This 1/12 scale dollhouse room is styled as a 1950s basement apartment. Dressed in 1950s garb, the young couple can only afford a basement apartment while they start out in life. Note all the decorative details of the era. Joe fitted out the laundry room on the left side. He included accessories like the fuse box, laundry tub, and cleaning products for a realistic look. 

Retired marine Joe Haring was a sailor and a craftsman. He and his wife, Jan, shared a passion for building and furnishing miniature houses. Though often referred to as dollhouses, they are actually scale model stages built to showcase both the craftsmanship of the builders and the decorating skills of the collector. Typically built at a scale of 1”=1’, the various structures in the Haring collection include correct architectural details from staircases to gas meters, and even tiny accessories like fuse boxes. Many of the furnishings were made by other skilled craftsmen who specialize in building miniature furniture for collectors. 

This 1/12 scale dollhouse room is styled as a 1950s basement apartment.

Exhibit added: April 9, 2013 - Last modified: November 13, 2023

Presented by The Joe Martin Foundation for Exceptional Craftsmanship