As exciting as it has been to move into this new house, it was certainly sad to say goodbye to our old house and leave behind all of the parts (and projects!) that we couldn’t take with us. The penny tile backsplash. The deck. The fireplace. Wait, scratch that last one.
Let’s zoom in a bit closer on that little item sitting on the mantel. Well, what do we have here?
That, my friends, is an amazing miniature replica of our fireplace. Miniature as in completely portable and yes-it-totally-came-with-us-to-the-new-house. It’s the creation of Lisa Harrold, a recent fine arts graduate in the UK who specializes in miniatures. She emailed us to say that as a fun exercise to keep her skills fresh, she decided to recreate our fireplace – only smaller. Much smaller.
Since it wasn’t of much use to her after it was done, she asked if she could send it to us as a housewarming gift, and once we convinced her to let us pay her for it and the shipping, it immediately became one of our favorite accessories in our new house. It doesn’t have a final resting spot quite yet (it’s a bit too big/delicate for Clara’s dollhouse) although it might end up on the living room built-ins. These photos are more just my (failed) attempt to photograph the amazing detail that Lisa put into it. They don’t come close to doing it justice.
If the darn thing weren’t so awesome, I’d totally film a monster movie where Burger destroys it Godzilla style. Although that would also require Burger working on his destructive monster face. Right now he’s mainly giving me “confused” and “when can I eat the treat you hid behind this tiny fireplace?”
Yep, still just wants that treat. Guess the mini-fireplace is safe from annihilation for now.
Thanks again to Lisa for the awesome and meaningful mini fireplace. We’re so touched to have such a tangible memento of the love that we put into that house, and we thought sharing the goods might even inspire someone else out there to take something they love with them (Sherry wants to buy them as gifts for everyone we know). We may just have to dig up something from our first house that we can hire her to miniaturize. Sherry thinks the laundry nook would be cute. Or maybe we should go with the living room fireplace, to keep with the theme. You know we love a collection…
Anne @ Planting Sequoias says
This is THE COOLEST. Makes me want to dig out my dollhouse and redecorate!
Crystal says
Hmm…new dollhouse item for Clara?
Kelly {the Centsible Life} says
What an awesome way to remember your house! These would make great gifts, I agree with Sherry. You should get something from the first house too!
Meg @ Radical Possibility says
oh my god, thats amazing!! the idea itself is cool, but she did an amazing job on all the details!! plus, i’ve been a sucker for anything miniature since my dollhouse days as a kid.
speaking of, would it fit in clara’s dollhouse?
YoungHouseLove says
It would be a little big for the scale of her dollhouse (and it’s a bit too delicate for her yet I think…) but I love the idea of putting it on a shelf with other miniature things (ex: tiny metal chair, etc).
xo
s
Trisha D. says
I was just about to suggest the same thing. Since it doesn’t fit, maybe its cool enough to build her a new one. Or the crafting Gods would bless you with the skills to recreate the first house she ‘knew.’
JenB says
I was thinking that you might have to build a new, bigger dollhouse with the fireplace as a focal point!! It’s too cool. But then again, I love the idea of putting it on a shelf with other miniature things. Either way, she did an incredible job.
Miranda says
Would it fit in Clara’s doll house???
YoungHouseLove says
It would be a little big for the scale of her dollhouse (and it’s a bit too delicate for her yet I think…) but I love the idea of putting it on a shelf with other miniature things (ex: tiny metal chair, etc).
xo
s
Ani says
Have you ever thought about recreating one of your old houses as a doll house? It would be insanely time consuming but so amazing!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Holy cow that would be a huge project, but so much fun. Maybe when Clara’s a little older and can work on it with me…
xo
s
Cair says
There’s a house near me that has a dollhouse in the front window that is a replica of the house itself. Very cool. Been there for at least twenty years.
YoungHouseLove says
So cool!
xo
s
Rachel says
I made a gingerbread recreation of the house I grew up in before Christmas a few years ago. I had a blast doing it.
