The 2nd Original Fairy Door.
The Fireplace was quite the project. My wife has always wanted a fireplace so I spent considerable time planning this one. It is a zero-clearance 99% efficient gas unit , but we wanted the mantel to look traditional. I built a false chimney to help the effect and to minimize the apparent intrusion of the box into the room. These are some of my preparatory sketches. We found 3 art tiles at The Ann Arbor Art Center and the balance of the tiles are porcelain tiles. We used only ONE box and the two scrap pieces turned up as the fairy door stoop!
I made a HUGE mess which lasted for weeks... one of those projects where I got out every tool I own. No sign of any fairies at this point. Yes, that is a real zebra head on the wall. No, I did not kill it. Apparently zebras in Africa are a bit like deer here and occasionaly the herds need thinning.
This is the morning that the girls found the fairy door in the fireplace. Delaney exclaimed' "look! it's their trash day!". Indeed there was a small bag full of sawdust and scraps of weensie molding, tiles and wood just outside their door.
The fairies have taken just as much care in their space. There is a miniature fireplace within. A curving stair leads to a balconey with another door. To the right on the first floor there is a door which leads to a room beyond with a checkered floor. Sometimes there is a light on in the far room.
There is quite a bit to see inside.
The Fireplace is just to the left and back.
It's funny, when I took the picture, I didn't see the pink, blue and green lights. My camera must be outa wack.
We only put up white lights.