 2:10 pm

    Really, really cute! Love the little distressed furniture 🙂 She is going to be thrilled.

    Reply
  18. Bliss says

    January 16, 2013 at 2:12 pm

    Awesome awesome awesome!!!! Shabby chic doll house furniture, I want to be a kid again, but first I need to know what’s bad about a Hello Kitty slipper? Seems stylish to me.

    Bliss

    Pinned it too.

    Reply
  19. Karah @ thespacebetweenblog says

    January 16, 2013 at 2:14 pm

    Oh my gosh, I am so excited for her to see it. It really is the best present ever. LOVE the whisks!!

    Reply
  20. Kate O'Leary says

    January 16, 2013 at 2:16 pm

    I love it! I saw something like this in pottery barn a few years ago and thought about it for Bella.

    Reply
  21. Hetty says

    January 16, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    This is super adorable Cassie! love the distressed table and chairs!

    Reply
  22. Lisa @ Shine Your Light says

    January 16, 2013 at 2:25 pm

    OH MY GOSH CASSIE!!! So beautiful!! My 5 year old dream come true….I always wanted a real dollhouse. How cool that it can be a bookcase when the day comes that Emmy doesn’t use it for her dollies anymore. And the construction of it looks amazing – so sturdy and well built! You did well moving to that house….just for the fact that you got such a talented neighbor!

    Reply
  23. Dear Emmeline says

    January 16, 2013 at 2:26 pm

    LOVE it!! Any little girl would be ecstatic to get such a pretty dollhouse. The painted furniture goes great with the colors and I love that curvy chevron paper!

    Reply
  24. Gina at Vintage Junk in My Trunk says

    January 16, 2013 at 2:29 pm

    That is a fabulous bookcase! Love all the papers and furniture too. Much, much, better than any Barbie one.

    Reply
  25. SheilaG @ Plum Doodles says

    January 16, 2013 at 2:42 pm

    I love it- she’s going to be so excited! Ok, you’re going to think I’m crazy, but I’m going to send this link to a friend to show her the dining table and chairs. She’s trying to figure out a color combination for her real dining set, and I’m thinking this will show her a great option! 🙂

    Reply
  26. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. says

    January 16, 2013 at 2:54 pm

    Oh Cassie, what an awesome present! Emmy is going to be sooo thrilled. I love the colors and pretty papers. But seriously, that little painted furniture is just the cutest thing ever! I’ve said it before, Emmy is a lucky little girl to have a mommy who puts so much love into everything she does!

    Reply
  27. buildingthisnest says

    January 16, 2013 at 2:55 pm

    This is so, so sweet!! I really love the “wallpaper” in the kitchen, and those little painted and distressed pieces of furniture made me smile at how cute they are 🙂 What a thoughtful gift for your little girl, something that I’m sure she’ll enjoy for a long time!

    Steph 🙂

    Reply
  28. pam {simple details} says

    January 16, 2013 at 3:08 pm

    May I get on the play date schedule, please!!! Can’t believe you painted that little furniture, oh wait…yes I can!!

    Reply
  29. Angela @ Number Fifty-Three says

    January 16, 2013 at 3:25 pm

    Love it! It is such a great size for play and I love the colors you painted it. Awesome b-day gift!

    Angela

    Reply
  30. Sarah @ Cozy.Cottage.Cute. says

    January 16, 2013 at 3:30 pm

    I pretty much wish that I was a little girl again just so I could play with that adorable doll house. She is going to love it. You are such a sweet mommy to think of such an awesome gift!

    🙂

    Reply
  31. Jessamie {Bird and Branch Redesign} says

    January 16, 2013 at 3:35 pm

    Yeah, love this! I saw it on Instagram and meant to tell you I wanted you to pick aqua for the outside! great minds, I tell ya!

    Reply
  32. Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says

    January 16, 2013 at 3:40 pm

    Can’t wait until you give it to her! My little one was never into dolls, so we missed out on this fun stuff. One more day!