Debby says
@Cair, you don’t live in Mentor Ohio do you? I drive by a house that has a replicated dollhouse in the window. JW
robyns says
OMG! so cute! and so gonna end up in Clara’s dollhouse!
saVUryandsweet says
Wut up Petersiks? Just noticing your about blurb – it’s changed recently no? Or maybe I just don’t stalk this site enough? Nahhhh. You forgot the ceramic animals and bikes. Just sayin. HAPPY FRIDAY!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, yeah we changed it a few weeks ago, just because it was a little dated (called Clara a toddler and said we were working on a book, haha!).
xo
s
Jenn says
Wow! That is gorgeous. Lisa is amazingly talented!
Michelle says
Since your fireplace makeover was one of my most FAVORITE things about your new house, I LOVE THIS! That is really awesome and so thoughtful! You have amazing fans/readers!
Brad @ Mr. Write Away says
Love it. Have a good weekend, Petersiks!
Jennifer S says
Love it!!!
Rebecca | the lil house that could says
This is so awesome. I’m so in awe of people that can create such delicate things by hand these days, such talent.
Theresa says
Wow!! It’s fantastic! Did she paint it to look like marble tile? A tremendous amount of work.
YoungHouseLove says
She used this amazing shiny textured paper that looks like marble tile and tiled it (chevron on the bottom and brick-pattern on the front just like ours). It’s amazing to see in person!
xo
s
Kara says
I said “woah” out loud three times. That’s so cool! I keep picturing it with tiny Christmas decor on the mantel.
YoungHouseLove says
That would be so sweet!
xo
s
Nicole @ Post Grad says
Can’t help it. My first thought was totally “WHAT IS THIS? A CENTER FOR ANTS?!”
This has to be one of the coolest skill-testing projects I’ve seen. What an amazing job! And such a cool reminder you’ll always have of that beautiful fireplace. You could always turn it into an ornament for the tree. Might be a bit big… maybe the new tree topper.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha! Love me some Zoolander on a Friday morning.
xo
s
Olivia says
Haha! Nice one, Nicole :)
Rebecca @This Nest is Best says
That is seriously amazing! And yes, you should definitely have something miniaturized from your first house! I say make it a fireplace collection and when you’re “done” with this house’s fireplace you can have another one made.
Lisa E says
Wow, Lisa has some mad skills! I never have patience for making or working on tiny items but I love them. That was very thoughtful of her.
Kaci B says
I think you two and Lisa need to join forces and create kid furniture together or at least doll houses! How cool would that be!
YoungHouseLove says
That would be awesome!
xo
s
Kay says
Give that woman a job! Wow, that’s amazing. And what a lovely keepsake for your home. Also, that picture of Burger and the fireplace made me nearly spit out my coffee. So funny!
Cara D says
You should get miniatures of the outsides of both of your previous homes.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s fun!
xo
s
Tanya says
I think it would be really cool to have miniatures of all the front doors someone has had (Lisa even has an example of one on her website). Though with all of the apartments I have lived in that I may have to be selective if I ever did this.
YoungHouseLove says
Love that!
xo
s
Megan @ Rappsody in Rooms says
Wow! What a fun keepsake! How sweet of her to make it too! It’s like those black cat homes that you can have personalized…but cooler and more modern! I can definitely see that as a bookend of something like that.
John says
John I see a 3-D printer in your future. Imagine penny tile for Clara’s dollhouse. They are getting cheaper.
YoungHouseLove says
That. Would. Be. Awesome.
xo
s
Jena says
I’m impressed with Burger not eating that treat! You guys have him well trained :)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah, he’s a master at the “leave it” command. Video evidence here: http://life.younghouselove.com/2011/08/small-dog-big-willpower/
xo
s
Ali B. says
The Burger Godzilla pictures are hilarious. He really earned that treat. So patient!
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
What an amazingly thoughtful gift! I agree with keeping it safe from dollhouse play and Burger destruction. The detail is awesome.
Have a fun weekend guys!
Aimée says
That is brilliant! The detail really is quite remarkable. What’s it made from may I ask? I keep scrolling through the pictures, zooming in to take a closer look. What a lovely and thoughful gift (well, purchase)- hats off to you Lisa!
YoungHouseLove says
It seems like some sort of stiff foam core. It’s light but substantial if that makes sense.
xo
s
Kate S. says
This…is…amazing!
kate C. says
Love this! So cute!!
Kara says
Lisa is one talented lady! I’m jealous!
