DIY Play Kitchen

Remember this guy?   

Over the past two weeks I have been diligently working to make this tv cabinet that I purchased at a furniture resale store into the {this is my bias coming out folks} cutest play kitchen of all time!  We had been planning on purchasing a play kitchen all finished, but my discriminating taste kicked in.  The plastic kitchens are fine, but lets be honest they aren't the prettiest things ever.  This is going to be in our kitchen for a few years, and I want it to look good.  So on to the wood kitchens.  Ugh, most are pink and for girls.  REALLY?!  I'm sorry, but boys like to get into cabinets and bang the pots and pans around too!

After being inspired by the wood kitchens my exact statement to hubby was "oh, I could make one of those.  It would be cuter too!".  So off to Goodwill, Salvation Army, Antique Square, and finally a furniture resale store with that little guy for $15.  Done and Done!

Step 1:  This piece of furniture was a laminate tv cabinet.  I knew in order to make it last with a destructive little guy I was going to have to do some good prep work.  Before painting, the cabinet was transported over to a good friends home where I conned the hole for the sink was cut out.  The cabinet was sanded all over, primed, sanded, painted, sanded, painted two more times and two good coats of polyurethane were added {do NOT skip this step, it really makes everything so much more durable for persons who aren't careful i.e. children}.  I already had all of the paint in the garage, which determined the color scheme.

Step 2:  Anything that was going to have a silver base coat got spray painted {sorry for the pictures, most were done at night in the garage}.

Step 3:  Two coats of chalkboard paint were directly applied to the laminate side.  Using a tip from the brilliant Janell over at  Isabella & Max Rooms, chalk was applied to the entire side after it had dried and then erased.   It really does help not getting a lasting image of previous drawings on it.  

Step 4:  Using some scrap wood we had in the garage a frame was made to go around the chalkboard wall.  I put it together and painted it prior to attaching it to the cabinet so that I wouldn't have to trim it out at all.  Then I just touched up the areas where the nails were covered.

Step 5:  After searching for a faucet to use, I decided to not invest the $30+ price tag of an actual faucet and become inventive.  I found this little "J-trap" in the plumbing isle.  It came with that base/washer.  After spraying it with a good coat of silver paint, a metal washer was dropped into the base and screwed into the cabinet.  The actual "J-trap" was then screwed onto the base.  Not only does this allow for durability, but the "faucet head" is able to turn like a real faucet would.

Step 6:  Actually this came after the base coats of paint, but prior to the polyurethane.  Black paint was applied to create the "stove top".  

Step 7:  Holes were drilled for the knobs being used as faucet handles as well as stove knobs. 

Step 8:  I found some scrap fabric at Hobby Lobby that coordinated with the colors of paint I was using {I didn't purchase any new paint, but used what I already had in the garage}.  Using stitch witchery I made a no sew curtain to the opening size.

Step 9:  The only type of curtain rod that I could find to fit this opening was a tension rod.  I know my son, and this would become a fun game to tear that curtain off.  Instead I cut down a dowel rod to slightly smaller than the opening.  I drilled small holes into the center of each end on the dowel rod.  Holes were then drilled through the cabinet so that a screw could attach the dowel rod to the side of the cabinet {fabric was already on rod before being hung}.

Step 10:  I drew an outline on the cabinet doors of what I wanted it to look like {this came in handy, because I didn't like how the oven and microwave were and repainted them}.  Then the appropriate paint colors were added.  Finally, a few stickers were attached for the fridge "big chill" logo and the microwaves buttons.

Step 11:  Pretty it up - All of the accessories that made his kitchen extra unique were added including {to hubby's dismay} all 95 pieces of food.  I really liked that "F" hood, but if I had it to do again I would get a shorter hook.

Adding up the Cost:

cabinet - $15

supplies - $9.65

knobs - $12.36

replacement of broken knob - $3.99

fabric - $3.67

storage - $7.99

accessories - $22.98

Total - Priceless $75.74

and drum roll please...

Alright, before I let you all get back to your lives here are some pictures of the little man playing in his kitchen all.day.long!

