DIY a Doll Sized Hostess Stand and Grill

Hostess Stand made from a box.

        A hostess stand may be used as either a reception desk or a concession stand in a doll playset, depending upon the theme of the toy. It is a counter where doll visitors are greeted often in hotel or restaurant toys or counters where food or other shop merchandise is payed for by dolls while living in their pretend environments. 

       Just right, you can see that I have constructed a homemade hostess counter that is very tall, 9 inches, because it is designed to suit several of our family's 18 inch doll playsets. It is constructed from a simple box, 8 1/2'' x 11'', and four recycled wooden marble runs. I attached these marble runs with wood glue, groove side facing inward, at each corner of the box. Then I decoupaged the walls of the hostess stand with contrasted faux wooden panel papers. After all of this dried, I then cut a counter and glued it to the top of the stand and then decoupaged another wooden paper pattern to it's surface.

       I could have left this doll furnishing alone at this point but I decided to glue in shelving so that it would better serve as a concession stand for the ''Americana Bowling Alley.'' 

       This stand will also be used in both a pizza parlor and a hotel in future displays. It is much more practical to build one of these counters for multiple playset themes than to make many of them. However, some parents/children may prefer to design more than one hostess stand in order to expand play with multiple sets at the same time. I will include a few lower counter tops in future posts that are designed to accompany this one under alternative themes.

       As for the color, I chose to keep it a bit modern with clean simple lines and in natural stained wood tones because this is my personal preference, not because it is popular. Your child may wish her hostess stand to be hot pink or purple. Many doll crafters are also still devoted to the grey, neutral color palettes used in early 21rst Century dollhouses and will select white for their doll furniture no matter what the latest furniture craze is about.

       In our bowling alley, I use this hostess stand as a counter for the dolls to serve the traditional foods purchased at bowling alleys in the United States. This fare includes things like hot dogs and chips, burgers and fries and also malts and milkshakes.

       I wanted to make a more authentic looking commercial grill with glass windows in order to view the food as it cooks. But, I wasn't really sure how to make one until I spied a small, plastic earring box at a garage sale. Apparently, these are often sold at dollar stores according to my adult children who often marvel at my ignorance...

Supply List for The Commercial Grill:

• one plastic earring jewelry box
• grocery fliers with interesting pictures of grills, hamburgers and hotdogs, flames and charcoal
• silver metal tape (This gives the grill a commercial grade feel)
• small cardboard tubes (roll these and make alternatively)
• extra cardboard (cereal box)
• Mod Podge for sealing and applying the decoupage
• Sculpey for food (coming soon)

Left, The doll sized commercial grill assembled without food. Right, the grill and it's parts.

 

       To make this commercial grade grill the unique features are necessary. This kind of grill allows hungry dolls to see through the top while the hot dogs are spinning on the warming tubes and the hamburgers are sizzling on the grill. I will post pretend food for the grill and link to it here soon!

Step-by-Step Instructions for The Grill:

1. Wipe down the plastic jewelry box with something like Windex. This will remove dirt and oil from it's surfaces so that glues will work better. It will also improve the application of the metal tape.
2. Cut pictures of grilling dogs and burgers from your local grocery store fliers and apply these using Mod Podge on the sides only of the plastic jewelry box. You may also decoupage the lower front half of the box in front using clippings of words like: ''Summer Fun'', ''Sizzling Hot'' and ''Grilling Greats'' Just as long as you leave enough of the transparent lid undisturbed for the viewing of grilling meats.
   
3. Cut and shape slender tubes to fit on and over the first plastic earring bar and glue them together.
4. There are four tubes, the same shape but the second tube from the front has a slip down it's length so that this tube fits over the plastic earring bar and hold the rest of these tubes in place. 
5. Cover the cardboard tubes with metal tape.
6. Underneath the earring bar is a plastic shelf, cut a piece of cardboard to fit over this shelf and cover it with metal tape. Fit it tightly in place, this is where hamburger patties are grilled.
7. Inside of the drawer shape vertical, thin walls cut from cardboard and covered with metal tape. I made two inserts to create three sections inside the drawers where condiments may be stored.
   

The grill shown open, lid up and the grill shown with the extra drawer for assembling the hot dogs
 and burgers with toppings is seen open and empty.

Above are three signs, print and choose one to decoupage to the front of your grill.

• See an outdoor grill craft for dollhouse backyard decks and patios