Designed and built in 1/24th scale for a customer who has fond memories of time spent at this cottage in her youth. Rose Castle Cottage was formerly owned by Beatrix Potter and is now a National Trust self-catering cottage.
In common with all our cottages, Rose Castle was designed to have removable walls and floors as well as hidden wiring. The pictures below show the model alongside some views of the actual cottage.
Down House was the home of Charles Darwin. This 1/48th scale model was commissioned by a geological museum in Kent to provide a centre piece for their forthcoming display on Darwin.
The model was built as the house appeared while Darwin was in residence in the late 1870s.
This 1/24th scale fantasy house was designed and built by us for a client from The Netherlands. The requirement was for a ‘Tudor-style’ look with Brambley Hedge elements that would be suitable for a family of mice. Apart from this, we were allowed to give our imaginations free reign!
We also provided several items of custom-made furniture for this house.
The rear of the house.
We came up with the idea of a house built into a shattered oak tree to give it a rustic feel.
Is that an ‘M’ for Mouse in the timber framing?
The interior showing how the oak tree reaches into the house and provides a half landing and stairs on the way up to the first floor
Just another quirky little detail - note how the doors mimic mouse ears!
- The front of Down House -
The house is illuminated by lights on each floor.
- The back of Down House -
Darwin seems to have had a passion for decorative trellis work.
- Down House today -
The most notable difference between now and Darwin’s time is the amount of plant growth up the trellis work.
- The Verandah -
The tiles of Darwin’s verandah were copied and reproduced in the model.
Having lived with this project for many months, I now feel as though I know Down House intimately. I can, for example, tell those with an interest is such matters that there are a total of 62 windows, 6 doors, and 7 chimneys topped by 24 chimney pots.
This large and elaborate house is inspired by the Harbourmaster’s house in Aberaeron, Wales. It was built in 20th scale for a lay out being built by a rail enthusiast.
Today, the harbourmaster’s is a hotel. It was decided to paint it in its earlier colour scheme rather than the present eye-catching blue.
The rear of the house.
The top two-thirds of the rear wall is removable to enable access into the bedrooms at the back.
The interior, showing lights, fires and staircase.
The house from the front right corner
Built in 24th scale as an exact copy, both externally and internally, of a rather unique-looking house in Stafford.
The internal details, looking in from the back of the house
The upper floor is built into the loft space and comprises an intricate collection of small rooms all with sloping ceilings
Cedarwood is a white featherboard construction with distinctive black woodwork.
One special feature is the lantern roof rising up between the front and rear dormers.
White Hill Cottage is on the south coast near Bexhill-on-Sea. Built in the 1920s it is bungalow with an upstairs floor built into the roof space. The mock black timbering was put in place by the original owner.
The commission was undertaken at the request of the owner as a wedding anniversary present for his wife. The model is in 24th scale and lights were provided in the downstairs rooms.
Front of cottage
Rear of cottage
The cottage has evolved over many years as each successive owner has made his mark upon the design. Unusually, the cottage now has two front doors but no back door.
The miniature model built to be displayed inside the 24th scale model...
Whether it’s a custom-built copy of your house, a fantasy creation, or an historic building, we are happy to quote for bespoke houses and special commissions. All scales considered.
Accuracy is obviously of key importance with such specialised projects and we will work closely with you to ensure you get a building as close to the real thing as possible.
Click on any of the images below to view some examples of our work and, where possible, photos of the original buildings they copy...
Built in 24th scale, this was a big house to build. There are a total of 13 rooms from front to back. The challenge was to make all the rooms accessible.
Access was achieved by building an inner frame that enabled the front and both side walls to be removed. In a departure from the norm, it was decided to leave the roof fixed in place to support the framework below.
The verandah on the back wall
The front panel removed to reveal the rooms at the front of the house
Both sides removed to reveal the rooms in the centre of the house and also those at the back.
A 48th scale model based closely upon the ruined pele tower at Arnside, Cumbria.
Built for a client who enjoys holidays at this home of her husband’s cousin near New York. The house was completed in 1829 by W. Cleveland, a local physician. The house is noted for still possessing its original handmade door locks, hinges and nails. It is three storeys, brick-built, has a tarred iron roof and wide floorboards built from local timbers. Hot air shafts run up through the house from the basement where there was originally a coal-fired boiler, now replaced by gas. Apparently, the cat loves sleeping over the hot air vents.
The house in the snow in 1885
Wildwood is the client’s former home in Canada. The project was greatly assisted by the client’s husband being able to provide accurate drawings of the house.
In many ways, a similar build to the abovementioned Cedarwood, this house was also a single storey building with upper rooms built into the loft. The same design approach was followed in the case of both buildings, namely, a lift off roof and upper floor to access the interior but with all walls fixed.
The large verandah on the side of the house.
The front of the house.
The upper floor, also showing the voids under the eaves.
The ground floor
“Thank you so much for building my house. It is wonderful and has been greatly admired. You are so clever with the plans and carrying out the work.”
Mrs C., Chelmsford
Built for a client with an interest in Mozart. This 1:24 scale model is based upon the house in Vienna where Mozart had an apartment. It is sometimes known as ‘The Figaro House’ because it was here that he composed his opera ‘The Marriage of Figaro’.
Schulerstrasse frontage with balcony at 1st floor level
Dom Gasse facade
The house is actually a block of apartments with frontages onto two streets. The one frontage is considerably wider than the other but for aesthetic reasons it was decided to maintain the same width at front and back in the model. The original wooden carriageway doors were also included in the model.
The Figaro House in the late 18th century
As can be seen the actual house is five storeys, but it was decided to limit the model to three levels with the option of adding the remaining two at a later date.
One of the most prominent features within the real building is the large open vestibule alongside the stairway.
Opening the front to reveal the kitchen with range, lighting at all levels, and polished floorboards
Opening up the Dom Gasse facade
A commission to build two of the houses associated with the 1970s TV adaptation of Wind in The Willows.
Screen shot of the TV model of Toad Hall
Toad Hall
1:72nd scale
Riverside Cottage
1:32nd scale
The TV model of Ratty’s house, Riverside Cottage
Inside the front of the pele tower
The battlements and inside the attic guardroom
There is obviously no roof on the ruin at Arnside. This aspect was based upon the pele towers at Smailholm and Hollows Tower in Scotland.
This was what is commonly termed a vanity project. Arnside pele tower is just down the road from our base in the Lake District.
Built for the same client who commissioned the Harbourmaster’s House, featured above, this large model represents a typical Cumbrian inn.
The Bush in Cockermouth provided the inspiration for the model’s front elevation.
The rear aspect
A courtyard with stable block and groom’s quarters was also provided to fit onto the rear of the inn.
Wind in the Willows
Cockermouth Inn
Commissions
~ for those who want something unique for generations to come ~