DIY Play Kitchen

by Dans_le_Lakehouse

$40

2 Days

Easy

I am on a mission to foster a love of thrifting, vintage, and baking in my young cousins (a six year old girl and three year old boy). To this end, I decided to have a little fun and make them a vintage-inspired play kitchen:

I started with an old microwave stand from a thrift store:

I removed the top shelf so they wouldn't bonk their heads on it. The whole thing was sanded, primed and painted - even the wood handles. A hole was cut for the "sink" (a stainless mixing bowl) and then an "element" (a cork trivet painted black) was glued on. A real faucet - purchased for cheap in the classifieds - added some realism.

Part way through the "kitchen reno," I realized it could use more space. What kitchen couldn't use more space? So my Handy Hubby and I also added a little shelf and a tea towel rod to the side:

The real fun was accessorizing! From little hooks we hung some Ikea play kitchen utensils. I also collected some vintage melmac from thrift stores. A sugar bowl looks like a casserole in small hands! http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.ca/2012/03/treasure-hunting-report-melmac-who-knew.html

My Mom, who also donated the spare Ikea legs to the makeover, helped me sew some mini tea towels and pot holders. For tutorials, see this post: http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.ca/2012/03/diy-cloth-napkins-and-tea-towels-with.html and this post: http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.ca/2012/03/diy-mini-pot-holder.html

We even spray painted a few metal accessories - a candle holder became a "cake stand" and a mini colander got a blue new look. They're supervised during play time and neither has tried to lick the paint yet!

P.S. Somehow this post was categorized under "kitchen ideas," which kind of cracks me up. I'm still learning how to post here on HomeTalk and when I recommended "DIY" as a category, the website seemed to reject it. So if you were looking for kitchen ideas and ended up here, my apologies! It seems like a cruel joke, I know. Although, this greige, pink, and mint combo would look cute in a grown-up size, with white marble counters and stainless steel appliances ;) Very Martha Stewart, if I do say so myself.

Enjoyed the project?

You can do it! Saved to your projects

Frequently asked questions

Have a question about this project?

Ask a Question

Comments

Join the conversation

3 of 109 comments

GR on Jan 10, 2015
Super cute! My granddaughter is only 3 months old so I may have to wait a while before I try this - on the other hand I could make it now and look after it for a while ;-))

Like Reply
- Dans_le_Lakehouse on Jan 11, 2015
  @GR Haha, definitely make one now and test it out for a few years. Quality control, I say!
  
  1
Bobbie B on Jan 24, 2015
My grand daughter will be 4 in March. I would love to make this for her. My husband sold all his woodworking tools when we moved into our apartment. He thinks Im nuts to want to make this. Boo on him! lol

Like Reply