    Reply
  33. amber-wills says

    January 16, 2013 at 4:02 pm

    I love this!! I have really been wanting to put a dollhouse together for Ramona, but it’s probably still a little early. Maybe by Christmas this year she will be ready.

    Reply
  34. Andrea says

    January 16, 2013 at 4:35 pm

    That dollhouse is so precious!!! I especially love the distressed furniture to go in the house! Can’t wait to see Emmy’s face when she gets it.

    Reply
  35. Katie @ Wildwood Creek says

    January 16, 2013 at 5:05 pm

    Oh my…I want a house just like this! Love the house and the furniture is divine! Emmy is going to be over the moon.

    Reply
  36. Shelley {Crazy Wonderful} says

    January 16, 2013 at 5:07 pm

    Eeeeee!!! How perfect! She will flip. And, the painted and distressed furniture I’m gaga over 🙂

    Reply
  37. Renee says

    January 16, 2013 at 7:00 pm

    So, so perfect!!! I totally love it. Maybe I’ll have a granddaughter some day (a long, long time in the future).

    Reply
  38. [email protected] says

    January 16, 2013 at 7:06 pm

    This is the dollhouse I always wanted as a child but never had. I was at a thrift store recently and there was a beautiful handmade dollhouse. I was trying to figure out why I should buy it and suddenly there was a big group of ladies all standing around admiring it. We all talked about how much we wanted a handmade doll house. Your daughter is a VERY lucky girl to have such a talented and loving mom.

    Reply
  39. The Bold Abode says

    January 16, 2013 at 7:06 pm

    Oh, I’m in tears! The table and chairs are so gorgeous, and I’m thrilled that Emmy is able to use them! It just warms my heart to no end!

    What an amazing piece of handiwork. Your neighbor is da bomb! Emmy’s going to be thrilled…

    Reply
  40. 17 Perth says

    January 16, 2013 at 7:21 pm

    You have to be SO EXCITED. Haha. I am excited FOR you! This is an amazing, truly wonderful piece of work. Between his skills and yours–I cannot imagine any little girl not wanting this.(You are one lucky lady to have such a fantastic neighbor!) And the furniture….adorable.

    Reply
  41. Julia @ 551Eastdesign says

    January 16, 2013 at 7:39 pm

    She will LOVE it! I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight if I had made it for someone! I can imagine her passing it down to her daughter one day. 🙂

    Reply
  42. Rubylicious Bespoke says

    January 16, 2013 at 7:51 pm

    I love the furniture, I’ll have those in grown up size please :). I built my girls a dollhouse/bookcase and they love it so I’m sure Emmy will too. Happy birthday to Emmy for today/tomorrow?? ( It’s Thursday morning here)
    Alison

    Reply
  43. Allison says

    January 16, 2013 at 8:37 pm

    Emmy is going to be so excited! That is a wonderful dollhouse. Such a special gift Cassie. I love the furniture you painted! Can’t wait to see photos.

    Reply
  44. Kelly says

    January 16, 2013 at 8:51 pm

    That Emmy is one lucky girl! It is SO perfect! Let us know how she reacts! 🙂

    Reply
  45. Sharon @ mrshinesclass says

    January 16, 2013 at 8:55 pm

    Wow! That IS the best birthday present ever.

    Reply
  46. Lisa @ Turning Tables says

    January 16, 2013 at 9:03 pm

    It really is SO amazing!!! She is going to FLIP OUT!!

    🙂 xoxoxox best mama around!

    Reply
  47. Restyled Vintage says

    January 16, 2013 at 9:33 pm

    OMG Cassie that distressed miniature furniture might just be the cutest thing I have ever seen! Can’t wait to see what Emmy thinks of it! Is she turning 6 tomorrow? (It’s already the 17th here!!)Happy Birthday Emmy!!

    xx Karen

    Reply
  48. Lauren says

    January 16, 2013 at 10:02 pm

    I had the same problem with my daughter and my old doll house…everything getting broken! I had to put it away for later too. Love, love her new one! I am sure she will also!

