Pehr's House

2 April 2013


Not even 6 months old, our daughter has already moved out and got a place of her own, her first step on the property ladder. She's going to show you around her new pad...


when she's a tad older...she might enjoy having a cup of tea whilst perusing her book of birds and sighing at the delicate waft of narcissi.


and getting a bit of shut eye in peace away from pesky parents, oohing and ahhing at her all day.


Yes, us bonkers mum and dad, built her, her very own house seeing as she can't have her own actual room for a while. We spent the Easter bank holiday beavering away...


...architectural plans. 
Construction site was next to the nappy changing table.


Pehr was the project manager, and structural surveyor.


after Nao had finished the woodwork, it was my turn with the sewing machine.


we used 10oz cotton canvas (from an art suppliers). In hindsight, I should have gone with a lighter weight even though it was not as nice, it would have been a darn sight more easy to sew! The canvas frayed badly and it took me a while to use binding tape on all the seems. I really like the texture and feel of it though! (and smell, am I weird?)


anyways, after realising we had not bought quite enough material, and shortening the poles of the house to fit the length of the fabric...I finally set about cutting out the bits to make the door and windows. I made five windows, two on the front and one on the other sides.


The door was made from floral print fabric with a wooden pole inserted into the bottom seam.


It took me the best part of two days, as I always start projects in the evening and then my machine gets too loud for the upstairs neighbours. I put a pillow under my machine to soften the vibration, but it kept bobbing up and down all over the place! I couldn't really do this project in my shed because the tent became quite big to manoeuvre under the needle.


here it is at night with a lamp inside (excuse the mess all around)


I made window panes with cotton muslin (butter fabric from corner shop) with cotton tape sewn on for the bars.


I think really I am just acting out all the things I would have wanted when I was a nipper, in fact I can just about get in it, so I hope Pehr will invite me around for tea one day.


Of course, there's absolutely nowhere to put this house in our titchy flat, so I made a storage bag (as it is collapsable) and I also made a ground sheet, that attaches to the bottom with wooden toggles.

We are nuts, I know it.


*BTW the red lantern is LED not a real paraffin lamp. Please be VERY careful when using paraffin lamps in tents or caravans. I know thats obvious, but just anyways : )

64 comments

  1. I love it! You too are so clever and my gosh Pehr is just incredibly cute! :-D

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  2. i think this is adorable! i also think she will adore it...she can have a house inside your amazing tent, when the time comes for camping trips!
    Im off to come up with an idea for something like this for my little man! im thinking log cabin!! xxx

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  3. You two are the very best sort of bonkers!!! Pehr's chances of being creative are extremely high!

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  4. Anonymous2.4.13

    This is absolutely adorable in so many ways! The creativity from you two is endless.

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  5. This is incredible! You really are pretty darn talented! I was inspired by your whale mobile and made a toy whale for my niece, so thank you for the craftspiration...I think one day when we have a wee nipper (I'm from the Island too) they may have to thank your ideas for the awesome stuff they get made!

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  6. Anonymous2.4.13

    That is such a lovely thing you made for Pehr.
    I've read your blog for a while, and just want to say how clever and hard working you and your husband are.
    Seriously, I don't think I left the house for 6 months after my babies were born!
    And you've built your daughter a house! and sewn her clothes and toys and all sorts!
    She is a gorgeous baby.
    Best wishes x

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  7. Hehe that is ridiculously cute! Me and my sister used to make houses out of my grandma's tablecloths propped up by chairs when we were little and we would have absolutely loved this! Pehr is such a lucky little thing :)

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  8. Simply adorable :)

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  9. You are nuts... but it is absolutely one of the loveliest things you've made. well done both of you - good team effort there - she will love it, especially as she gets older. All my girls want to do all day is build dens, so they will be very envious of this when i show them!

    (Don't know why your blog is not appearing on my blogger 'reading list' feed... fortunately i get your updates on Facebook. but thought i'd mention it, in case others are finding the same.)

