Working as a corporate lawyer made Emily Boutard successful on paper, but she wasn't so convinced. In fact, she wasn't thrilled with her career choice at all.
So in a move that many people only dream of, Emily quit her job. She decided to go back to another love of hers: architecture and design.
Specifically, she started designing and building miniatures, the kind that you see in the fanciest of dollhouses and upscale collections.
Now, there's nothing wrong with a more down-to-earth dollhouse — we learned that when we saw what can be done with just a cardboard box and and some tape — but Emily's miniatures are truly stunning.
Her talent for building and design has led her to create just about anything you can imagine on a tiny scale, and she's also gone back to school for architecture.
Sometimes the path we think we're supposed to be on turns out not to be the right one at all. And that's okay! Emily's path might have zigzagged a bit, but thanks to her drive and skill, she's forging a new one.
Take a look at her amazing dollhouse furniture below, and let us know if you had a dollhouse in the comments!
[H/T: BoredPanda]
All of the pieces you'll see here were designed, constructed, and finished by Emily herself. She uses real wood, fabric, and other materials to craft these tiny pieces for her dollhouses.
This drafting table is a perfect representation of Emily's passions!
She particularly loves the designs of the Victorian period, so her furniture usually has a historic look.
She achieves different colors and tones with stains and paints.
And she sets everything up very carefully. Not only does she make the furniture, but she makes the houses as well, complete with window treatments, wallpaper, and flooring.
And when you make a dollhouse, you have to make everything that goes into it! Including the beds…
And of course you need places to sit, complete with fashionable upholstery.
This chess table was created by inlaying each tiny square on the board individually! Talk about patience!
She even cuts and sews bedding and towels, like you see on this little washstand.
And of course, she makes all the other necessities, too.
And a home isn't a home without some accessories.
Or decorations.
And sometimes she even creates little friends.
The miniatures she creates are remarkable in their detail and craft, but many times, Emily uses quite ordinary material to create them.
This lantern, which really lights up, was created using thin wood strips and colored acetate for the "stained glass."
To give you an idea of how tiny these things are, here they are laid out at her workstation, ready to be installed into the house.
Of course, building a tiny masterpiece has its challenges when it comes to public critiques — especially when that public likes to chew the finials off the roof!
Of course, not all the houses she builds are as intricate as the Victorian mansion above. Some, like this one, are plainer and simpler, but no less impressive!
And some are incredibly tiny!
She's experimented with Modernist architecture, too. The public approved.
And when everything comes together — house, furniture, accessories, and everything else — it really looks stunning. If you didn't know, you might think this was a full-size room!
You can see more of Emily's incredible and ever-growing collection on her Instagram, and her architecture critic cat friend, Frankie, also has an Instagram account!
And be sure to SHARE Emily's amazing work with anyone you know who loves history, design, or dolls — or just tiny things!
