Baylee's Cat Cafe
November 2022 - July, 2025
This dollhouse, the "Belmont" kit from Majestic Mansions,
was assembled and the outside was preliminarily finished
by Marianne Knight
when I acquired it from Lynlott Miniatures
of Pittsburgh, PA in April 2025.
So often, my quests begin here.
This time Debbie helped to conclude them.
The vision for this project developed in November of 2022
while shopping at the "Philadelphia Miniaturia".
I found "Miniature Designs" of Georgia,
to have wonderful displays of cats there.
I bought several miniature cats that initial weekend,
and at each shop and show I've visited since.
Kudos to "Lovely Little Life Miniatures"
who was a future contributor to the cause.
Our Alyssa loves cats!
We were never a "cat family",
our girls each had a puppy
throughout their later childhoods.
As a young adult,
Alyssa's life would be forever shaped
by her beloved adopted "tortie" cat "Baylee".
We were graced by her presence
from December 2016 through December 2021.
She shares that Baylee's and her bond only strengthened
as they endured 4 moves together,
including one following a devastating apartment house fire.
A little more background behind my enthusiasm...
Alyssa centered her college degree around animal studies,
is a volunteer applicant reference screener for our local cat rescue,
greatly appreciates coffee and books,
visits cat cafes on her personal travels,
and hopes to one day foster cats herself.
My two-plus year long search for a space
that would accommodate all of my feline finds,
ended just in time
to complete the wiring and interior finishes
in order to gift Alyssa with this miniature cafe
commemorating Baylee's memory,
for her birthday.
The cottage-styled house contained 5 rooms.
I designated them as:
an entry dinette, kitchen, visitation lounge, office, and loft.
Soon after painting the interior,
I made a decision to open the upper left attic to create a bath.
I was excited to see that I could customize it
to fit my 1970's Lundby bathroom set
(from Vintage Dollhouse Shop).
Framing it out freehand was a time consumer,
but well worth it.
Floorings are all either of a dark wood Formica-like product
(by Aleccio Miniatures)
or a lovely blue and green mosaic tile print.
The walls are mostly of a cat-embellished yellow fabric
(designed for Joann's).
A single yard allowed me to carry out the theme
for wall coverings, curtains, cat linens, and many pillows!
This is my first miniature structure
in which I have installed recessed lighting.
My husband helped me to solder battery powered
LED lights to a copper tapewire system.
There are a total of 20 lights including two that light the front porches.
Many thanks to Evan Designs,
and mini-friend/"instagrammer" Sue (of suessmallobsession),
for the phone guidance.
Special thanks to my good friend Diana (Miniature Lane)
who hand-painted cats and paw prints
on dishes, doorframes, and furnishings,
and arranged the dinette buffet and office bulletin board.
She also transformed a blue fabric sectional sofa
into a green to match that within the fabric, by painting it.
In addition to these,
some favorite features are:
The hand-woven double tiered cat basket
(by Italy's Ludmilla's Creations,
via the Tom Bishop Chicago International Show),
displayed in the kitchen bay window.
The loft cat bed (by Kammy's Creations)
The refrigerator with stainless steel and glass modern look
(by Elizabeth [retired] from the original Elf Miniatures)
The Gabby's Dollhouse Hallmark Keepsake Ornament
The mini lottery-type tickets made to be scratchable
(by Kate, The_Tiny_Craftress)
The cat interrogating the goldfish within her bowl
(obtained from Susie at Whimsies, in Greenwich Village, CT)
And finally...
The gorgeous, felted cat seen checking out a cup of tea
(artist unknown)
The kitchen was stocked by items from:
Dollhousealley.com, Image Women, Artistic Florals,
and HoneyBee Curiosity, among others,
including the adorable cat sandwiches, bagels and cookies.
My little accents include fabric scent beads for cat litter,
which despite their lack of compliance with scale,
spur conversation and create a real life good smell,
crumbled pieces of cork for cat kibble,
and dried green pepper seeds as potato chips.
As with my other projects,
I was able to support our local engravers
for the customized front door glass wording,
and our glass cutter for the plexiglass rear enclosure.
Alyssa was very surprised to receive "Baylee's Cat Cafe",
and enjoyed placing her 31 cats and "one to grow on" within.
Yet, the collection is still growing.
Can you find all 45 current resident cats?
