Music Store and Apartments (LEGO 42653)

About this set

This LEGO Friends set 42653 is a music store and apartment in one two-story building, with 483 pieces and a 2/5 difficulty. The model uses purple and beige walls with green, pink, and yellow accents; the ground floor is the music store, and an awning and outdoor staircase lead up to the apartment above. Instruments, minifigures, and a dog are included. I would build the store and staircase first, then attach the upper floor, and save the awning and instruments for last so the structure stays stable while you handle it; sort the purple and beige parts by color to cut down on searching. The staircase and awning are the fiddly bits, so check the step alignment and awning angle as you go. At 2/5 this is approachable for newer Friends builders, and it suits anyone who likes street-scene buildings with a small storefront and a display-friendly footprint.