And I think keeping in with a fireplace theme would be really cool! How many people do you know has something like that?!
Leslie says
Wow! Lisa is very talented.
Lindsey says
I think it would be fantastic to put it in your “sentimental” art gallery in a shadow box. The craftsmanship is very lovely.
Annelies says
When you see the fire place again it amazes me how you are such crafts people. You did an amazing job John & Sherry! And so did Lisa !
katie says
have you ever seen these birdhouses? Thomas Burke commissions custom replications of homes for birdhouses (his go for about $20k but are truly works of art!)
http://www.thebirdhousebarn.com/custom-replica-birdhouse.htm
there are a few other vendors out there now that commission them for $200-300 but could also be a cool DIY project!
katie says
whoops! this is the link that shows his work (the other link is one of the more discount vendors)
http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-3445_162-10016864.html
YoungHouseLove says
So awesome!
xo
s
Thais Bessa says
So cute! I had a look at her website and she has miniatures of houses. Why not have one of your first and second houses as a whole? Not dollhouse size, but just miniature. It would complement your frame with all the keys!
YoungHouseLove says
That would definitely be fun!
xo
s
Wendy @ New Moms Talk says
Something about the fireplace has me thinking of Christmas. Perhaps Olivia & family could hang their stockings from it, or roast marshmallows in front of it- carefully of course.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, so cute!
xo
s
Sarah from a fine line says
So cool, and I can totally see why you’d be sad to leave that fireplace! As my husband and I are first time home shopping, I think of that fireplace every time I see one in need of some love! Can’t wait to see what you do at the new house.
Stephanie says
I am completely in favor of starting a miniature fireplace collection. Also, I think “Photographed with Chihuahua for Scale” should be a new standard for the product photography industry.
YoungHouseLove says
Agreed. Let’s make this official. Chihuahuas are the new metric system. Pass it on.
xo
s
Lauren @ The Highlands Life says
Oh my word. That us the sweetest and cutest little miniature furniture piece ever. What an amazing job to capture all that detail.
HeatherFromKC says
That is super sweet!!
Shannon {Our Home Notebook} says
It is so perfect! What a fun idea for a gift.
christina @ homemade ocean says
you have THE BEST readers :)
and I am not just saying that because I am one haha.
YoungHouseLove says
It’s the truth.
xo
s
Sarah says
How cool is that?!
Have another one from your first house and make bookends! Well, it wouldn’t be the weighted part, unless you attach it to a brick or stone or something heavy. Either way, such a sweet gift!
Linda says
That is incredible! And I say that as someone who has visited the Art Institute of Chicago’s Thorne Miniature rooms several times. That is one talented artist! And what a touching gift/purchase. And, Sherry and John, next time you’re in Chicago, I think you’d enjoy the Art Institute (and the Thorne collection!)
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds awesome!
xo
s
Shreya says
That. is. amazing.
So cool to have a piece of your home with you!
Lisa says
I’m so glad you like it guys!
I love the photos of the mini fireplace on the actual fireplace, and the one with Burger. A great way to show the size comparison!
x Lisa
YoungHouseLove says
Oh Lisa, it’s amazing! Feel free to borrow Burger for any scale comparisons you need. Haha!
xo
s
Kathryn says
Wonderful, wonderful job, Lisa. Such craftsmanship! There really is something quite magical about miniatures.
Anne Marie says
Great job, Lisa! I had to make models in Interior Design school, your fireplace is far more detailed than any other fireplace I’ve ever attempted!
Haley says
What a wonderful surprise! Are these old pictures/have you closed on the old house yet? Just wondering about closing timelines – we’re told our 20 days from offer to close was really quick but other friends have similar experiences.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, we took these photos a week or two ago (the new owners have now moved into the house and it’s theirs, as of last Tuesday I think).
xo
s
Jerri says
Wow! That is fantastic! As a lover of miniatures, I am so thrilled Lisa made this for you guys! What a remarkable way to memorialize something special from a previous or current home! Love, love, love it!
Mary | lemongroveblog says
That fireplace was totally gorgeous – I would have some heartache leaving it behind, too! That was so incredibly sweet of her to create that for you – perfect way to take a piece of the old place along :)