Sneak peek at progress on MCHUCLA Designer Dollhouse Showcase

I put together a page with more information on Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA Designer Dollhouse Showcase. Sources are credited. I will add updates as more photos and information is available. :)

Recognize the minimodernistas dresser and Reac Chairs? Those Tim Campbell floors are amazing, I can't wait to see those installed. Head over here for more »

Modern

Natasha Baradaran posted their modern beach house on facebook

James Magni furniture for modern house on facebook

Contemporary

Ron Woodson & Jaime Rummerfield's sneak peek at their contemporary style house

Ron Woodson & Jaime Rummerfield's “Malibu” beach house concept in an Olioboard collage

Jeffrey Alan Marks' JAM furniture for contemporary style house on instagram (tweeted by Modern MC)

JAM miniature furniture made by Palecek Design on instagram (tweeted by Modern MC)

More JAM furniture on instagram (tweeted by Modern MC)

Italianate

Mark Cutler shares work on Italianate style house read more

Mark Cutler Design's family room run through read more

Mark Cutler Design's library run through read more

Mark Cutler Design's entry concept board read more

Mark Cutler Design's family room concept board read more

Mark Cutler Design's library concept board read more

Brownstone

Estee Stanley's furniture for Brownstone style house on instagram

More of Estee Stanley's furniture on instagram

And more of Estee Stanley's furniture on instagram

Georgian

Design sketch of Georgian style house from Richard Manion and Robert Meiklejohn of Richard Manion Architecture Inc.


Tim Campbell's sneak peek at Georgian style house on his blog post

Philip Nimmo's sneak peek at Georgian style house. He is designing the second floor and attic, and making miniature replicas of his line of furniture. Posted on facebook

Tim Campbell's sneak peek of replicas of pieces from the Studio Tim Campbell furniture line and Soane Britain posted on Modern MC's twitter

Tim Campbell floors in progress from his blog post

Not sure which houses these belong to yet

Furniture by Petersen Pottery Company on instagram

Miniature Nantuckets by Peterson Pottery Company on instagram (tweeted by Modern MC)

Outdoor furniture by Peterson Pottery Company instagram

Hearth & Home table for Kaleidoscope Ball posted on Modern MC's twitter

Hearth & Home reception desk for Kaleidoscope Ball posted on Modern MC's twitter

MCHULCA Kaleidoscope Ball

An Inaugural Event to Benefit the UCLA Children’s Discovery and Innovation Institute
Featuring an Exclusive Designer Dollhouse Showcase

WHO

Event Co-Chairs Amanda Brown, Beth Friedman, and Shari Glazer with Honorees Steven and Heather Mnuchin

Renowned interior designers Natasha Baradaran, Chris Barrett, Joan Behnke, Cari Berg, Tim Campbell, Mark Cutler, Elizabeth Dinkel, Waldo Fernandez, Adam Hunter, Martyn Lawrence Bullard, James Magni, Jeffrey Alan Marks, Mary McDonald, Alexandra and Michael Misczynski, Philip Nimmo, Lonni Paul, Estee Stanley, and Ron Woodson and Jamie Rummerfield and fashion designer Monique Lhuillier

WHAT

The Kaleidoscope Ball and the Dollhouse Showcase will raise funds to benefit the UCLA Children’s Innovation and Discovery Institute at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA. Under the leadership of Physician-in-Chief Dr. Sherin U. Devaskar, Mattel Executive Endowed Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, a multidisciplinary team of physician-scientists and clinical researchers is working tirelessly to conduct cutting-edge research and deliver the finest, most advanced treatments and care available anywhere. These efforts will have a global impact that will benefit children today and for generations to come.

WHERE

Beverly Hills Hotel, 9641 Sunset Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA

WHEN

Wednesday, April 17, 2013, 6:00 p.m. Cocktail Reception, Dollhouse Showcase and Silent Auction followed by 7:00 p.m. Dinner, Awards and Entertainment headlined by Kenny Loggins and the Blue Sky Riders; hosted by Patricia Heaton

EVENT

For information on dollhouses and tickets, contact Rebecca at Grant Associates, 323-904-4400, Rebecca@grantevents.com or visit www.uclahealth.org/site_mattel.cfm?id=2410
• Sponsor Packages start at $5,000 and go up to $250,000
• Tickets Start at $500
• Tribute Journal Pages start at $500 (Deadline March 29, 2013)
• Dollhouses will be sold for $20,000 and up

PR Contact

Jill Eisenstadt bluPRint 310-208-1300 or jec@blupr.com

ABOUT Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA

Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA’s mission is to provide state-of-the-art care in a compassionate atmosphere, as well as conduct research that improves the understanding and treatment of pediatric diseases and trauma, and to train the next generation of leaders in pediatrics. Ranking among the world’s elite, Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA offers a full spectrum of primary and specialized medical care for infants, children, and adolescents. It is a vital part of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, which continues to be ranked as "Best in the West" by U.S.News & World Report’s annual survey of America’s hospitals.

