Room 1 - Drawing Room

I was really excited when Gayle Baillargeon of Petworth Miniatures sent out a newsletter last year announcing that she was planning a new quarter scale kit, called Hungerford Manor, consisting of 24 single rooms that would be available on a subscription basis, one a month starting from May this year. The rooms can be used as stand-alone roomboxes or can be combined to form a complete manor house.  There will be a lift-off front, but the sides and back will be open for viewing, or that was the plan last year.  I immediately signed up for the subscription.  I intend to buy every room despite the fact that the price for us in Australia is $67 US including postage for the room itself.  Then there's the furniture.  However I figure that I can afford that each month, and to buy a 24-room mansion kit all in one go would be very expensive indeed.

On the ground floor there is a Marble Hall,  Grand Staircase, and Chinoiserie Salon at the front.  At the rear there is a Music Room, Drawing Room, and Dining room.  In the west wing there is a Study, a hall and a Library, and in the east Wing a Kitchen with Butler's Pantry and a Garden Room.

On the first floor front there is a Tapestry room, Ballroom and the staircase.  At the rear there is an Egyptian bedroom, Guest bedroom, bathroom, and French Provincial room.  In the east wing a bedroom, sitting room and bathroom and in the west wing there is another bathroom, sitting room and bedroom.  There are also four attic rooms that Gayle apparently doesn't count.

In April 2015 there will be a catch-up month when anyone who has missed one of the ground floor rooms and decides they want one can order it before the first floor rooms start shipping.

And the quality of this manor house is just outstanding!  The instructions are excellent, everything fits together perfectly, and the finished rooms are stunning.  I can only spend a few hours each day on minis so it took me four days to do the first room, which is the Drawing Room, but here are some pictures of the finished result.

Overview of Drawing Room

Right wall

Left wall

Showing ceiling

The walls are done in Burgundy, and the ceiling, cornice, pilasters, and other trim are all done in Ceramcoat Ivory.  The colours are even richer in real life and the whole room is quite stunning.  I have actually done the doors and didn't realise until I had uploaded the photos here that I haven't put them in - I meant to tape them into place.  I won't be installing them permanently until the adjoining rooms are finally attached.

I have done the furniture for the room as well.  There are four wall sconces, four chairs, some tables, and mirrors.  I've painted them all in gold but I haven't done the faux painted marble on two of the table tops or upholstered the chairs yet so I'll wait until that is all done before I take photos with the furniture in place.  Before I upholster the chairs I have to find where I've put the fabrics I keep for miniatures.  They don't appear to have arrived in the studio, so I have no idea where they are.  Sigh.

Today I've been working on the second room, the Marble Hall.  Hopefully I'll be able to show you tomorrow.