Some notes…
I removed the word verification step to leaving a comment so it will be more simple for you guys. I decided I would live on the wild side and risk the spammers to make it easier for you!
🙂
I’ve got a couple more giveaway’s coming up in the next few weeks, so if you’re a subscriber, be sure to come to the blog to leave a comment for entry. It should allow you to comment anonymously and you can leave your contact info!
On to some randomness for the day…
We are toying with the idea of getting the kids a play kitchen for Christmas. I LOVE me some pretend play, and that with their imaginations, they can play easily by themselves.
I know Ava’s only 16 months, but she already brushes her baby doll’s hair, so why not? Plus, Grayson loves to cook (and have tea…but don’t tell my dad) as much as anything.
Of course, we love this retro version from Pottery Barn…
Mainly, I love that it comes with the sink and cabinet underneath….and that it’s vintage and pink. Let’s be honest, I want it to look good in that playroom. 🙂 It also seems to have the most storage of any that we’ve checked out.
There’s also this Kid Kraft version, and it’s less expensive, so that might work.
Or….
we could build our own.
If you can believe this, I vote build.
Matt votes buy.
What????
But he does have a point. The kitchen above from the Crafting Chicks is GORGEOUS, but the cost does add up to about 120 bucks…20 less than the kidkraft.
And the KidKraft usually goes on sale for $99 sometime near Christmas.
What to do???
I love the idea of personalizing, of course, but I might get too out of hand and put too much money into the details at the end…fabric, hardware, sink, etc.
Plus, we are going to build them a trestle table/desk with chairs and storage sometime soon (a knock off from Land of Nod), and we have been building everything lately.
So…
What’s your vote?
Build or buy?
I want ALL your suggestions!
I even toyed around with the idea of letting you guys decide with a poll. But I’m not sure if I’m in type B Shaunna today, or type A.
But….let me have it, then.
🙂
I vote repurpose! 🙂 I've done two play kitchens. The one for my daughters room (which I still am in love with and matches it perfectly) was under $20 and one I did for an auction at my kids' school was only $15!! Here's dd's: http://twicelovely.blogspot.com/2010/03/bugga-boos-play-kitchen.html and here's the auction one: http://twicelovely.blogspot.com/2010/03/tres-chic-play-kitchen.html
Shaunna,
http://www.ana-white.com I am sure you already found it! 🙂 But tons more inspiration for ya! Seeing as we live in a highrise and dont even have a backyard, I can't really get out the hammer and nails quite yet for stuff like this — but boy, I can't wait until I do!!! Here is the play kitchen discussion: http://ana-white.com/2010/11/inspiring-play-kitchens-and-a-smaller-fridge.html
Your sooo talented that i think you should build it!!It will be amazing.
I am doing one for my kids for Christmas. I got an old nightstand from the dumpster at my sister's apartment complex and a $10 cabinet from Craigslist. I'm spray painting it and then it's just the "finishing touches".
We made one for our children and it actually wasn't too expensive. It was nice also because we could add some fun, custom touches. There's all sorts of inspiration out there in blogland. I say start keeping an eye out for a cabinet/nightstand you could use and if you find one, make your own. If not, wait for the others to go on sale.
Those are so adorable!! I vote re-purpose if you can find one that would work or build your own! Why not? It would be fun right!? Good luck!!
The Kid Kraft version is adorable! Loving that blue gray color. I'm so into that. Perhaps you can buy it since it's a simple design and make little additions as you come up with creative ideas to spruce it up! You can do cute stenciling, a different wash/finish (and if you want to change it in the future, just repaint!)
Congrats to Sarah! Love all of them but I'd say buy and save yourselves the agrivation. Besides…our kids (my sisters and mine) had the little tykes sets and they rarely played with them. Instead my niece climbed into my tupperware cabinet and pretended to clean my dishes on the floor. They didn't like the "little dishes"…they wanted the real stuff. They'd rather bake cookies with me in the real oven. I did buy one of the "easy bake ovens"…that makes little cakes via a light bulb…and they loved it. BUT they couldn't play with it alone so I went back to the kitchen and made cupcakes…lol I guess all's I'm suggesting is start with the smaller, inexpensive set and build more play stations if they really get into it. Hope this helps, fondly, Roberta
WHAT!?!?! I won something?!?!
Oh goodness! I want the ruffly sink skirt for MY kitchen! Too cute! The word verification thing drives me nuts, too! I agree, it's worth the chance of spammers!
Have you seen this one, made from an old entertainment cabinet? genius!!
I agree with all the other readers, re-purpose a cabinet, they are so darn cute!
One more comment from me! After reading this post two, TWO kitchen re-purposed sets showed up in my reader. Here they are
Oh my, that blue kitchen with the ruffled skirt is sooo cute. I would, however just buy a kitchen. Last year, after looking at the kitchens from PB and Kid Kraft, I got my daughter a cute pink and white wooden kitchen from Target. Sadly, she hardly ever plays with it, which I am sooo surprised about. I am so glad I didn't spend a lot of money or make something and put a lot of effort into it. Good luck 🙂
I know it sounds strange but I find if I spend my time making something for my children then I want them to be super-duper careful with it. That's SO not going to happen while they're still little, so to save tears (errr, mine!), I'd go for the buying option.