Does anyone have any ideas for this children's kitchenette set?

LaBlanca Gomez
by LaBlanca Gomez
I found this childs kitchenette someone put on the curb for trash and I asked my husband to clean it out and bring it upstairs. I told him I was going to make a shoe rack out of it but I was actually thinking about turning it into a tool box/center for him, since all his tools are every where in the house. It is good solid wood and very sturdy. I have so many ideas but I just don't know where to start. Does anyone have any input to get me started?
I think the wood burners are glued on but I'm afraid to remove them. I don't want to ruin the wood so I think I want to leave them.
I'm not sure what to do with the hole in the top that had a metal bowl for the sink. Also, what to do with the hole in the cabinet door?
  16 answers
  • Nur5673962 Nur5673962 on Aug 21, 2016
    That's a beautiful peace! I'd put a bucket in the hole where the sink was (a place for drying cleaned paint brushes, for example). also, I'd see if it's possible to add wheels. I'd either close the hole in the door with a thin board, or glue some transparent plastic from behind, and make a sort of window.
    • LaBlanca Gomez LaBlanca Gomez on Aug 21, 2016
      Thank You Nuriti222, for the ideas. I wasn't too sure if I wanted to add wheels, many of the comments suggest to do so but then he's going to lug it all around the house. We live in a very small 1 bedroom apartment and I wanted something stationary so everything is in one place.
  • Bernadette Staal Bernadette Staal on Aug 21, 2016
    You haven't confirmed if you want to keep it as a child's kitchenette e.g. a young child will love it. If you are keeping it for it's intended purpose then obviously colour is the key bright bold colours that will draw the child's attention. I would use a metal dog bowl or similar for the sink and use some plastic sheeting for what is the oven door. If however you want to do away with the current purpose. Then you could use some cheap MDF and add a new bench top and a panel to both doors. I would make the bench top wider than it is currently so that a child could sit at it and it would be a small desk with storage. If you are not intending to use it for a child and just have no idea I think it would be great in the house / garden for plants. Like a living sculpture e.g. a big fern growing out of the hole and a creeper growing out of the oven door, then pretty little pots of other plants on the bench / cooker / shelves or similar.
    • LaBlanca Gomez LaBlanca Gomez on Aug 21, 2016
      Thank You Bernadette Staal. I like your ideas to keep it as a kitchenette and adding a little bench but I don't have little kids anymore and this piece would be perfect as a tool box/center.
  • Geri Ann Geri Ann on Aug 21, 2016
    I would paint it and give it feet or industrial wheels to raise it off the ground, remove the trivets on the stove top. Put hooks under the top shelf or mount a pegboard above and under the shelf to hang his tools. Paint it and put the metal bowl back in the hole and use it for a catchall for nuts, bolts, screws, etc. If you use pegboard on the top then cover each door with it and paint it to disguise the hole. Otherwise I'd suggest a planting center for your garden tools and small plants...
    • LaBlanca Gomez LaBlanca Gomez on Aug 21, 2016
      I like the pegboard idea and the industrial look. I think I may use a piece of metal flashing that I saw a few months ago but I forget which store I was in. I'll have to retrace my footsteps to see if the store still has it since it was on clearance. Thanks again! Pictures to follow upon completion.
  • Rhonda Walker Rhonda Walker on Aug 21, 2016
    I would turn it into a potting table. Have to add some height. Container below hole for excess dirt, storage below and wire over hole in door.
    • LaBlanca Gomez LaBlanca Gomez on Aug 21, 2016
      Thank You Rhonda Walker. I appreciate your feedback but I really want to make it into a tool box/center. Its better than buying one and this little kitchenette is perfect. I just needed some ideas to get started. Thanks again!
  • Dot D Collett Dot D Collett on Aug 21, 2016
    sign :: Husband's Cook Center. Add bottom shelf to raise it to working height, giving more storage. Could add weight of some kind to stablize it (heavy wheels external wheels would do) use counter hole for trash, dust, parts with different lids for each use (old pot lid, emboridary hoop with screen, grate / round trivet.
  • Marisou Gabrielle Marisou Gabrielle on Aug 21, 2016
    hello if you have a cat you may bbe well able to make a cats resting and playing house that be neat
  • Linda Freiberg Linda Freiberg on Aug 21, 2016
    Outdoor Bar
    • LaBlanca Gomez LaBlanca Gomez on Aug 21, 2016
      Thank You Linda Freiberg. I love this idea. The only problem is, I don't have a back yard to store it which is why I think I'm gonna go with the tool box/center.
