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The construction of miniature houses has become increasingly popular over the past few years, becoming a true obsession for those individuals that patiently and laboriously devote hours to this pastime. However, this is not a new development as miniature house construction is thousands of years old. The first doll's house known to man is a clay model found in the Ukraine dating back to 3,000 BC. Although models of buildings are known to have existed in older civilizations, such as the Egyptian, this is the first time domestic life is clearly represented. The model recreates a circular hut with a woman grinding some grain and another woman sitting on a seat next to the oven.

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Not until 17th century Germany did miniature houses begin to increase in popularity and complexity. Aristocrats ordered luxurious models and complements to impress their guests. The kitchens, for example, were considered very important and were minutely and realistically rendered. This craze later continued in other countries such as Holland and England, in which doll's houses were born, a far more modest proposition than those built on the continent and aimed mainly at children. This particular hobby was thus launched in Europe, and has now reached a truly impressive level of accuracy and quality.

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How to begin
The first point that has to be made is that constructing miniature houses is not a cheap hobby. Not only do you need several months, or often years, of free time to finish a project, but deep pockets are also required. To the basic instruments needed to build a house must be added the tools and, above all, the adornments and characters with which to fill the house.

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The first step to constructing a miniature house is to purchase a kit with all the basic tools required to complete this task. Craft shops, specialist stores and on-line establishments (especially in England where this hobby is well catered for) sell a wide range of kits, on which the difficulty and complexity of construction is marked.� You can find kits covering all architectural styles, eras and countries. The final choice is yours but it is very important to keep in mind both the length of time needed to complete the kit and its final harmony with your home's decoration.

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Some prefer made-to-measure houses, which means having to construct all the house's elements: walls, ceilings, rooms... These aficionados can find models for all types of houses, although some decide to start from scratch, designing the plans themselves much like genuine architects. Logically, the less help you get, the trickier the task. The best option for beginners is to purchase a not too complicated kit in the style of your liking, so that you do not end up over your head. If you later discover that this exciting hobby is to your liking, you will have plenty of time to take on more ambitious projects.

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Miniature house kits are sort of puzzle, made up of pieces that will later fit together perfectly to make a house. The instructions guide you step by step on how to fix up all parts of the house: fa�ade, roof, rooms, mirrors, bedrooms, kitchen... They also give you an idea of all the basic tools needed to work and join the different parts.

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The kits do not usually contain decorative elements, so that once the house is completed, it needs to be decorated according to your personal taste. This is when the most artistic part begins, when the aficionado can improvise, choosing the colour of the fa�ade and the different rooms, the inhabitants, the furniture, the pictures that will adorn the walls, the lamps, etc. As with the architecture of the house, the decoration can be designed and built by the aficionado or else purchased in specialist stores. Commonly both options are taken, with the individual constructing the simplest and most personal decorative objects (tables, mirrors, pictures...) and purchasing the most sophisticated and indispensable ones to give the house a genuine realism. The final aim is for the miniature house to be something that aficionados can proudly exhibit to their friends and families.

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