Big-Time Miniaturist, Kwandaa Roberts

Weekends are a good time to unwind. For that, we’ve rounded up the most fun and interesting stories we came across this week — the ones we texted our friends about. Enjoy.

On Instagram and TikTok, a new generation of artisans and miniaturists are designing, building, and decorating their dream homes — but on an itty-bitty scale. Instead of stuffy Victorian houses filled with antique furniture, brownstones and A-frames are outfitted with tiny versions of items sold at places like West Elm and Lulu and Georgia. We spoke to Kwandaa Roberts (aka, @tinyhousecalls), a self-described “OB-GYN by day and accidentally-crafty miniaturist by night.” Here’s what she had to say...

Q: When and how did you first get into dollhouses?

Five years ago, I bought one for my daughter, but I didn’t like how it looked — it was pink, purple, and just weird. I thought, If it looked more like a real house, it’d be more fun for her. So I wallpapered and painted it. I’d get up in the middle of the night to work on it. I loved it. I didn’t want to give it to her ... but I did, and she loved it. [That’s when] I got the idea I should have my own. I’ve always been obsessed with interior design ... but I only have one house, right? So that meant remodeling my real house a lot. Every six months I might change the chandelier, which is just crazy. This was a way I could do that — and it’d be cheaper and easier.

Q: So is it fair to say that you’re more into dollhouses than your daughter is?

Definitely. Although every year she wants another one. I’m like, ‘You have them.’ And she looks at me like, ‘You have them too’ … [In total], I’ve had about 16 dollhouses, which I know is a little problematic. But I’ve given a few away, because I’m running out of space ... I know this is going to sound crazy, but I literally would like an addition to my real house for my dollhouses. 

Q: Do your dollhouses resemble your own house? Or, are they what your dream home would look like?

It’s a combination. People have come over, looked at the dollhouses, and said, ‘Oh, I see it’ ... I like so many different design styles — I like mid-century modern, minimalism, and maximalism. I like rooms that are painted. I love wallpaper. I like all of the stuff. Dollhouses are a way to do all my design ideas, without my own house looking like a mishmash ... Also, part of the fun is that you may not be able to afford waterfall countertops, marble and other stuff in real life — but when it’s only five inches and I make it, then I can have it.

Q: Which projects have been your most memorable — both good and bad?

My mid-century modern house is my favorite ... I’ll probably never get rid of it ... [It] was from a kit made in the 1980s, but I took the ‘80s out of it, and I made it more modern. In the dollhouse world, we call that “kitbashing” ... My first scratch-built dollhouse — meaning it wasn’t from a kit or something I bought, but something I made from scratch — was a Spanish colonial, which had lots of arches ... [To go with the arch theme], I wanted to make a canopy bed, and I lost years of my life making that bed. Trying to figure out [what material] would bend, but still be sturdy was really hard. I made it a few times, then it fell apart. In the end, I used tubing, and I love it. But I’ll never make another. Funny enough, it was a recreation of something I saw in a Crate & Barrel catalog ... When I made it, I tagged them in the post, and they thought it was real. They put it on their website, with a caption like, ‘Look at this beautiful room.’ I had to call them and be like, ‘Didn’t you read the caption? It’s not real.’

Q: There have been articles recently about a new generation of dollhouse devotees, who tend to be younger and into more modern designs. Is that something you’ve also noticed?

I remember going to my first dollhouse convention — which, I mean, who knew [that was even a thing] — and all the people there were older and selling colonial things. And then maybe two or three years ago, there were [people more like me]. It’s just become a thing ... [Still], when I tell people I make dollhouses, [I know] they’re not thinking of [things that look like mine]. I’ll show them pictures, and they’re like, ‘Oh my God.’ [Because they were imagining something] kind of Victorian and fussy ... [But] it’s the world’s best hobby ... You can create this tiny, perfect world — whatever perfect is for you. And it’s relaxing. It’s almost meditative. You can get lost in this happy, joyful toy [world].

🍰 In food…

Feeling spicy? Consider adding wasabi to your cocktail. Meanwhile, ’70s-style desserts (see: Black Forests and Baked Alaskas) are making a groovy comeback. Oh and if you’ve ever wondered why international chip flavors are so much more fun, here’s something to chew on. 

💇‍♀️ In beauty… 

Side bangs — including, yup, those Myspace-era ones — are once again, well, banging. Also having a meow-ment? The kitty cut. And, if you haven't heard, some people are lending their ears to rearscaping.

🎄 In Christmas creep…

Calling all gingerbread girls: ’Tis the season for all the holiday cookies — from cereal wreaths to 9-inch maple sugar cookies. Same with regressing. Plus, pressed over picking the perfect gift? You can regift — if you do it right. We’ll raise an ornament-shaped glass to that.

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