Irene Chamberlain always dreamed of owning her very own dollhouse, but never received one as a child. So, when she and husband Bob began wintering in Vero Beach, Bob decided to make his wife's childhood wish come true.

Together they choose a three-story colonial kit, complete with a wrap-around porch (which Bob says reminded his wife of a previous home they owned in Michigan.)

Now 80, Bob explained that dollhouse building became a hobby they share: he builds the house, Irene does the decorating. She assembles and finishes furniture and even chooses the wallpaper for each tiny room. An upstairs bed in this home features a bed whose canopy matches the wall covering. The stained glass work above the front door is Irene's work. Bob points out the hundreds of painstakingly placed singles, remembering the hours it took him to do it.

In the late 1990's, Bob became a Habitat for Humanity volunteer and began building homes with his friends from Holy Cross Catholic Church.

"Building dollhouses was fun, but building homes for Habitat was so much more rewarding," he explained.

After volunteering for almost 10 years, Bob lost sight in his left eye and had to give up his work. Now that he and Irene are moving back to Michigan to be closer to their children, the Chamberlains felt it was only fitting that they donate their "labor of love" to Habitat for Humanity.

Tina Bridges, the Habitat Home Center manager, said that, when she first saw the spectacular dollhouse, she knew it would be a wonderful item to be featured in the Carpenters Ball Live Auction and event organizers are proud to have it included.

Anyone interested in knowing more or bidding on the Chamberlain dollhouse may call Habitat at 772-562-9860 X220.