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    1. Not showing up in mine either…weird! Loved this post, such a sweet little house.

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  10. I love the heart shaped stool. Well actually the whole lot is pretty cool!

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  11. oooooh! I said before that the whale mobile was the best thing you had made, but now I definitely think it's this house! Ditto 'the vicars alter' I want one too :) xx

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  12. You are utterly nuts but I love it! xxx

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  13. But such a very good type of nuts! This is so incredibly wonderful, thanks for sharing. BTW, trying a gardener's foam kneeling pad under the sewing machine. It'll help with the late night noise without the wobble.

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  14. wow! you guys are great mum and dad. :D i am sure little pehr will love her new place. :D

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  15. Cute, cute and some more cute!

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  16. Frenchie3.4.13

    Everyone has their own shed now ! So cute !

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  17. Incredible in every way.

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  18. Charlotte3.4.13

    So sweet, such nice parents.

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  19. Anonymous3.4.13

    oh. my. gosh! best parents ever?! this is amazing!

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  20. never in my life have i written a comment to a blog...but you deserve it..you 3some are a delight to follow-the little house is a gem of love and creativity-
    thank you for your flower filled posts
    chiara from rome

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  21. Omygod! You guys are great parents! It's lovely...

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  22. Anonymous3.4.13

    This is amazing! Our little boy would love one if his dense parents can cobble one together for him. Would you mind giving me the dimensions of the house please?

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  23. Anonymous3.4.13

    Aww, that's so cute! I'm sure Pehr will love playing in it when she gets a bit bigger.
    I wish I was your neighbour, I wouldn't mind the sewing at all! I could pop over with my knitting and some cake :)

    Iiris

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  24. Bonkers but totally fantastic! How could Pehr not love her new abode!

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  25. Eydis3.4.13

    I am speechless. The tent is breathtaking!!!

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  26. Eydis3.4.13

    Oh, I forgot: my second thought, after admiring the house was "I really do hope that is a battery lamp." :) Not that it would have been any of my business, but I was happy to see that it was a lamp. :)

    I have to say, looking at those pictures make me so giddy! Embarassingly so! It reminds me of the tiny Ikea play tent I gave my daughter, and sometimes I'd put a mattress inside it and let her sleep the night there. She used to love it. ...She's too big to fit inside it today. They grow up so fast!!!

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  27. This is Incredible!! I want a grown-up sized one. You are both so talented, it is amazing what you are able to whip up in such a short amount of time, especially with a little bundle by your side.

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  28. Anonymous3.4.13

    This is brilliant! Everybody needs a space of their own... as you know, with your his-and-her sheds. It's over the top, in the best way possible.

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  29. This is THE cutest thing I've ever seen made for any baby, ever! I've been looking for something to fill my slightly-too-big-to-be-cosy living room and this is what I now dearly wish for. But it would have to be big enough for my nearly 6ft self! I'm a 6ft baby and think you're the sweetest parents for making your actual baby this! X

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  30. Rowena3.4.13

    Speechless. It's just genius - you don't have to worry about Pehr falling off a height because it's already on the ground. And it's a cozy space for her to sleep while you move about your home. You are both such sweet and lovely parents. I wouldn't be surprised if you don't end up selling these in your shop!

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  31. can i just tell you...i have loved following you for the past couple of years, but i love it even more now that you are parents...such a joy you three are...nuts in the best possible way :)

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  32. Anonymous4.4.13

    This is seriously the cutest thing I've ever seen for a child - its a pity she can't use it straight away! As always you're far too clever!

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  33. Anonymous4.4.13

    I think that was a wonderful idea. I had a house like that when I was about five and LOVED it. Having such crazy creative parents is a lot of fun, she's a lucky child!

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  34. Cute beyond words. I.WANT.ONE.NOW. Seriously, it's a great idea also for adults who can't afford privacy otherwise!

