Props Fantasy Tavern / Inn Roombox

I've been wanting to build a fantasy tavern for my Dragon Age inspired doll and I finally think I figured out how!


I love reading through project journals other folks make, so I'm looking forward to making my own!
Hope yall enjoy following this project as much as I enjoy making it!

 

THE MAIN TAVERN PLAN
Foldable Roombox Base (inspired by this tutorial)

• Wall + Floor Treatment [1] [2]
• Window(s)?

Furniture

• Bar + Shelving
• Fireplace
• Table + Seating [1]

Clutter

• Glasses, mugs, misc. drink stuff
• Plates and food
• Wall decorations (taxidermy, maps, mission board)
• And more! (clutter is my favorite part of roomboxes :U)

 

(Eventually ....) THE INN BEDROOM PLAN

Foldable Roombox Base (inspired by this tutorial)

• Wall + Floor Treatment [1] [2]
• Window

Furniture

• Bed
• Storage chest
• Mirror

Clutter

• Adventurer Supplies (coins, potions, adventure pack)
• Weapons
• Personal belongings
• Books
• And more!

 

Finally got to the store today get supplies!

Two posterboards for the rooms, some stone textured spray paint as the base for my walls, ordered dollhouse wood floorboards (because I cant cut straight lines to save my life, cant be bothered to make my own!), and something for my table!

Updates starting tomorrow hopefully, no class or work so plenty of time to craft.

 

ROOM BASE STARTED
Again, based on this tutorial.

Start with a 36"x48" trifold posterboard.
Measure 12" from the bottom, cut in a straight line all the way across.
Then cut down the seamlines in all pieces.


You'll end up with: x1 large square, 3 rectangles, and 2 small squares
Line up your pieces like this:


And attach the separate pieces together to make large squares.

The tutorial taped the 3 piece one together on both sides and the 2 piece only on the back, gluing the front.


I went for gaff tape (a fabric tape, not pictured) because 1) it can be painted over nicely, and 2) I was having a hell of a time with the hot glue and decided fuck it I’ll just tape the front.



Staring my wall treatment:
I’m painting my walls cobblestone using theater scenic painting techniques (yay school taught me something!) but wanted my walls to have a real feelable texture in addition to the optical illusion texture I was going to give them.

So I gave them a basecoat of a stone texture spraypaint I bought at Walmart.



And I cant do much else with this till the paint dries, so the cobblestone will be started later!

 

No work on the box proper today, work and class and no time to play.

But something I started yesterday and bought more things for today: the beginning of my table and chairs!


I bought a candle stick and a basewood log slice from Micheals, intending for the candlestick to be a table leg and the wood slice a table top.
But, surprise surprise it was way too short for the leggy Doll Chateau K12 body this box is being built for.

So instead, I bought a taller candle stick (what I should have done to begin with) for the table leg and decided to buy a second short one to re-purpose into stools instead.


I stained the log slice and first candle stick last night with a dark cherry.
It's a bit darker than what I intended/hoped, but given I didn't want to buy stain and instead just used what we already had in the house .... beggers can't be choosers.

Tomorrow I'll stain the new table leg and second stool to match.
I'd like to make upholstered cushions for the stools, I just need to figure out what type of fabric I want!


(FT. Ichabod for scale, he's not the one this box is being made for but he and Eshne are on the same body sculpt, so he's standing in while Eshne is visiting another artist for customization! )

 

In retrospect .... a cardboard trifold probably wasn't the best idea for heavy painting.

I started the grey wet blend for the cobblestone yesterday morning and last night the cardboard had bowed so much the squares dried like bowls lmao


So today I got foam trifolds. Bit harder to cut, but they'll hold up to paint better.

 

Project has been on hold for a little while, school and work have been crazy. OTL

But my semester ends this week, and I should hopefully have time to get back to this!

 

Small update today!
A while back I purchased a stencil online to use with texture paste to add a raised stone texture.

It finally arrived today and I got right to work!



Also, rather than going a foldable route, I purchased some 3D printed foamboard clips/stands.
They're intended to make foamcore light boxes, but they'll work wonderfully for a collapsible/modular roombox.
The plan is that with these clips, I can make lots of different walls & floors and switch them out as I please!




Next: buy more texture paste cause I ran out when working on the 2nd wall LOL
Then paint the stone, adding shadows, highlights, and the works.

 

Just need a stencil, some texture paste (I used this brand), and a pallet knife to spread and smooth!
It was messy and time consuming work, but its pretty easy and I think the effect is worth it.

Im just hoping that the texture doesn't get drowned out by the paint!

 

I've already answered you on the discord but I'll answer here too in case anyone else is wondering the same thing.

They're 3D printed clips intended to be used for making a foamcore light box for photography.

I got the file free from thingiverse (here) and paid someone to print them for me!

My plan is that with these clips, I can create a bunch of different foamcore walls/floors to create modular rooms.

It's way easier to store flat pieces of foam board than it is to store a permanent box! :3c