  • Jennie Lee Jennie Lee on Aug 21, 2016
    Each of these ideas could be used in different ways: you could drill holes to stick screwdrivers in, point first. You could put 2 or 4 plastic tubs in the bottom, which could be pulled out for access. You could put magnetic storage strips along the front edge and on the sides for small tools. You could put jar lids, like baby food lids, under the small shelf with screws through the middles, to hold up jars full of hardware. You could fasten a cheap ruler along an edge, for quick measuring.
    • LaBlanca Gomez LaBlanca Gomez on Aug 21, 2016
      Thank You Jennie Lee. I love these ideas. I was thinking about using magnetic strips and a metal sheet flashing. I'm still debating if I want to remove the trivets (stove burners) or just leave it to put a sheet of rubber drawer liner on top or paint it. My wheels are still turning...
  • Sharon Sharon on Aug 21, 2016
    Hi. I would find a magnetic bowl at an Auto parts shop for the hole in the top. Great for parts of whatever he is taking apart, they don't get lost. Slots or holes for screwdrivers in the top little shelf. Battery charger on the "burners". Larger holes in right hand end of shelf for hammers. Pull our bins for pliers and such inside. And that hole in the front? Attach a board with a small spacer around it, leaving top open. Slip in a message, like "I know you can fix it!" or a picture. You can change that out whenever the mood strikes. Or a drawing of what you want him to make.
  • Jennie Lee Jennie Lee on Aug 21, 2016
    If you do decide to put steel sheet metal on it somewhere, I just remembered that Dollar Tree sells small tins in 2 sizes with clear plastic tops and magnets on the bottom! You could also paint it with the color or the logo of his favorite car. Or something like "Mr. Fix-it".
    • LaBlanca Gomez LaBlanca Gomez on Aug 22, 2016
      Thank You Jennie Lee. I'm gonna go to The Dollar Tree and the little 99¢ stores in my area to see what they have. Thanks for all the great ideas!
  • Jennie Lee Jennie Lee on Aug 21, 2016
    You could put a small, pull-out waste bin in the top hole, and a roll of paper towels that would pull out of the bottom hole. Or mount a paper towel dispenser on the side. You could put a work light on it, that can be removed to use elsewhere. You could mount a power strip to plug power tools into, on it. You could mount a water bottle on it! Sorry, this one has really sparked my imagination!
    • LaBlanca Gomez LaBlanca Gomez on Aug 24, 2016
      Thank You Jennie Lee. I love all of your ideas and wish you lived closer to me. I love doing DIY projects but not too crazy about working solo. I'm a team player and love working with someone with such wonderful ideas and experience. I have so many ideas that I'm not sure which way I want to go with this piece. I also would like to add height to it bit not sure if I want to do it from the top or bottom.
  • Carol Eckelkamp Carol Eckelkamp on Aug 21, 2016
    Can you add legs...shouldn't be higher?
    • LaBlanca Gomez LaBlanca Gomez on Aug 24, 2016
      Thank You C. I definitely want to add height and wheels but not sure exactly what I want to do yet. I saw a small but wide night stand at the thrift store the other day that would work perfect for the height but they wanted too much for it and would not budge on the price. $75 was too much for a used nightstand that needed a lot of work. Plus, it wasn't even real wood, it was particle board.
  • Elaine Elaine on Aug 29, 2016
    Aww ... I'm kind of sad picturing a once little girl (or boy!) playing at this and enjoying many happy hours of imaginative play and hate to see this changed. (My grandkids loved theirs so pardon me if I'm a bit gooey today). So ... instead, I'd love to see it donated to a women's/children's centre and then envision other (possibly frightened and displaced) children enjoying it.
  • Rosanne Landers Rosanne Landers on Sep 01, 2016
    tool holder
  • Loretta Kekalos Loretta Kekalos on Sep 03, 2016
    Many ideas come to mind, I do believe legs or a short bookcase under it (for additional storage) would be great. Plant stand or garden center; small wine station; pedicure/manicure organizer. I can picture it painted with a pretty bowl in the 'sink', remove the doors and put curtains on spring rods inside the opening. Whatever you decide, I'm sure you'll have fun and it will look great!
  • Kenneth Sellers Kenneth Sellers on Nov 08, 2016
    Would it make a nice small potting table. Large bowl of soil in the hole. Lots of room for tools. Bonsai work table ? You get the idea.