ABOUT UCLA Children’s Discovery and Innovation Institute

The UCLA Children’s Discovery and Innovation Institute promises a better future for all kids through transformative research, innovative delivery of care, and education of the next generation of physician-scientists and researchers. In partnership with committed philanthropists, the Institute is ready to undertake research and care that will change the nature of pediatric medicine, from reducing the number of diseases and the severity of those still in existence to lowering mortality rates. There are few endeavors more important than improving the quality of life and health for children and their families.

ABOUT Dr. Sherin Devaskar

Sherin U. Devaskar, M.D., is Mattel Executive Endowed Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, Physician-in-Chief of Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA, and Assistant Vice Chancellor of Children's Health, UCLA Health. In her role as the Executive Chair, Dr. Devaskar oversees all aspects of the Department of Pediatrics in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and provides leadership for advancing innovative research and education programs. As Physician-in-Chief, she leads Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA physicians and staff in providing the highest-quality, family-centered clinical care. And in the role of Assistant Vice Chancellor of Children's Health, she focuses on a variety of initiatives in UCLA Health aimed at addressing critical child-health issues locally, nationally, and globally.

ABOUT Honorees Steven and Heather Mnuchin

Steven Mnuchin is Chairman and CEO of OneWest Bank Group LLC, a Federal Savings Bank Holding owned by a consortium of private investors that acquired IndyMac Federal Bank, First Federal of California, and La Jolla Bank. OneWest Bank has approximately $26 billion in assets. He is also Chairman and CEO of Dune Capital Management LP, a private investment firm. Steven spent 17 years as partner at Goldman Sachs. Currently, he serves as a board member of MOCA, Los Angeles Police Foundation, and NY Presbyterian Hospital, and UCLA Health System. He also has served on the boards of the Whitney Museum, Hirshhorn Museum, City Harvest, and Riverdale Country Day School. Steven is a member of the Board of Sears Holdings Corporation and Chairman of its Corporate Governance Committee.

Heather Mnuchin is Vice Chair of the board of City Harvest in New York City and serves on the board of the Joyful Heart Foundation and Los Angeles Zoo. She has had an extensive career in retail and entertainment marketing. She also managed public-relations, licensing, and retail operations for Sesame Street and then served as Vice President of Marketing for Planet Hollywood, opening more than 60 sites worldwide. In addition, Heather was Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications for Launch Media, which went public and was sold to Yahoo. The company is now known as Yahoo Music.

ABOUT 2013 Designer Dollhouse Showcase

Award-winning visionaries from the design world have come together to work on an incredibly exciting dollhouse design project to support fundraising efforts of the UCLA Children’s Discovery and Innovation Institute. This special showcase features 10 custom dollhouses designed to scale by Richard Manion and Robert Meiklejohn of Richard Manion Architecture. The structures include Italianate, Georgian, Modern, Contemporary, and Brownstone and feature two or three levels complete with lighting, wall coverings, furnishings, fixtures, and other home accessories. They are works of art with all of the flair, sophistication, substance, amenities, resources, and details of the designers’ life-sized projects. The designer showcase will also include two mini-garden oasis landscaped by Stephen Block of Inner Gardens and Christine London Ltd.

100% of proceeds from the sales of the dollhouses will support the UCLA Children’s Discovery and Innovation Institute.


Read my features on the designers here and visit this page for photos of houses, designer bios and more details.

Mark Cutler Design's Fantasy Dollhouse for MCHUCLA

The committee for the Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA Designer Dollhouse Showcase has brought together the League of Extraordinary Designers to create ten masterpiece dollhouses for their charity auction (more details on the event in next post). I had the pleasure of speaking with Mark Cutler of Mark Cutler Design, named one of the Top 40 Design Firms in the Country by the Robb Report. "Known for interiors that are traditional in their basis but modern in their execution, as well as the ability to make his clients a mean martini and tell them a great joke." Mark was very cordial, funny and excited to fill us in on what they are up to.

Each of the ten houses have two design teams working on them. Mark partnered with designer Cari Berg, one of the designers he didn't know but quickly connected with as they both shared the vision of creating a spectacular dollhouse for a child to play with. Here is a sneak peak of the Italianate style house they are working on. All of the houses were designed by architects Richard Manion and Robert Meiklejohn of Richard Manion Architecture Inc. There are a few builders constructing the ten houses for the Designer Dollhouse Showcase; this Italianate house is being built by Matt Barnes of Finish Rite Construction.

