apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Wow - those kitchens look better than mine do! that would make it a not. Which is too bad because they're really cute.
Tabitha @ http://www.fromsingletomarried.com

I don't have kids, but I've always wanted one of these for myself. :)

There has been at least one play-kitchen made from ikea stuff on ikeahacker. These are kind of ridiculous, but that said, I am really jealous that I never had one as a kid.

Those are great, but I'd pick a simple on for my kids - the blanker the palette, the more the the imagination can run with it.

Also - if I were to be cooking, as it appears the mom is doing in the top image, I'd rather have my child helping in the kitchen -- if they're as old as that one they can stir, or measure...or just sit and talk and watch and learn.


http://embritadesign.blogspot.com

I think the idea of a play kitchen for kids is great - and some of those are really cute, if a little extravagant. However, no to get all political on everyone, I hate how stereotypically gendered most of the pottery barn kitchens are. I especially dislike the pink one that comes with a vacuum cleaner, an appliance that seems to be missing from the red version.

These are too over the top. I don't have a kitchen like that myself. I think kids should be allowed to play in the real kitchen with parents supervision, instead of indulging them with an extravagant play kitchen.

We have a PB Kids near us and the brown variation is not particularly attractive in person, especially at that price. I appreciate that it is gender nuetral though.

My parents both felt "toy" kitchen stuff was ridiculous when there was a REAL kitchen to play in where we could make real food and eat it together. I agree with them.

We have had a number of play kitchens purchased both new and from craigs list and I know the amount of use would never make up for the cost of kitchens like that.
We are on our 3rd play kitchen. It's 2 basic wooden shelves, a small plastic tub for a sink and hook turned upside for the down for the faucet all from ikea. cost $40 i think?

I love the new brown kitchen from PBkids. That said, it is an outrageous amount of money to spend on a play kitchen.

My daughter will be getting a play kitchen for her second birthday. (I haven't chosen one yet) She loves to help me (gives me carrots to peel etc). But a large part of her individual play time she chooses to pretend to cook with play food and pots and pans (and to make mommy coffee). So she's getting a kitchen to put all the stuff in, and continue her exploration.

There's a lot to be said for helping out parents in the real kitchen - and I certainly did - but there's a part in a little girl that gets an absolute thrill from having small things just her size, just for her.

Probably part of the early independence, really.

So while I'm going to encourage my someday kids to help in the kitchen, I'm definitely giving them their own little place grow in.

Since I love working with wood I'm probably going to make my own, but gosh, pictures like these are so gosh darn inspiring! I'd go for the more gender neutral colors like the brown one though - little boys can have fun with food too!

those "play items" cost about the same as the "real" items!

as I kid, i had a set of play pots and pans, and the box they came on had burners "painted" on them.

I also had a play raggedy-ann stove that was my favorite toy, and I still remember my easy-bake oven.

kids don't need too much; something their size is good; but those prices are outrageous!