As suggested by Clinton I made the first base green this really helped make the base seem smaller.

Click here to view attached image.

This is my attempt at a Temple I made years ago. Below the trim is Paul Osborne inspired. Above the trim is based on a Rand Woodbury base.



John

So one thing you'll notice in the photo above is that the bottom step, between the legs, is black. Now you can't just paint yours all black under there because it's much bigger and won't easily pass and simply being the shadow from the table top above it. What you may have to do is add some additional framework down there to create what would be causing those shadows.

I messed around in Photoshop for a minute, and I'm sure further play could get it closer to what you'd need, but this should at least illustrate what I'm thinking. If the framework were curved, you can probably get away with that black area. One thing to note however is that you should absolutely do it with fabric like velvet, not paint. Paint will shine and look grey under the sun or stage lights. You can also get away with black auto carpet on a budget.

Avoid adding any kind of trim to the very bottom or you'll simply be defining that edge, which is what we're trying to avoid. We want that bottom step to be lost in the shadow.

Click here to view attached image.

Good ideas from Chris, especially about not putting trim down there.

Now, I know that magicians love to use black, and it does work for some applications like black art. However, in theatre, we avoid using it for shadows and "empty" spaces because it's too intense and generally calls attention to itself for that reason. Painted shadows are generally done in translucent shades of blue or blue/purple, and only occasionally in dark greys. And even when something is supposed to be black, we tend to use navy blue or what we call a "warm black," which is a very very very dark brown. The effect is the same, but the color doesn't jump out at you.

Looking at Chris' Photoshopped image, I might consider going with a very very very dark brown down there and see how it looks under several types of lighting. If you don't like it, you can always revert to black.

Really like the curve ideas at the bottom, Chris! Nice touch. I also agree that paint is not the way to go. It tends to fade over time as well and using fabric will also last longer.

Floyd, I don't know the size of the girl that is going to be inside, but maybe your base looks deep because it's deeper than what's needed (an average girl should need 7-10" in this kind of illusion) How deep is your base?
I don't want to give too much details because this is an open section, but are you actually using all the available space? I mean, the hiding space should include the table and the bottom of the house
Also thickness of the materials used to make the bottom counts, could you use a thinner sheet?
(please feel free to PM if you want me to be more explicit)

Despite the real dimensions of the base I've said above, I've taken the liberty of making some color changes, and I've increased the thickness of the top of the table to make it look more real. What do you think?

Click here to view attached image.

It would help us make better determinations if you could take pictures of you curled up INSIDE the dollhouse. Posed with doll in hand.

joking.

I found my copy of Denny Loomis' DOLL HOUSE PLANS. I offered them, months ago, for $25. Apparently, that was too much.

Hey everyone, thanks for all the suggestions. I am sorry I did not see all these posts and reply's till now.

Dick, thank you for the offer on the doll house plans, that was not too much for the plans, however I had to think starting over would not be in the time frame I needed for the Christmas show I was doing and I was already way over budget for the show. I do plan to build another now that the shows I needed this for are over. If you still have the plans, I would like to take you up on your offer soon.

I took everyone's advice and had another magician come over and look at it, we came up with using a bevel on the bottom to make the base look thinner.

Not at all the best option but for the time crunch I was in, it worked out well.

The illusion played well for the three Christmas shows I needed it for. And from stage it looked real good.

Bunny Girl Production

Click here to view attached image.

Open box

Click here to view attached image.

I'll PM you.