Mark and Cari are tackling the project by dividing the floors. Mark is working on the entry, family/living room and library on the first floor, while Cari is creating a fun, girly craft studio and girls room on the second floor. Mark and his assistant Danielle Chivers kindly shared their project description, concept boards and photos of their run through while the house is being finished.

"Inspired by the great fantasy houses in Palm Beach and the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel, the dollhouse is the ultimate girls dream house.

As you enter into the 1st floor of the dollhouse you are welcomed by a sophisticated neutral color palette of the two story entry that showcases a custom miniature “Ramona” chandelier by Fuse Lighting, and the striking “Martinique” banana leaf wallpaper.

Transitioning into the glamorous living room and library, both spaces are brightened with vivid pops of pinks, reds, purples, and feature handmade Japanese wallpaper, custom made upholstery, and a creative blend of classic and contemporary dollhouse pieces and repurposed items that make for a luxurious fantasy land any girl would love."


I chuckled when I saw the family room concept board, as that is the PRD Miniatures Sydney Entertainment Unit Paris made for my Antrim. As the house is 5 feet long, Mark asked Paris if he could build one 1 foot by 1 foot, and of course Paris obliged with this incredible wall to wall 4 screen entertainment unit. Besides PRD Miniatures, you may recognize the minisx2 wood tripod lamp and Peter Tucker lamps. Doron from Bespoke Furniture Inc. helped with the interior finishes.

Mark had a difficult time finding exactly what he was looking for (sound familiar?). Mark commissioned Janet Harvie from Maggie Melinda Miniatures to build and upholster all of the furniture. I think she did a fantastic job creating pieces based off the designs and pictures Mark sent. Her furniture looks like it was pulled off the pages of Mark's concept boards; I adore those scallop backed pink chairs. Working in miniature has involved a lot of improvisation and Mark has found himself looking at the world differently. He is finding ways to repurpose items to work in miniature: beads for lamp bases, napkin rings for table bases, handmade Japanese paper for wallpaper (we'll make a miniaturist out of him yet). Mark also reached out to vendors he works with in his full scale design business to help him create miniatures of their work. Fuse Lighting is creating a miniature replica of one of their popular chandeliers for the house.

Mark and Cari have been able to completely design the exterior with the help of Patricia from Patricia Benner Landscape Design. Their house will have a fantasy garden with hedges and a reflecting pool in front.

The wiring goes in this week, hardwood floors get installed, then wallpaper, baseboards, crown molding and finishing trim. The deadline for completion is March 30th when there will be a photo shoot of all of the houses. Just a few more weeks and we'll see these works of art in their full glory!

When asked how designing in miniature compares, Mark replied "it really is as much work as designing in full scale."

Special thanks to Mark and Danielle from Mark Cutler Design for providing all of the information, event details and photographs of their work in progress. I can't wait to see the finished house!

For more information on Mark please visit his website: Mark Cutler Design markcutlerdesign.com.

For more information on the MCHUCLA event, make sure you read all of Modern MC's posts on minimodern.blogspot.com and I'll be posting more information I unearth as well. For many of us, this really is the biggest thing since miniature sliced bread. ;)

Why can't this be my dollhouse?!?!?

Brae (otterine, Reader's Choice Best Blog Finalist, go vote) sent me this link to Jeffrey Stephenson's work.

I am in awe. Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, this computer enclosure is one step away from being an amazing dollhouse. The size is almost perfect, just pop out that computer, put in a second floor and some access panels, and presto fabulous dollhouse. Sadly, Jeffrey says he's just a hobbyist and does not sell his work. Man, what I would give for one of these converted to a dollhouse.

You can totally see how he drew inspiration from the Kaufmann House/Fallingwater (1935), Bachman-Wilson House (1954), Irving House (1909) and Coonley Playhouse (1912). Check out Jeffrey's website to read more about the Usonian project. He may not be selling anything, but for you DIYers there are over 200 more photographs of the Usonian project from start to finish to inspire you to build your own: bit-tech.net, HardOCP or Overclockers Australia.

Check out Jeffery's website to see more of his incredible work.

(all images and content based on Jeffrey's website slipperyskip.com)

My Shop is Now OPEN!

It has been a long process, but I'm excited to announce the opening on my shop selling ultra modern miniatures. Read more about it »

3D printing is taking design to a whole new level, check out this video on what it's all about. I have dreamed about opening a shop but was never able to produce the quality I wanted in wood or other materials. With the help of Shapeways, my 3D designs are fabricated into high quality modern miniatures that will look incredible in any dollhouse or display.

Read more about my shop and 3D printing here: modernminihouses.blogspot.com/p/my-shop.html

Or start shopping today: www.shapeways.com/shops/modernminihouses