Doll House Project: Traditional Wooden House

Two weeks ago I gave a preview of a project my husband was working on. I thought by the time I post about it, it will be 'finished', according to how I wanted it. Apparently, for my husband, it was already finished and refuses to let me touch it (aaarrggghh!!!). 

This is his 'finished' project:

It's a doll house made in the style of traditional wooden houses you will see in rural parts of the Philippines. It's also made from colored popsicle sticks... hence, the color (my husband said there weren't any unpainted popsicle sticks in the supermarket when he bought them). My husband built this from memory, from the house their ranch hands built in the cattle ranch his grandfather used to own when he was a little boy.

I have a photo of an actual house that looks like this from their farm in the southern Philippines but I can't find it. So I Googled around and found this image from Lonely Planet:

Philippine Traditional Wooden House (image from Lonely Planet)

This is how most houses in rural provinces in the Philippines look like. And in case you're wondering about bathrooms, some of these houses have basic bathrooms with a toilet bowl that flushes (though some require you to pour a bucket of water for it to flush). I said 'some'... not all.

I wanted to paint it to consider it 'finished' but Andrea seems to like it colorful so my husband won't let me touch it further.

Here are more photos of the doll house:

View of the side of the house.

View of the back and the kitchen/dining area.

See the counter in the kitchen area?

Chicken coop at the bottom of the house.

Those are skewer sticks used to cover the bottom of the house and the kitchen area. These houses are usually built on stilts and the bottom of the house can be used for storage, or used as an area for the pets. We're planning to get small plastic chickens for this doll house.

The roof can be removed to give access to the rooms inside.

Just 2 small rooms inside, the kitchen area, and the balcony.

Here's the thing. This house wasn't built to scale for any of Andrea's dolls so we're having a hard time thinking of furniture that will fit inside. My husband made a few furniture using popsicle sticks but they were too big for the house. Right now, Andrea seems to enjoy removing the roof and putting her small dolls inside.

And to give my husband credit, the house is still standing in spite of Andrea playing with it everyday (hooray for glue gun and glue sticks!). When she gets a little bigger, we'll get her a bigger doll house.

I'm linking up to the following link parties:

Free for All at Young and Crafty | K.I.S.S. at The Tattered Tag | Sundae Scoop at I Heart Naptime | Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming | Not Baaad Sundays at Lamb Around | CraftOManiac Monday at CraftOManiac | Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative | Making Monday Marvelous at C.R.A.F.T | Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do | Made With Love Monday at Sew Chatty | Motivate Me Monday at Keeping It Simple | A Round Tuit at Crafting My Way to Success | Inspire Me Monday at Singing Three Little Birds | Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle | DIY Project Parade at The DIY Showoff | Think Pink Sundays at Flamingo Toes | Market Yourself Monday at Sumo's Sweet Stuff | Manic Monday Link Party at Sew Happy Geek | Take a Look Tuesday at Sugar Bee Crafts | Handmade Tuesdays at Ladybug Blessings | Tuesday To-do Party at The Blackberry Vine | Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie | Tuesday Party at Running with Glitter | Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog | Show Me What Ya Got at Not JUST a Housewife | Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Designs | Your Whims Wednesday at My Girlish Whims | Will See It Wednesday at Fabric Bows and More | Share the Wealth Wednesday at Laugh, Love, and Craft | We Did It Wednesday at Sew Much Ado | Wicked Awesome Wednesday at Handy Man, Crafty Woman | A Marvelous Mess at Marvelously Messy | Sugar & Spice at Seven Thirty Three | Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts | Hoo's Got Talent at Night Owl Crafting | Strut Your Stuff at Somewhat Simple | Creative Juice at Momnivore's Dilemma | Get Your Brag On at Gluesticks | Thrifty Thursday at Saved By Love Creations | Wednesday Link Party at Tea Rose Home | A Crafty Soiree at Katie's Nesting Spot | Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage | Commercial Break Thursday at Suzy's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom | Thrilling Thursday at Paisley Passions | Catch a Glimpse at A Glimpse Inside | Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge | Friday Favorites with Inspiring Creations | Lovely Crafty Weekend at Lovely Crafty Home | Weekend Wrapup Party at Tatertots and Jello |