Rich Toys Vintage Dollhouse Tour: 4. Retro Kitchen

As we enter the kitchen, located at the end of the house, you see relatively new pieces added when I was going through my "Early American" decorating phase. I loved the "antique look" and it showed up in suitable niches throughout my house.

Around the corner, notice the "retro" look. The old appliances are just fine. In fact, I remember my grandmother cooking in a kitchen just like this one whipping up scrumptious meals! I wonder if she actually bought me those pieces many years ago.

The little red table and chairs have been around forever, too. Mother put the red checked cloth on the table and I've never taken it off.

Anyone for a bite to eat?

Let's take a closer look at the appliances:

Refrigerator

Remember the old refrigerators, the layers of ice building up? They were such a pain to defrost!

Stove and Oven

Remember the all white appliances? Later on, color was popular:  gold or avocado. Now, stainless steel is stylish. I wonder what color will be "in" next.

Sink

A big farmhouse sink (a necessity back then!) has now become one of the latest in kitchen trends. Oops! Not sure we should have the electric toaster and iron plugged in near the water!










Here's an overall look at the kitchen before we head to the living room. My there's a lot of stuff in there! Each piece holds a special memory for me, especially that little teapot in the foreground:

This kitchen is certainly reminiscent of an earlier time and remains the heart of my little home.

Please go on past the dining room to tour the living room. Oh, I see someone took down the Christmas Tree and has been playing with the little train Santa brought:

Rich Toys Vintage Dollhouse Tour: 3. Welcome!

Please come in!

There are some things I would love to show you, if you have the time...

In the entryway and the dining room are three original pieces. Perhaps Santa included them with his deliveries in 1952... I just always remember having them.

The desk:  It reminds me of my grandfather's desk, polished wood with carefully placed accessories. Look at that old black rotary telephone! Do you remember one in your grandparents' home?

The sideboard:  Yes, the legs have been broken a few times, but always carefully repaired.

The dining table:  By far my most favorite piece in the whole house! Look how the table pulls apart for a leaf insert. I'm amazed this has survived all these years. Actually, this table is similar to the table my grandmother had which now my daughter has in her home. I remember having wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas meals on her table growing up. This tiny table reminds me of special times every time I look at it.

Both mother and grandmother took a strong interest in "my" dollhouse; maybe, just maybe, they put the bug in Santa's ear to begin with... mmm?

Before we move on to see the kitchen, take a brief glance at the Christmas Tree, added sometime in the 1990's. The sled is new this year, found at consignment shop nearby.

Rich Toys Vintage Dollhouse Tour: 2. Annual Tradition

At Christmas time, just like the tree, my dollhouse comes out of storage and enjoys a few weeks or a month of attention for the year. Sometimes a room is rearranged or a few new details are added.

The dollhouse is quite full... of memories... of dreams... and of carefully curated pieces. I don't have extras, just special things saved through the years that have found permanent spots in the rooms and in my heart.

Rich Toys Vintage Dollhouse Tour: 1. Remembering Christmas

Dollhouses delight me:  the stories about them, the handmade items in them, the creativity, the adorable rooms!

Remarkably, I still have (and treasure) the dollhouse I received for Christmas when I was six years old (1952).  Lately, I've begun to do a little research on the value of my dollhouse and related furniture items and accessories.

I found so many miniature related websites and blogs it blew me away!  There are a lot of us "out there"!  But, I didn't find anything on my 1950's era dollhouse...  so, I'm planning to share what I have...  so we women of a certain age can reminisce!