DIY Kitchenette

Handmade gifts are a really important part of our holiday tradition. I like to give things from the heart, and I feel really good about gifting something I've labored over. Don't get me wrong. We do lots of store-bought presents as well, but the gifts I pour time and energy into always make me feel the proudest! 

When the idea for a handmade kitchenette came about, I was immediately intrigued. I had several questions: Can we make a kitchenette that is functional so a child can actually play with it? Can we make it sturdy enough that I don't have to worry about it falling on my kids?  Even if I think it is cute, will it appeal to little ones?  After Emma and I did some sketching and planning, this is where she came in and used her superpowers. The hard part was done for us since we had found this little rolling cabinet. It was the perfect size and we felt that with a few minor additions, it could become the kitchenette we were planning for. First we cut a peg board down, so that it was just tall enough to fit two play pans. Emma secured the peg board by creating a frame in the back of the unit with wood planks. She then added a shelf to the top of the pegboard and the side of the unit. This was done by screwing in a small plank of wood we cut to fit the unit. The wooden triangle pieces were then secured with liquid nails. She also removed the handle from the top drawer and added four wooden knobs with more liquid nails to be the oven controls. After we painted she also added two hooks on the other side of the unit for hanging play towels or aprons.After Emma got the structure all put together, it was my job to paint and make it look like a play kitchen. I started with orange and white paints as my base and put a few coats on the whole thing.  Once it was all painted and dry, I masked off a portion on the door to be the "oven window".  I painted that with chalkboard paint, and then used some of my extra chalkboard paint on the oven knobs as well. The last step was creating the "burners". I picked up some 6" round wooden plaques. I first used my grey paint to cover the bottom side of each plaque. After the paint was dry, I used a compass to draw circles onto contact paper. I affixed the contact paper to the plaque and painted white between the contact circles. Once the white paint dried, I pulled the contact circles off and touched up the lines with a paint brush. I used gorilla glue to glue the "burners" down and put 3 coats of clear varnish over the entire "stove top". One of my very favorite parts of this kitchenette is that the door and the drawer from the original cart are still functional. The "oven door" opens up so they can "bake" their food, and the drawer is great storage. One of my biggest concerns was that the kitchen would be sturdy enough for real kiddo wear-and-tear. I'm happy to report that I have NO fears of this unit being top heavy or coming apart. It is extremely sturdy. (hooray!) We are technically saving it for Christmas, but when I brought the kitchenette home to photograph, my kids went crazy for it. They played with it non-stop until bedtime, and then it magically disappeared into our basement until Christmas rolls around. I'm excited to pull it back out on Christmas morning and watch my 2 year old enjoy playing with that old rolling cart-turned-colorful kitchenette. It's a good feeling.  xo. Katie (& Emma, too!)

Comments

[Kristen @ miss prissy paige]

This is adorable! I love it - and it looks like someone is going to be VERY happy come Christmas morning!

[Tyler Anne Snell]

This is a wonderful, creative gift for kids! Love it!

[Sandy T]

It's adorable. Is the orange paint also chalkboard paint?

[CRAVING FOR BARNEYS]

She is so cute! Love it!

NEW OUTFIT IN http://cravingforbarneys.com

[Trina]

That is such a sweet gift. It's so functional and adorable!

[Victoria / Justice Pirate]

This is SO adorable!

[Natalie / Half Asleep Studio]

How adorable!!

[Gina]

This will be such a family treasure. I still have the kitchenette that my parents made for me for Christmas when I was three. It is in my five year-old's room with a fresh coat of paint. LOVE.

[Amy Powell]

absolutely adorable!

[Maria Alexis Co]

such a cute idea. kinda wish i was older and had children to make this for them!

[Marian]

Hey Katie (and Emma!),

This is the cutest! I have a little niece who would LOVE a little kitchen until like this. I wonder if there's time to whip one up before Christmas??!

Keep up the good work!
Marian

http://knickerelasticfantastic.blogspot.co.uk/

[cait & val]

just sent this DIY to our sister who can now make it for her daughter!!!
such an amazing project!

xo. c & v
cake & valley

[Lela]

This is adorable! You should consider doing a post containing all past DIY projects that would make good gifts this holiday season!

[Alex]

I have no children and yet I'm dying to make one for myself! What an amazing DIY!

[Nury]

This is so clever and cute! I love it!

[abirdsdailylifetale]

Woow,this must have been a lot of work and it looks just amazing!
I would have loved to have one of these when I was a kid..

xoxo

[Jennifer]

What a great idea! It looks so nice!

xo Jennifer

http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com

[Marian]

This is a really awesome idea! And the pictures are so cute. :)

[Jenny]

Amazing! What a great idea, glad to hear it went down a storm. So special to have something handmade with such love :) lucky kids! X

[Morgan Erina]

I just read through so much of your blog, and I have to say...Amazing. So inspiring. I read the blog post on tips for new bloggers ( as I am one) and it really inspired me. Also, the post on living your creative life was so good for me to read because I am a singer/songwriter here in Pittsburgh in a band called Broken Fences (Brokenfencesband.com), and while we are actually making money with the band, it's not enough for an income just yet. But you have inspired me to keep working at it. So thank you so so so much!