193 pieces, about 5 to 7 hours

Round Door Garden Cottage miniature house kit

$89.95

Tucked under a mossy hill, this miniature house kit has a round front door, a flower garden and a furnished room inside. Touch the switch to light the warm LEDs.

Expected delivery Fri, Nov 6 to Fri, Nov 13

Free shipping over $49
30-day returns

Shipping and returns

Free shipping over $49. Arrives in 9-16 days. Shipping times and costs per country

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Specifications

Type: Miniature house kit
Build time: About 5 to 7 hours
Level: Some practice
Pieces: 193
Built size: 9.7 x 7.0 x 5.2 in (24.6 x 17.8 x 13.3 cm), W x D x H
Light: Warm LEDs with touch switch, 3 AAA batteries (not included), no soldering
Parts: Pre-cut wood and hardboard, printed paper, fabric, moss, resin details
Assembly: Slot and glue, glue not included
In the box: Illustrated guide
You add: White craft glue, fine tweezers, 3 AAA batteries
Age: 14+
Safety: Small parts and fine wires. Decorative, not a toy.

A cottage under the hill

The whole house sits under a curved roof of green moss, as if it were dug into the side of a hill. A round wooden door opens at the front, with round windows on either side and a brick chimney on top. Stepping stones lead from a little gate in the picket fence, past pots of flowers, mushrooms and butterflies, to the door. It looks like a cottage from a fairy tale or a fantasy novel: small, warm and full of things to look at.

Inside

Through the door you see the main room: a writing desk with an open book, a kitchen stove with a lidded pot, and a brick fireplace with a little clock nearby. The back panel lifts off, so you can look into the room from behind as well as through the doorway, and reach in to place the last small pieces.

Size

Built, it measures about 9.7 in wide, 7.0 in deep and 5.2 in tall (24.6 x 17.8 x 13.3 cm), on an oval base. It is wider and lower than a book nook, so it stands on a shelf, a desk or a side table rather than between books. Check that your shelf is at least 7 in (18 cm) deep, with a little room behind for the back panel.

The build

The kit has 193 parts: pre-cut wood and hardboard, printed paper, fabric, moss, flowers and small resin details. You press out the wood parts, glue the house together step by step from the illustrated guide, then furnish the room and plant the garden. Plan on about 5 to 7 hours over a few evenings. The maker rates it four out of five for difficulty, and most of that is the garden: the flowers, the moss and the fence take a steady hand and a little patience. Stop at any natural point and carry on another evening.

The light

A pre-wired set of warm LEDs lights the hearth and the room, with a touch switch you tap to turn it on and off. It runs on 3 AAA batteries, which are not included. There is no soldering. With the lights on, the round door glows like a lantern in the hill.

What you add

White craft glue that dries clear, fine tweezers and 3 AAA batteries. Glue, batteries and tools are not in the box. A toothpick helps you place small drops of glue, and small scissors help with the paper and fabric parts.

Who it suits

Fantasy readers, gardeners, and anyone who loves a cozy scene. It suits a builder with a kit or two behind them, and it makes a thoughtful gift for a reader who would like a fairy tale cottage on the shelf.

Care and display

Keep it out of direct sun so the paper and the moss keep their color, and dust it gently with a soft, dry brush. Take the batteries out if you store it for a long time.

Questions

How big is the Round Door Garden Cottage?

About 9.7 x 7.0 x 5.2 in (24.6 x 17.8 x 13.3 cm), width by depth by height. It is wider and lower than a book nook and stands on a shelf or desk.

What batteries does it need?

3 AAA batteries, not included. The LED set and the touch switch come in the kit, and no soldering is needed.

Is glue included?

No. Use a white craft glue that dries clear. Glue, batteries and tools are not in the box, so have fine tweezers ready as well.

How hard is it to build?

It takes about 5 to 7 hours and suits someone with a kit or two behind them. The house goes together quickly; the garden details take the most patience.