(Play) Kitchen Remodel Project

the current view of our playroom.  

With spring right around the corner, I have been itching to start some new projects.

One of my projects is to make Josie a whole kitchen full of felt play food. There are a bunch of simple tutorials online the show you how to make anything from carrots to 3 tiered felt cakes! It's amazing. I've decided to start off with fruits and veggies, then work my way up to pastries and entrees. You can check out some of the tutorials at this AWESOME blog called Apartment Therapy

easel (a true kitchen essential, no?), cabinet, and fridge

Sticking with the whole pretend kitchen vibe, I've also decided to give my play kitchen appliances a makeover as well. When I was about 4 years old, I was given a handmade (for me) wooden stove and refrigerator. A year later (I think), my grandpa made me a beautiful wooden cabinet. All of these pieces were stored away in a barn for the better part of the last decade. Needless to say, they are all in need of a good thorough cleaning, and a new paint job.

new paint: mint for the fridge and turquoise/red for the other pieces. 

For our new play kitchen, I've decided to go with a funky retro color palate: turquoise, red and mint. The fridge will be primed with magnetic paint, then painted mint/pear in color. I thought it would be neat to have the play fridge be magnetic (like a real fridge) so we can put magnets and other "fridge-y" things on it.

the bottom of the fridge is discolored and gross. nothing a little primer and paint can't fix!

The cabinet will be painted a shade of turquoise. Right now, it's a pretty county blue color. I was going to leave it that color, but I want it to be 100% Josie's now, not mine. This may sound silly/crazy/weird but in order for me to give these pieces to my daughter and not feel like they are still MY possessions, I need them to look different. Does that make any sense? It makes sense in my head.

Isn't this just gorgeous?! my grandpa made this for me in 1992. I've always loved the way it smells (especially when the cabinet doors are open).  Is that weird?

The stove (which is very unique and odd in appearance) will be painted an awesome turquoise/red color combo. I also plan on cutting a "window" in the door of the stove to give it more of an oven vibe. I'm also going to paint burners onto the range area, and maybe add a spice rack.

I've never really understood this stove. I knew it was a stove ONLY because someone told me it was . I still can't wrap my mind around it. It's kind of like a pizza oven...and kind of like a weird filing cabinet. I've seen pictures of vintage appliances...and this is just something totally all it's own. I love it.

The fridge and the stove will be getting new hardware as well (since the handles are pretty gross and rusty on both). We will also be adding a rack to the oven (what's an oven without a rack?!) and a shelf and crisper drawers to the fridge.

We still need to come up with a small sink area; but that's not super critical at the moment (who LIKES to wash dishes anyway?) :)

I can't wait until this project is complete! Not only will Josie love it....but the playroom/living room won't look so drab afterwards too!

I told Tim that within 3 years our current living room will be a larger extension of the current playroom; but with seating for adults.

Once the project is complete, I'll post "before and after" photos of the pieces and of the play room!