{I know his outfit doesn't match, it was early on Christmas morning and we had to grab a sweater to keep the little guy warm!}

 

Christmas {Home Sweet Home}

Okay I promise this will be the last Christmas post for awhile.  I was pretty much finished decorating last weekend, but then kept moving things around as I found I didn't like this here or that there, etc.  Everything I used I already had from Christmas' past, so it was just a matter of staging it to my liking {my husband could really care less so long as it's done, which is why I married him *wink*}.

A little story about this gem.  The Mr. and I got married a few day after Christmas and this was a wedding present from one of my parents... eccentric friends.  I was really stumped about it at first, and I don't think I even liked it, but it has grown on me over the last eight years.  It makes me smile when I see it, and of all of the gifts we received I can actually remember who got it for us.

I'm not too fond of the painted detail on this nativity, and I've thought about spray painting it white or gold.  What do you think?  I am a little afraid, because you can't take it back.

Opps!  Maybe I should have ironed those stockings first.

Simple mantle, but I like the way it looks.  I have struggled with my mantle for quite some time, even during the rest of the year, simply because it is sooo long and off centered.

Here is a very rare snow storm we got last Christmas.  I am dreaming of a white Christmas again this year!

So there you have it!  That is most of our home sweet home this Christmas season :) 

Christmas Tree {A Family Affair}

Every year we kick off the Christmas season by putting up our Christmas tree the Friday after Thanksgiving.  It is one of those traditions that has carried over from my childhood.  We put on Christmas music, my hubby makes Chex Mix and we put up the tree.  Last year our little guy was only a few months old and would just lay there starring at our tree, this year he wanted to be involved.  I swear he thinks he is an adult!

Both my husband and I would receive ornaments every year growing up, and we still do.  These ornaments mean a lot to both of us, so we have a family tree that receives all of those ornaments.  I was suppose to have another tree, but that's another story for another time ;)  Since we want to keep these ornaments up as well as start the same tradition with our children we have attempted to achieve some sort of cohesiveness.  I must say that I think we do a pretty decent job at it since I have had people over that tell me they could never have a tree like this because they have so many personal ornaments.  I'm not sure if it is a compliment to our efforts, or a compliment to the ornaments we have received over the years.  Since a lot of our personal ornaments are traditional Christmas colors {red, green, gold, etc} we went with a red and silver accent color.  After stringing on all of the lights we put up red garland, then an assortment of red and silver ball ornaments.  Finally we finish off by putting up all of our personal ornaments, those deemed less attractive get designated to the back of the tree ;)  My mom gave us a larger tree last year, so we probably need to get some more filler ornaments to give it more color, but here it is...

It is too funny, we both have ornaments from 1988 with our pictures on them.  So we put them together on our tree.  My grandma made mine, as she did all of her grandchildren.  Every year we would look for what ornament she would make us, they would all be similar but different.  Here are just a few examples of some of her work.

This was the very first ornament!

We had to put the tree in our dining room so the little guy would be less tempted to disturb it.  At least it allows for you to see it from the front of our house :)  Do any of you keep a "family" tree?

The Changing Colors of Fall

We just got back from vacation in Colorado where there was a lack of modern technology happening.  To be honest I really didn't mind it as we were out enjoying mother nature and family (however, I can't wait to catch up to what I've missed on my favorite blogs).  Hopefully I can make it up to you by sharing some great pictures that I took while driving through the mountains in Estes Park and taking in the changing colors. 

  

Growing up we would spend countless weekends at my Great Grandma's cabin in Estes.  We would make a trip to The Taffy Shop that first day to stock up on the best salt water taffy.  You can still watch the taffy being made in the shop window.

 

This is the Stanley Hotel where the movie The Shining was filmed.  I might have to figure out how to work this one into the house before Halloween ;)

 

Here is one with the aspen trees changing color.

We stayed with my in-laws who live on a few acres of land and I couldn't help but take some photos of their place.  It was such a relaxing trip, and hopefully I get to see some leaves changing colors here at home soon!

The rare photo of the hubby and I since one of us is usually behind the lens.  Have a great rest of your weekend, I will be unpacking ;)