Slanted wall bathroom: Move the towel rack on the back wall to go between the toilet and the sink. Build shelving from top to bottom, side to side on the back wall. You could have towels, maybe a vase or shells, etc. on the shelving and on the top wall have an ivy spilling over and even having it come on to the slanted wall. On the slanted wall, use sponges and stencils to have ivy leaves to carry the color on. Over the tub have a small bracketed shelf to hold bubble bath, etc. and a towel rack.

Carol Jones

Columns: I used the largest size of cake pillars, then cut rectangular bases to make up the additional height. "Stuccoed" the whole assembly with Fleckstone, but could have antiqued the pillars and used faux brickwork on the bases if the house had been brick.

Loretta Sniarowski

Columns: I've used the heavy cardboard rolls that old fax machine paper use to come on. I think they are about 10.5 inches and if not could be built up on each end. I used some of the granite paint on them and they were very convincing on the front of this building.

Jane Ratcliffe

Tudor is also pretty crooked and off of plumb. I stayed in an authentic Tudor in England. The steps were so narrow and steep, we let the hosts carry our bags so we could hold onto the walls and steps to get to our room. The walls bulge inward at odd places and the great beams are random. You figure it isn't going to fall down NOW because it has been there so long already. Spackle is your friend.

Laurie Sisson

House Plans: May I suggest visiting DollHouseDesigns.COM at http://www.dollhousedesigns.com  and consider the Old Store. This PlanSet was designed for the beginning scratch builder (with the editing help of some members of the SS digest). It is a straight forward set of plans with step-by-step instructions to guide you through choices, selection, cutting, construction and assembly of all the pieces to build an old-fashioned store (or saloon or fire station -for our grandson - or what ever you want). The same construction techniques are used in all the other PlanSets.

Jon Lash

Spiral Staircase: This is what I do to make a spiral staircase: Draw a circle twice the width of your staircase. Divide it in the amount of steps required and cut out. Drill a hole in the pointed end of the steps and round off the point. Take a piece of wire and thread your steps, using spacers (wooden beads or pieces of dowel) in between. Fan out your steps till you are satisfied and glue everything together. You can glue a banister to the outside of every step and for the railing drape a piece of rope drenched in glue over the top and let dry. Finish as you please.

Dorothee, Katikati

Spiral Staircases: Try Oakridge Corporation, 15800 New Avenue, Lemont, IL 60439, 630-257-0909, Email to chrisr@oakridgehobbies.com, http://www.oakridgehobbies.com. They also list an 800 number.

Betsy Vera