Country Collections – THE DOLLS HOUSE
Frequently Asked Questions
Hints and Tips
How long does it take to build a house?
Never rush it! Some higher quality houses are glue together and some are screw
together. When building a glue together kit, don’t try to do it all
in one go. Wait for glue to dry thoroughly before adding further parts and
similarly wait a day between coats of paint. The finished house will be much
better through having patience. Some of the budget houses are screw together
and could be built in a couple of hours.
How easy is it to light my house?
Using a power strip, it is very easy. It’s even easier if you only use
wall lights on the back wall. Decide where you want the wall lights to go,
drill a hole just big enough to take the wire (we stock these). With small
pliers pull the pins out of the plug, this will release the wires. Thread
the wire through the hole and peel off the paper from the self adhesive pad
on the light and press firmly into position trying to hide the hole. Thread
the wire back through the centre of the plug and trap the wire by pushing
the pins back into position with the pliers. If you want ceiling lights, the
only additional work is to drill a hole in the ceiling, then cut a groove
from the hole to the back wall with a craft knife and straight edge or small
power tool. Then drill the hole in the back wall as above. Thread the wire
through the hole in the ceiling and the hole in the back wall, then lay it
into the groove and cover the groove with masking tape before laying carpets.
If using a power strip, discard the additional cable that sometimes comes
with transformers. The wire on the strip should be wired directly to the transformer
to ensure your lights are protected by the integral fuse.
What do I use to stick the wall paper on with?
We use a half wood glue/half water mix and apply it to both the wall and the
paper with a small paint brush.
Should I wall paper first then build or the other way round?
This is really down to your preference, though many instructions say paper
first. Don’t try to wrap paper around a corner like you would with paper
in your full sized house as it rarely looks good. Better to cut each wall
individually.
How do I get a good finish on the paintwork?
We use a small foam roller (we stock these) as it gives a very fine texture
to the finish with no brush marks. It means doing more coats but the finish
is much better.
What scale is used for dolls houses?
The vast majority is a scale of 1:12 though a few more at 1:24 are now becoming
available. Old houses used to be 1:16 but no longer manufactured.
Dolls houses are for children aren't they?
Definitely NOT in fact 95% of our customers are adult collectors. Our oldest
regular customer is 97 years old. We stock some houses which are CE marked
for children but most miniatures are marked as 14 years and up, due to the
small parts. Therefore they are not designed for children anyway.
Do you sell gift vouchers?
Yes, to any value.
Do you offer a mail order service?
Experience has shown that the more delicate collectibles do not travel too
well. However, we do ship some products to our customers upon request and
charge for carriage as appropriate.
Can you send me a catalogue?
There are three main catalogues from three of our suppliers. However, we use
something like 30 suppliers therefore the catalogues are just a small sample
of what we stock.
Can I order a house for Christmas?
Yes, in fact it is a service we encourage, particularly around Christmas to
avoid disappointment from Santa. If we don't have the house you want in stock
any time of year, we will add it to our next order for you.
I want a particular house. Do you stock it?
We try to stock around 30 houses at any one time, so we may have it in stock.
However, if the one you want is not in stock we may be able to get it for
you.
What if my friend does not like it or already has something similar?
Whilst we do not give refunds, as long as the product is in its original unopened
packaging we will be please to offer an exchange or a gift voucher. That applies
to anything anyone buys. If it doesn't fit or looks a little out of place,
the same exchange policy is offered.
What are your opening times?
Normally: Tuesday to Saturday 10.00am to 5.00pm. However, sometimes we will
close an extra day at certain times of the year
How do I contact you?
View the
Contact Us page
