Off we go!

The first area I decided to tackle was the basement. I felt it could do with a bit more embellishment so..........I started by adding "quoins" around each arch.   Firstly I created little templates of card, played around with them till I was happy then numbered them and cut out the relevant shapes in strip wood.

Then a little detail from Sue Cook was added to each one.

To "ground" it all, I added a "base stone" and finished it off with coving.

Then some stripwood to simulate blockwork.

This was continued across all three sections and on either end until it ended up looking like this.

Welcome to Netherton

Netherton is my newest property. Purchased three years ago at NEC Birmingham, it stood there in the dining room on it's cabinet for about a year while I planned and stared and stared and planned until husband threatened to turn it into a drinks cabinet!

This is my record of a grand property set between 1901 and 1914. The name Netherton was arrived at when Nick was delving into his family history and it transpired that they owned a house (on a much smaller scale) going by that name in Kirn, a small town on the West coast of Scotland. It just seemed to fit somehow.

(Left hand side)

The house is made of plywood (which means it's horrifically heavy) and measures 4' x 4' x 16" deep (122cms x 122cms x 41cms) excluding the depth of the basement which adds a further 11" (28cms) to the front.

(Right hand side)

It has 15 rooms with corridors set at the back and various nooks and crannies placed here and there.

(Centre)

It also has a grand central feature staircase (the decorative spindles of which were added to replace wooden ones as an extra).

I've been slowly working on this property for the past two years and I can't wait to share with you my progress so far!