Good afternoon dear Friends
Here we are finally starting with the decorating of the victorian kitchen which is THE moment I have been looking forward to ever since this project started a year ago, a little like the "cherry on the cake" for me...
Being of a "Foodie" nature and utterly in love with Victorian England, I am delighted to be able to start this "re-looking" especially now that the kitchen has doubled in size.
I invite you to start this Making of with the choice of the lighting since the entire diorama is lighted with lighting accesories available from a huge selection & variety from the 1/12th scale dollshouse world. With a novelty for this Making of which will also feature lighting accessories with LED lightbulb & battery operated, therefore avoiding all wiring and which can be put into place within a matter of second in the shape of a table lamp, a chandellier or a street light.
When I first introduced the "Electricity Fairy" to my previous project a few years ago, the battery operated lighting accessories had a very bulky, unaesthetic base which did not match the idea I had of my decor, and within a matter of just a few years, one can now purchase pretty lighting accessories with a discreet base hiding a little Lithium battery. It is by far the simplest solution to add light to a scene or a decor without any wiring and with an instant result :
Just like for any purchase involving dollshouse accessories to complement your Playmo scènes, it is very important that you carefully check the measurements of the object before buying it and always go for the smallest siez available - ie the smallest plate of a dinner service, the smallest pan and by extension the smallest table or hanging light available in order to match the scale of your Playmo accessories & characters. The same applies to chandelliers, especially the large ones which often necessitate a higher drop than the often relatively low Playmo ceilings.
Large chandelliers to avoid as per their non Playmocompatible size...
Just like for the normal LED lighting, the light emanating from the 1/12th lighting accessories will be blue/white and cold contrasting with the warmer tones of a light bulb from the classic wiring electric system.
Most of the lights and chandelliers in the 1/12th scale are quite lightweight and the adhesive system to hang them will be sufficient even if one must bear in mind that one will have to turn the on/off manually all the time, so planning an accessible space for our "giant hands" is a Must in order to operate the tiny switch.
I cannot encourage you enough to always check the measurements of any 1/12th accessories before buying them in order to avoid a costly and disappointing result if you only listen to your "first impression & crush of it"...
The lighting system I have been using for years now is based on mini electrical extension cables & plugs connected to a 12V transformator :
And finally here is the 2 arms chandellier I have selected for my victorian kitchen which will come in a pair :
I could not possibly close this chapter dedicated to lighting without mentioning the fireplaces & grates which add so much life & authenticity to a victorian or any period kitchen by recreating the lighting and cosy atmosphere of a fireplace with a very realistic glowing embers :
A little personal tip to add a realistic and lively touch to the victorian cooking range is to insert an orange glowing light :
And whatever makes dear Mrs Applepie happy
:
In the next episode of this Making of, I will present the compatibility of Sylvanian Families & Playmo ranges since I decided to furnish my victorian kitchen of a selection of both brands
...
Karim
