A Lundby Gothenburg complex

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Sally’s Lundby Gothenburg dollhouse was a Christmas gift from her parents in the early 1970s. She fondly remembers many happy hours playing with it as a child. Years later, she and her dad lovingly restored it and began adding custom extensions to accommodate Sally’s expanding furniture collection. The house—now a sprawling eight-story tower—measures just shy of 5 feet (1.5 meters) across.

A BRIEF TOUR

The original Lundby sections are the top two floors and the living/TV room and formal lounge on Level 5. The rest was designed by Sally and constructed by her dad in various phases. Wherever possible they used Lundby parts purchased on eBay (doors, windows, balustrades, staircases, and more), seamlessly blending the new with the original.

They started by adding a two-story basement to the original house to create a garden area with a balcony, billiard room, and indoor space for the swimming pool.

Phase 2 saw the addition of Level 3 and the two levels at the bottom right, including the garage, utility room with WC at the rear, bar, and garden terrace off the kitchen. Sally adapted an original Lundby balcony for use in this level.

Level 4 features an outdoor patio area and a family/game room, as well as a landing, second bathroom, and office with adjoining conservatory.

Level 5 includes the girls’ bedroom and above it on Level 6 are the parents’ suite and boys’ bedroom.

A CREATIVE TOUCH

Some of the furniture and unique accessories you see throughout Sally’s amazing house were created by Sally herself. She made the billiard table from a 12th scale dining table, adding molding around the edges and gluing a piece of green carpet on top. The cues are made from wooden barbecue skewers and the balls are colored beads. The green suite to the right of the billiard table was a damaged Barton/Caroline’s Home set that Sally re-covered to match the other furnishings.

The washing machine is made from a small cardboard box covered in glossy photographic paper. The round door is made from window acetate and a key ring, and the control panel is a piece of dark cardboard with silver beads for the buttons.

The bed and bedding and wardrobe unit in the parents’ bedroom are made from small wood off-cuts, fabric, and sticky-back plastic with a woodgrain effect.

The cabin bed/high sleeper in the girls’ bedroom is made from wood off-cuts and a 12th scale bedside cabinet. Sally also made the girls’ patchwork bedding and the curtains in all the rooms.

The patio heater on the top floor balcony has a parasol made from a cocktail umbrella.

Sally made the weight bench in the family/game room using bits of wood and dowel. The weights are vehicle wheels that she purchased from a model shop and attached to a section of welding rod. She finished it off with two Lundby floor cushions.

A WORK IN PROGRESS

Sally finds her dollhouse project to be very therapeutic and satisfying, and her passion for it has grown over time. So have her ideas and inspiration! Her latest addition—now in progress—is a ground floor stable area.