Welcome to The Chalet! This dollhouse was inspired by Swiss chalet architecture, with a mid-century modern twist. For only $6.99, or $8.94 in the 1975 Sears Wish Book, a child could buy this fully furnished dollhouse. The only catch to this deal is that an adult would have to assemble the fiberboard dollhouse with the included nuts and bolts. The Brumberger Manufacturing Company of New York produced The Chalet and other dollhouse models between 1965 and 1975. Innovations in mass-production just before this time period made this dollhouse more affordable than many of its predecessors.
One of those mid-20th century innovations was the use of plastic furnishings. Plastic furniture, like the pieces here in the living room, could be made on a smaller scale, in more detail, and more consistently than wood furniture. The corner bookcase, with its stack of books clearly visible between two horsehead bookends, is a good example of the new possibilities of plastic.
The kitchen and dining room showcase some late 1960s and early 1970s design trends. The walls of the dining room are covered in wood paneling and matching wall sconces set off the large pastoral painting. All of these elements draw inspiration from Colonial Revival style. The kitchen floor is covered in robin’s egg blue speckled tiles. If this kitchen was life-size, the tiles probably would have been made of vinyl, a newly popular flooring material in the 1960s.
At the top of the modern staircase is the bathroom. The avocado green and golden yellow floor tiles are iconic colors of this era. In a real house, the tiles may have matched the fixtures and even the toilet paper! The bathtub in the corner resembles a hot tub, but it’s actually called a Cinderella bathtub. This compact square style was popular throughout the middle of the 20th century.
One of the most noticeable elements of this bedroom is the striking shade of blue on the walls and carpet. We’ve already seen some bold colors in this dollhouse, but the printed shag carpet makes this room extra stylish by mid-20th century standards. During this carpet’s heyday it showcased the industry advancements that had made wall-to-wall carpeting more affordable and more colorful than ever before.
The roof overhang creates a small shelter on the side of the dollhouse called a carport. It’s not an entirely enclosed space, but it provides a car some protection from the elements and storage for backyard tools. This element is also a Midwestern design feature. Architect Walter Burley Griffin included the first documented carport in the 1909 home of William and Jennette Sloane in Elmhurst.
Thank you for taking a tour of this chalet dollhouse with us! We sincerely appreciate your support for the Mount Prospect Historical Society.
