Dollhouse dreams come to life with the Atlanta Debut of La Petite Maison
Tiny masterpieces with a big mission! La Petite Maison arrives in Atlanta, featuring custom dollhouses from the city’s leading designers to support The Boyce L. Ansley School
On November 19th, La Petite Maison debuts in Atlanta with a creative design challenge and a meaningful mission. Founded by Houston-based interior designer Alexandra Killion and chaired by Caroline Weimar and Emily Carrere, the event enlists nine acclaimed local design firms to bring a collection of custom dollhouses to life. These miniature marvels, designed by architect John Plaster in partnership with Alair Homes and SCAD, aren’t your average play set—they’re intricately decorated and masterfully layered. And at approximately 50-inches long, no corner was left untouched. “I think people will be in awe of how much detail there is,” says designer Anna-Wooten Loggins, whose dollhouse is temporarily on display at Weezie. “It’s a unique perspective because in a regular home, you’re taking in one space at a time, but with a dollhouse, you could be taking in four to five rooms. We had to work hard to make sure everything flowed, but was still playful and whimsical for anyone who may be playing with them.”
Guests will delight to see rooms dressed in scaled-down versions of their favorite prints and patterns, including Schumacher’s iconic Pyne Hollyhock, Claremont, Philip Jeffries, and Nina Campbell for Osborne + Little. In designer Lauren DeLoach’s English Country-inspired house—named “Merrivale Manor” as a nod to a modern version of Jane Austen’s “Emma“—miniature paintings by artists found at Gregg Irby Gallery (where the dollhouse is temporarily on display cover walls. Look closely in the foyer, and you’ll find a brown-and-white miniature tureen from DeLoach’s own childhood dollhouse. These kinds of small surprises are located throughout for eagle-eyed guests, such as what Loggins’ team refers to as a “Beauty and the Beast” bureau in her ladies lounge or miniature ribbon in the wrapping room.
While each house has similar bones, the design approach mirrored their real-life work. Floor plans were reoriented to fit their vision and spaces personalized with details they gravitate toward on a regular basis. For example—with its bone pink exterior, green shutters, and clay roof, Loggins’ creation oozes with Mediterranean flair, inspiring visions of St. Tropez or the French countryside. Inside, subtle coastal elements mingle with painted floors and furniture by Hayden Paints. The house is finished with elegant holiday decor, featuring tiny trees, lights, wreaths, and presents the size of your fingernail.
The classical architectural details of DeLoach’s dollhouse took on a bolder appearance thanks to coats of Oval Room Blue and Teresa’s Green from Farrow & Ball. Each interior room was treated as its own jewel box, from a garden room with lattice and a garden tool wall sculpture, to a boy’s nursery with blue stripe-upholstered walls and ceiling, to the canopied primary bed surrounded by a scenic wallcovering.
Such attention to detail requires all-hands-on-deck, and both designers share they have multiple people to thank, including their dedicated teams, the brands they worked with, and the other designers and team members who offered support. “John [Plaster] has been so great,” says Loggins. “He would hand-deliver parts, pieces, and glue to us, give us advice, and has been heavily hands-on. He’s played a large role in the success of our dollhouse and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to miniatures.” DeLoach tapped a close friend for help on hers. “My sweet friend Mary Malloy, who used to make my daughter’s dance costumes, parked her sewing machine in our office and lovingly made drapes and other trims.”
And with each designer dedicating hundreds of hours to their creations, the end result is surreal and rewarding. “It’s been fun to exercise that really hands-on maker muscle that I haven’t used since I went to art school,” says DeLoach. “The challenge has been reimagining how familiar services can be made in other ways, like crafting a pillow or a corner banquette out of foam core. If you let your mind do its thing, you can come up with a lot of creative ways to problem solve.”
The nine dollhouses will be auctioned during the November 19th luncheon at the Piedmont Driving Club with proceeds benefiting The Boyce L. Ansley school, a tuition-free, private institution serving children who have or are currently experiencing homelessness. Leading up to the luncheon, the dollhouses will be displayed at local businesses across Atlanta, each hosting private preview events to celebrate their participation in the dollhouse tour.
For event details and luncheon tickets, visit La Petite Maison’s website.
