Beach house: Part 4 -- painting and installing the windows and doors

 

So this is where I was so far:  the needle felted backdrop mapped out and started, the walls with the door and window openings cut out and the roof selected.  

Next:  the doors and windows!  But first, a little set back:  I broke a corner of the shelf!  Just the underside (presswood) but still, I'll have to be more careful when I install the needlefelt blanket.  Glue, some clamps, a bit of sanding and we were back in business!

The windows and frames are all painted white for the inside of the room.  This was a bit of a fussy task, to make all the edges nice and clean.  I used an acrylic, but I think my paint has gotten a bit too old.  Anyway, it turned out fine.

 Blue painters' tape is great for holding little things down.

It was a thrill to install the window and French doors and finally get to see what it really would look like.  WOW!  The intricate "wrought iron" window insert turned out really nice!  And the doors?  I have always wanted French doors in my real house so these are really satisfying.  

Instead of the thick acrylic that came with the windows from Vio, I used a thin acetate sheet.  This fit the width of my walls better.

I should mention that, just like in real life, shims were needed to make the doors and windows fit the holes.  

The outside frames were made using 3mm square sticks.  Instead of stain (I hate the smell and mess), I used a Prismacolor pen in "Goldenrod".  This way I got a nice weathered look and didn't have to wait very long for the ink to dry.  

I left the hardest window for last, the big curved one.  I wanted this double window to open (even though there isn't enough space to open very much) and it came with hinges but they were too big, so luckily I had a set of Classics "H" shaped hinged which were narrow enough to attach to the frame.  (These came from an amazing shop in Meaford. Ontario, called Georgian Bay Miniatures.)    

As with the French doors, attaching the hinges required patience and a steady hand.  And then, of course, the windows had become too large with the paint and fit too tightly so I had to cut a slice off of one window (and repaint it) to make the two panes close properly.  Ugh!  Of course a cut like that is never as nice as the original but I think I'm the only one who will see the difference.

Oh, but it is so worth it!  Here's the third wall!

So this is what it looks like so far:
  

I'm very pleased with how it's coming together and am excited to start the wainscoting next!