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  35. No WAY!!! I want to live there! Okay, you have inspired me...just give me a year or two and maybe we'll get on this. :) Seriously, you guys did an amazing job. It's so special, and you have one lucky girl! :)

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  36. Nikki4.4.13

    Wow. I want to move in there!

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  37. oh my god, that is amazing! I love all the little details x

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  38. WOW!!! That´s fantastic! I´m thinking about doing a tent for my children (age 5 and 7) but a much easier model... :)

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  39. This is brilliant, you are so clever, and also mental!!

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  40. marny6.4.13

    Oh,j'adore.C'est vraiment adorable!

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  41. Oh, this is gorgeous! I totally want one for myself. You are such amazing parents, and really inspiring. I've been meaning to make something like this for my 9 month old and haven't even started yet. May I ask where you got those plastic connectors for the poles from, please? I've been scouring the internet for some and can't seem to find the right ones! Oh, and my little girl has exactly those legging with the fox on the bum - so cute! xx

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  42. Nuts indeed !
    I can't believe the quantity of ideas and beautiful stuff you've been creating during the last months...
    I'll send you my babes when I have some, I know they will be well treated :)
    Best wishes tou you all

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  43. Anonymous7.4.13

    That tent is totally wicked. You guys are far too clever!

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  44. Wow, you made this from scratch, that's incredible!! And what a beautiful thing to make for your daughter. You are so clever and talented!

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  45. oh! it's so nice, amazing!

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  46. Anonymous8.4.13

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  47. awhh this is sooo cute, love it!!

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  48. This is so beautiful, Pehr is a lucky girl! I knew there was going to something good coming when you mentioned a new project in your Easter post.
    I made a playhouse for my daughter, it took a lot of sweat and tears, about 10 x longer than a weekend and by the time I made it I had no energy to photograph it and write a blog post about it. You guys put me to shame!

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  49. Anonymous9.4.13

    You are seriously amazing.

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  50. Anonymous10.4.13

    Your blog is lovely and the playhouse is absolutely fab, I'd love to make one for my five year old. Just another small plea to ask if you'd mind sharing where you got the plastic connectors from?

    I just cannot seem find any on UK sites, they all seem to be from the US...

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    1. They are from another playhouse. I'd recommend buying a cheap one from eBay (£15?) and just make a new tent to go over the frame.

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  51. Anonymous10.4.13

    Pehr's house looks so lovely. You and your husband are very talented. To minimise fraying, I recommend serging (overstiching) before cutting the fabric (on the lines that you outlined to cut). You can also use a product called fray-check that is a sort of liquid glue that stops fraying. Can't wait to read about your next project for Pehr.

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  52. you guys never ever fail to amaze ! how beautiful !

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  53. Linda in Waterloo12.4.13

    That's dreamy!

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  54. This is amazing. I so wish I had the talent and patience! Well done!

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  55. Anonymous14.4.13

    What a beautiful little house. I'm sure Pehr will love it. Some of my happiest memories of childhood involve being in dens and tents and shelters that I made with my mum.

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  56. Such a lovely idea and fantastic results... I wish every child were so lucky to be surrounded by such loving, creative parents! Cx

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  57. This has just confirmed what I already suspected... You are AMAZING! What an inspiring idea. Thank you so much for posting this.

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  58. Ha! Husband is respraying vintage motorbike parts, he asked me this evening if I could think of a clever way for him to make a 'tent' to spray paint in while minimizing dust exposure. I was able to show him this post and he's so excited - knows where to get connectors like these from an electrical supply store!
    I was pretty smug that I could help him out, and all thanks to your genius.
    And maybe we can use the frame to build a playhouse for the girls afterwards!

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  59. I want my own tent/indoor house immediately! This is the cutest idea ever :)

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  60. I love it! Am ever so curious how you manage to balance child care and creating such a beautiful house, My daughter has a cardboard box one, and as much as i have 'decorated', its still a cardboard box one. Brilliant job. Hope you are proud.

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