Children should have a place theycan call a home of their own, and Lois Duperrault has the perfectsolution.
What started as a project for her two granddaughters is now availableto the public. Duperrault constructs children’s playhouses thatmirror a real home. The first house she made was converted froma shed.
“I went to a garage sale and picked up some cabinets, woodand windows to make the house,” Duperrault said. “Iwork with mostly recycled materials.”
The cabinets fit perfectly to make a kitchen, with a make-believestove and sink. A bay window off the counter serves as a gardenwindow and bunk beds allow the children to sleep there overnight.The front of the playhouse also looks like a regular home – boxeswith flowers are underneath the windows and a Dutch-style entrydoor allows for fresh air to come in.
Duperrault works out of her son’s garage while she watches Michelleand Julia, her granddaughters.
“We help with the sanding and sawdust clean-up,” Michelle,8, said.
“Today the girls’ project is to cut sponges with animal-shapedcookie cutters and dip them in paint to decorate the roof of thebigger house,” Duperrault said.
Duperrault has always enjoyed woodworking. “When I was inschool, woodworking wasn’t proper for girls to do,” she said.”But, I used to help my father.”
Since she received a computer as a gift from her son and daughter-in-law,Duperrault has decided to hang up her hammer. Two of her finalhouses are for sale. The houses include real windows, moldingsaround the doors, shutters and many other interior items.
The large house, a 5-foot-by-5-foot dwelling, has real cedarsiding and a big hinged side door. The house is painted with ahigh-grade exterior paint in lavender and pink, and the insideis painted and wallpapered in coordinating colors. This playhouseis selling for $400.
The smaller house, about 4 feet tall, is painted in similar colorswith touches of turquoise as trim. Price was not available atpress time.
For more information or if you are interested in buyinga playhouse, call Lois Duperrault at 691-1215.
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