Australian Details

[Tundra]

I want to set my new dollhouse in Australia, in modern times. It's probably Sydney or Melbourne rather than Adelaide, just because I don't really see houses like this here very often.

I want to include things that will make it look 'Australian' rather than 'could be anywhere'. Yes, things like having tim tams in the kitchen, but also other things. Interior design features that are common here but not so much elsewhere/in England (where most Australian dollhouses are set for some reason), things for in their bedrooms, hobbies, anything.

I don't mean things like they have a bunch of koala themed things around the place or a big Australian flag somewhere. :p Also Hills Hoists are out, because it's just the house, no yard.

Any thoughts?

[MichaelB]

well, I do have an Australian flag in my bedroom :p

I'm not really sure, aside from the Akubra on the hatstand and the Drizabone on the coat rack, how you could make a place "look Australian", because our design aesthetic draws on so many different cultures, especially the UK and America, but also asian, african and middle-eastern countries.

I will say that we (The generalised, subjective 'we' that I extrapolate from my own experiences) don't tend to have as much fiddly furniture around the place, like side tables and objets d'art and so on. In the open-plan living area I'm in right now, we have a book case, 2 couches, a computer desk, lizard tank, coffee table, stereo system and television. Compared to some illustrations I've seen of traditional English or American living spaces, that's not all that much. Furniture tends to be bunched together along the walls, as well.


One thing that I don't imagine overseas people having very much of is Aboriginal dot-art, which can be found around here fairly commonly (especially further towards the city/beaches)

... maybe a copy of The Adventures of Lano and Woodley on the coffee table? Native flowers/gum leaf branches in vases?

Oh, and AFL stuff! Or other australian sports teams memorabilia, like a Socceroos shirt or a Wallabies gym bag. Or a Sherrin footy, that'd be even better.

[Koeniou]

Looking around my house there's nothing that really screams 'Australian'. However, I suggest little accents around the house like magnets on the fridge, posters in a children's bedroom, paintings on the wall of the outback.

Depending on how detailed you wanted to be, little scenes that I can think of are:
- items like a pair of thongs (flip-flops), bathers and a beach towel piled up in a corner of the bathroom ready to hit the beach.
- vase of Australian wildflowers on a table (wattle etc)
- ceiling fans
- a clock with the Australian flag on it
- in a kids room stuffed Australian animals

I hope that helps!

[Tundra]

Yep, I'm looking for ideas for little things!

I just thought of Australian money lying on a table, and perhaps the drivers ed book for L platers in the younger teenager's room. Lano and Woodley is a good idea!
Perhaps I'll even have a poster of LW in my young woman's bedroom. :D

ceiling fans is a good one too.

One Australian flag is okay. I'll have to decide where it'll go though.

Perhaps I can put a barbecue on the front porch/verandah...

[Tundra]

Just thought of Australian newspapers!
And perhaps Australian wine labels on wine bottles that are in a wine rack somewhere....

[Koeniou]

Maybe an Australian flag quilt cover? One of my younger cousins has one.

Wine labels are a great idea! And newspapers.

[Tundra]

ooo, just walked out into my hallway and remembered that all the paintings we have in our hallway are Australian scenes! So lots of the miniature artwork I have could be Australian. Plus some other stuff because I want it to look like they've travelled.

An Australian flag towel could also work?

[MichaelB]

If you have a verandah, you need to put a porch swing in. Please?

Also, I really didn't know that ceiling fans are uniquely Australian. I've just googled them, and they're probably not?

A clock with the flag might be good, but I think one of those polished Redgum clocks would be even better. Those are absolutely unique to Australia, because nobody else in the world would deign to own one. (like this (http://communitywarehouse.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/5-12-006.jpg), or this (http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachments/f168/126522d1263192062-lathe-turned-clocks-natural-edge-redgum-burl-clock-002.jpg))

[Tundra]

It's quite a small porch. :( I don't think it can fit a swing! I'll see though.

No, ceiling fans aren't Australian but I think it'd set the house apart from 'English' in a subtle way. Along with a screen door... if I can figure out how to make one.

[GriffinGal]

Ceiling fans are very American, too. In most of our home-improvement stores, and even in our general supercenters like Wal-Mart, there is a ceiling-fan section. In fact, you can almost never fail to find ceiling fans in a large, non-food store. Just wanted to let you know about that.

[butterfly]

The Green and Gold cookbook (http://judyoz.com/media/ccp0/prodlg/green-gold-cookbook-med.jpg) in the kitchen?

That picture of the shearers (http://www.authorsden.com/ArticlesImage/43796.jpg).

Any Australian TV show, or multiple if there are multiple TVs.

[Tundra]

Okay, well at least it'll be clear it's not English, with ceiling fans. Now to make sure it doesn't look American either. :p

Australian tv shows is a good one.

Is 'Women's Weekly' Australian? I know we have our own version but is this something that is overseas too, just with their own articles/that we copied from somewhere?

[Daisymall13]

You've gotta have AFL posters in one of the bedrooms..That's what 'screams' Aussie at me in my room :P

[Tundra]

Good idea!

[spinner47]

Does your house have a verandah, or could it accommodate a front fence? If so, it needs iron lace work. This was a feature in the UK too, but it all got removed and melted down for munitions during WWI and WWII. Check out North Adelaide for ideas. It could be worked in crochet and stiffened.

[Tundra]

Yep, there's a narrow verandah/balcony combo!

[MichaelB]

Iron fencework is pretty common in Melbourne too, especially in the inner suburbs. We've got a wrought iron gate attached to our wooden fence.

[spinner47]

Is your house old enough to have had pressed tin ceilings? Fancy, mostly geometric patterns, now replaced by plaster mouldings. The even older version is very fine corrugated 'iron' sheeting. This was brought to Aus. as ballast in the sailing ships. I think the older areas of Sydney also have the fancy outside ironwork.

[MichaelB]

A corrugated tin roof is a great idea, and definitely very Australian.

[Tundra]

I was thinking one of those more modern corrugated iron roofs that are around right now. Coloured, not rusting, since it has been redone.
Pressed tin ceilings is a good idea! Did people have those in houses? I've only seen them in shops.

[AXJ]

Gotta have a plate with some lamingtons in the kitchen somewhere.

[Koeniou]

Pressed tin ceilings is a good idea! Did people have those in houses? I've only seen them in shops.

The ceiling in my kitchen is pressed tin! Its so pretty. The house owners painted it white and I just love it.

[Tundra]

Thanks for the info! I love pressed tin too!

I don't think I'll be able to have ceiling fans. :( I can't figure out how to do it. There are miniature ceiling fans attached to lights, but I don't like any of the lights very much. I was trying to think of how to make a ceiling fan and attach it on top of the light, but I'm really not sure how to do it at all! I guess I can keep thinking.

[butterfly]

Forgive my complete unknowledgability and utter lack of form, but would painted popsticks make a suitable ceiling fan?

[Tundra]

Possibly, if I cut them and decorated them.