Vermont Farmhouse Jr. Assembly | Part 5: Window/Shutter Assembly & Stone Detailing

This stage is where the exterior really starts to come to life. Part five focuses on assembling and finishing the windows and shutters, along with adding stone detailing for extra depth and texture. These smaller elements make a big impact and begin to define the overall character of the home.

Window & Shutter Assembly

Start by identifying and organizing all window and shutter pieces before assembly.

• Glue each component of the windows and shutters together carefully
• Tape in place
• Allow to dry for a full 24 hours
• Once dry, paint windows and shutters in your selected finishes

For my build, I kept the palette soft and cohesive to align with the overall exterior design.

Note: I chose to skip the flower boxes for now. I may revisit and add them later, but I wanted to keep the look a bit more minimal at this stage.

Adding Detail with Window Trim and Hinges

To elevate the window and shutter combination, I made a couple small but impactful adjustments.

1. I added a small piece of trim cut with miter shears at a 60 degree angle on top of the window
2. Instead of gluing the shutters directly next to the windows, I added miniature hinges. While they aren’t fully functional, they do allow for slight movement and, more importantly, create a more dimensional, finished look.

• Hinges were glued in place
• I chose not to use the included nails

These subtle details add a layer of realism and give the trim a more custom, high-end feel.

This post includes affiliate links and if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you), which helps me keep creating and sharing projects like this. View my full list of tools and materials I use for my dollhouse project here.

Stone Detailing

To ground the home and introduce a bit of texture, I added stone detailing along the bottom 3 inches of the exterior and the porch step. Keeping the stonework limited to these areas creates a clean, balanced look while still adding contrast against the rest of the exterior.

If you’re planning this step, I’ve created a more in-depth tutorial walking through exactly how I applied the stone finish.

Final Thoughts

This phase is all about layering detail. From the added dimension of the shutters to the texture of the stonework, these elements work together to make the home feel more complete and intentional.

Take your time here, these finishing touches are what truly bring the build to life.

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.