Vermont Farmhouse Jr. Assembly | Part 4: Gable Attachment & Exterior Color Testing

At this stage in the build, things really start to come together! Part four focuses on attaching the gable to the roof structure and beginning one of my favorite parts of the process . . . testing and selecting exterior finishes. This is where the home starts to take on its personality. Ayee!

Gable Attachment

Begin by assembling the gable and rear roof sections.

• Apply glue evenly along the edges
• Secure each piece in place with tape
• Allow everything to dry for a full 24 hours

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Taking your time here ensures a clean, secure fit and sets the foundation for the final roof detailing.

Exterior Color Testing & Selection

With the main exterior structure now complete (walls and roof in place), it’s time to start exploring your color palette.

This step is less about rushing to a final decision and more about testing combinations that feel cohesive and aligned with your overall vision. Definitely use your inspiration as a guide and if you want my advice, check out my blog post dedicated to finding your personal inspiration for your dollhouse here.

For my build, I leaned into a soft, elevated palette:

• Ivory for the window trim and porch detailing
• A muted brownish-pink tone for the shutters

This combination adds warmth while still keeping the overall look clean and refined.

Testing & Selecting Roof Shingle Finishes

Before committing to a final roof color, I highly recommend testing a few options. You never know how the colors may react to the various stains – color and brand.

I experimented with three different dye variations to see how each one absorbed into the shingles and complemented the rest of the exterior. After testing, I selected Behr Stain – Dark Walnut as the best fit for my overall design direction.

Once selected, I bulk dyed all of the shingles in that color.

• Allow approximately 48 hours for the shingles to fully dry
• Be sure they are completely dry before moving on to installation

If you’re planning this step, I’ve put together a more in-depth tutorial walking through exactly how I bulk dyed my shingles from start to finish. You can read more on that here.

Final Thoughts

This phase is where function meets creativity. While the structural steps are important, the color testing process is your opportunity to define the overall feel of your home.

Take your time experimenting and you’ll start to see your vision come to life in a really rewarding way!

Continue the Build

Want to see how I got to this point? Explore the earlier steps in the series to follow along from the beginning here.