Mini Milk Painted Dollhouse Furniture
When we share furniture projects with you, they’re usually human-sized. Today, we have a special furniture feature of dollhouse-sized proportions!
Synje of Around The Block Shabby Chic, has been sharing the most darling mini milk painted pieces with us, and we have to return the favor and share them with all of you!
We think they’re pint-sized perfection, and we know you will “ooh” and “aww” right along with us. Perhaps, after coming along for this mini-excursion, you’ll be off to your local craft store to get started on your own dollhouse creations.
Say, “Hello” to Synje!
Behind the scenes at Around the Block Shabby Chic, you’ll find Synje Chudoba and her wonderfully artistic daughters, Emma and Leah. Behind the doors of their home, you’ll find her husband, Myron and two dogs - Molly and Charlie.
Synje has been painting furniture for over 20 years! She started by painted pieces for her daughter’s rooms when they were little. Quite a few of us Milk Paint lovers started out this way!
A Milk Paint Match Made in Heaven
Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint is the only milk paint Synje uses because it compliments her rustic style so well. Our texture and colors are just what she needs to create pieces that looked like they were found in the back of a barn.
As a matter of fact, this is where her business name came from. Most of her furniture has been “around the block” a couple of times, spending time being loved by multiple owners.
Synje’s customers absolutely love the finished results, and their repeat purchases confirm that Milk Paint is the answer to the rustic farmhouse style they crave!
The Makings of a Miniature Lover
Synje has always been in love with miniatures. Her husband, Myron, built dollhouses for her daughters when they were little. (See, we told you that “ooh’s” and “aww’s” were coming!)
She build her own “Greenleaf Glencroft” cottage about 10 years ago. It’s a charming style of dollhouse that looks like it came from the pages of a story book!
As Synje continued to dive into the world “dollhousing”, she noticed that the miniature furniture available was too generic for her rustic taste. Using her DIY, furniture flipping and refinishing skills, she quickly customized the pieces she found and made them her own - on a mini scale!
Meeting a Mini Niche
Due to the many complications that COVID has presented, the world of “dollhousing” has exploded in popularity. It’s the perfect invididual hobby, and is a fabulous outlet for your creativity.
As Synje shared her miniatures with her Facebook community, her followers fell in love with them!
(C’mon now…how could you not?)
In a sense, Synje is meeting a different kind of niche for her shabby chic-loving customers. Her daughter, Emma, sticks to the human-sized furniture, and Synje sticks to the dollhouse-sized pieces.
Current Projects
Synje currently has 4 dollhouse renovations in progress. As every “miniaturist” will tell you, nothing ever gets finished! She created an incredible bakery for her youngest daughter, Leah. It’s only one room, but it beautifully displays Leah’s sculpted polymer clay artisan breads and cakes. Leah is outstanding in all artistic pursuits, especially sculpture.
Take a minute and really savor the sweets in this bakery. From the welcome mat to the register, Leah and Synje’s skills are breathtaking! Consider the time and attention to detail that it takes to create these mini worlds! Can you spot the cheesecake? Look at the fruit topping perfectly dripping down the sides. Delectable and delightful, wouldn’t you say?
In Synje’s home, there are six darling dollhouses - four of which are hers. Three of those four are in the Tudor style which speaks to her the most. Can you see the characteristic “x” pattern on the windows? And how about those charming candles by the hobbit-shaped door?
Did you notice that she used our European Collection of colors in the scene above?
Synje’s latest dollhouse is a log cabin, which boasts a very rustic cottage style.
Emma and Synje are enjoying the building, renovation and creating aspect. Recently, Synje has started to build some furniture dollhouse furniture of her own! Since she embraces the imperfect nature of antiques, her creations turn out rustic, which suits her just fine.
Follow and Connect with Around the Block Shabby Chic
Stay connected with Synje and her miniatures by liking and following her Facebook page. You can see Emma’s human-sized furniture here too!
Speaking of Emma, you can see more of her artwork on her Instagram feed, Effervescense Art.
Synje has two accounts on Instagram - one for her miniatures, and another for Around the Block Shabby Chic.
Shop for Synje’s miniatures in her Etsy store.
However you connect with these incredibly talented ladies, we know you’re going to get lost in their magical world of milk painted furniture - human AND dollhouse-sized!
