Play Kitchen

This year, for Olivia and Isaac, I became completely obsessed with DIY play kitchens. They have been all over creative blogs lately. Olivia used to have a play kitchen that was given to us by a friend. To say it was trashed when we got it would be a complete understatement, but the kids loved it anyway. It had no sink, was missing a door, made noise and the blender mechanism worked, but the blender was missing and only made noise half the time. It was a sad, sad kitchen. But we appreciated it for what it was. When we left Lubbock we left it behind. So for Christmas I set my mind on making one myself. I thought about buying one but the good ones (that aren't made of plastic) are well over $100 and that is way over my budget. I wanted one that was sturdy and durable. I did some research, created a whole pintrest board devoted to it, talked Glenn into doing it with me, and got to work.
The whole idea is to take an old piece of furniture (a TV stand or end table) and refashion it into a kids play kitchen. So this is what we started with:

Then we we mapped out our design, decided on colors and got painting.

This next step took FOREVER!!!! It was horrible. Glenn and I both were about to give up. I am not sure what it was but this step was hard. If I had not had Glenn there with me I am sure I would have given up. But we persevered. After getting the paint done it was smooth sailing. All we had to do was put everything together. Glenn and I are both proud of the finished product. Although neither of us wants to look at it again.

So, drum role please, here is Olivia and Isaac's Christmas present from us:

complete with a real faucet (the most expensive part) and stove knobs that you can really turn.

There is an oven and a refrigerator. Those are the bane of Glenn's existence. He was really ready to give up when those didn't turn out exactly the way we had hoped.

I think my favorite parts are the little finishing touches. Like the hooks on the side:

and the handles and the sink. The sink is just a metal mixing bowl that we got at Wal-Mart. I had to get a couple of pictures with some of their pots and pans on it. I think it makes it a little more complete.

I love it! Even though I am glad it is done and even more glad I don't have to look at it until Christmas morning.

I think Olivia and Isaac are going to love it!