    Reply
  49. Erin @ His and Hers says

    January 16, 2013 at 10:49 pm

    That is SO adorable and I can totally understand why you are so excited to give it to her! I have a wooden dollhouse that I started working on as an adult, and then I got a real house of my own. Things changed. 😛

    I had to take my Barbies away from my little sister because she mutilated them and I was the girl who kept every hair neatly brushed and every mini plastic plate perfectly organized and every doll boob fully covered.

    Reply
  50. Ali Richardson says

    January 16, 2013 at 11:30 pm

    It’s just so so so awesome!! I love it! She is going to be soooo happy. She’s lucky that you and all of your awesomeness are her mama 🙂

    Reply
  51. Elizabeth @ The Little Black Door says

    January 17, 2013 at 12:39 am

    SOO CUTE!!! You are one good mamma!! She’s gonna love it. And I love that it isn’t plastic 🙂

    Reply
  52. Elizabeth (Blue Clear Sky) says

    January 17, 2013 at 1:27 am

    What an awesome gift for your little one. She is going to love it. The wallpaper is so cute, and the kitchen paper-adorable. Amazing how you transformed the furniture too. Lucky little girl is going to be so surprised tomorrow.

    Reply
  53. DecorandtheDog says

    January 17, 2013 at 3:21 am

    You are seriously the coolest mom ever. I can only imagine how excited she’ll be! The “wallpaper” is awesome. And distressing little furniture sounds fun!

    Reply
  54. [email protected] says

    January 17, 2013 at 7:23 am

    Cassie, that is the cutest dollhouse I have ever seen! I love the “wallpaper” and the furniture that you painted and distressed. It is darling.

    Reply
  55. Jenn Triplett says

    January 17, 2013 at 8:15 am

    It makes me want to play…so cute!

    Reply
  56. Courtney says

    January 17, 2013 at 9:57 am

    So so cool!! Can’t believe you even distressed the furniture…love it!! And so will she I bet 🙂

    Reply
  57. Catherine says

    January 17, 2013 at 11:26 am

    So lovely Cassie! Love the ‘wallpaper’ and furniture, I bet she loves it!

    Reply
  58. Empty Nest Full Life says

    January 17, 2013 at 1:11 pm

    Absolutely adorable. If I had a granddaughter this would be my next project. Awesome job!

    Reply
  59. Holly Browning says

    January 18, 2013 at 3:54 am

    OMG! and the furniture is all distressed perfectly!!!! YOU are a good mom!!!!!

    Reply
  60. Holly @ Life as a Thrifter says

    January 18, 2013 at 7:02 pm

    This is precious!!! Goodness gracious!!!

    Reply
  61. {Steph} says

    January 19, 2013 at 1:50 am

    So, so cute! Love the paper you chose for the walls!

    ~Steph @ Silver Boxes

    Reply
  62. Gretchen says

    January 19, 2013 at 3:26 pm

    The tiny distressed table and chairs are killing me! And I love all the different wallpaper, too. I love dollhouses!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. One Room Challenge: Week 4 - Cassie Bustamante says:
    October 26, 2016 at 8:00 pm

    […] and one more thing you may have noticed is that I brought the dollhouse downstairs… I am not sure if it will stay where it sits, but it’s in the room at least. […]

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Cassie!

I believe that you don't have to spend a lot of money to live a beautiful life and be your best self.  Here you will find budget friendly ideas to live happily, healthily, sustainably, and most importantly authentically.  We all get one chance at this life, and this ordinary girl plans to make hers extraordinary. How about you? Read more...
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Hi! I'm Cassie.

Mother, wife, shop owner, blogger, writer, incurable diy-er, furniture painter, coffee and wine drinker, friend. Seeking happiness and passing it on. Read More…

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