apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

http://www.threesisterstoys.com/t-gallery.aspx how about some natural playroom inspiration...

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=631729
more natural playroom inspiration

http://www.make-baby-stuff.com/playroom-decor.html
and even more

On to actual playroom items:

Swing suggestion:
http://www.blueberryforest.com/magical_home_decor/haba-ships-see-saw-swing.htm This is a great swing for two kids, mine love it and in this situation I imagine if she is feeling under the weather it might be soothing to just lay down in it and be "rocked" gently. My 4yo can lay down, just curled up a bit and he has on more than one occasion snuck into it at night to sleep. Pricey but good quality, when we are done with it I believe it will still be in good enough shape to donate.

Dress up silks and decorating silks:
http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=68
There are wings and ribbons and canopies... all perfect for any 4yo. I love shopping at A Toy Garden because I know everything Sonya sells is either handmade/mama made or passes her strict safety checks.

back later to add more ... best wishes to the family!

Cookie magazine feature a London based architect that had a duel slide/staircase in his house.
http://www.cookiemag.com/homefront/decor/2008/11/london_greenhouse?slide=2#showSlide

Also a nice high cubby hole where she can "hideout" would be great. I had one when I was a kid and I alway felt independent while I was in there.
Make it feel magical like a fairy tree or something. You should watch some movies like Midsummers Dream, Peter Pan, Tickerbell ect. for some inspiration.

Ooh, KidTropolis designs and builds fantastic playrooms! Remember this post from last summer?

Grow lights and real potted trees (mini citrus comes to mind) and other plants to help keep the basement air fresh and filtered as well as provide great ambiance.

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/organizing/movable-peg-hanger-026319 this coat rack would be great for holding dress up items!

These super-awesome (and very expensive) playhouses can be custom built and they can make it perfectly fit your child's interests (firestation, grocery store, movie theatre, etc). The website just shows outdoor playhouses, but they can be built indoors (we have a Lilliput indoor playground near our home and all the playhouses are inside). Here's the link: http://www.lilliputplayhomes.com/childrens-playhouses.asp
My best to the family!

If that Lilliput link doesn't seem to be working, try this one:
http://www.lilliputplayhomes.com/

How about a Dream Gondola from Haba:

http://www.oompa.com/baby-toys/item/HA2977/Haba-Toys-Dream-Gondola.html?oompaItem=Haba%20Toys_Dream%20Gondola

A gourmet kid's kitchen:
http://www.potterybarnkids.com/room/rom/romply/romplygur/index.cfm

I wouldn't put outdoor playsets indoors. They are probably treated with chemicals. In fact, all of the furnishings and toys should be VOC-free and nontoxic for a child with health problems.

how fun! I'm imaging a craft table with a bookcase full of papers, fabrics, a little sewing machine (for later), glue, glitter. Then maybe a dress up area with portable closet (on wheels) with a broadway-like make up mirror and maybe a play stage where shows can be performed. Of course, I would add a reading nook with lots and lots of children's books and several chairs and pillows. Maybe even a movie theater with a big screen and popcorn stand!

http://www.heirloomwoodentoys.com/Dress-up-Carousel-Natural-pr-18302.html

dress up carousel

http://www.heirloomwoodentoys.com/KYDZ-CASTLE-KING-pr-19037.html
castle, fun!

http://www.heirloomwoodentoys.com/Floor-Model-Theater-chalkboard-surfaces-pr-18016.html

puppet theater, chalkboard

http://www.maukilo.com/categories/pretend-play-toys-37/holztiger-toys-38/index.html
an entire set would be nice

http://www.ape2zebra.ca/wooden-european-market-stand-shop-canada.asp
play market trolley packed with:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=998859
essential play kitchen accessories

art table
http://store.tagtoys.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=tagsales&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=363002955&Count2=280143380&CategoryID=5&Target=products.asp

the whole shebang
http://www.hertzfurniture.com/Dramatic-Play--Dramatic-Play-Package--5721--mo.html

see through sand and water table
http://www.sensoryedge.com/seethsaandwa.html

and more playroom inspiration
http://www.hgtv.com/search/results.do?hgSearchString=playroom&hgSearchType=HGTV.com

Yummy! So many links to keep me busy this weekend. Thank you all so very much. I look forward to what other ideas pop up here.

Julie aka Alyson & Bradyn's Mom

I would recommend to look into following links: http://www.haba.de/Rabeneck.kizi_ser_rabe.0.html http://www.haba.de/Piratenkogge.kizi_ser_pirkog.0.html These themes seem a little boyish, but girls will have plenty fun swinging and climbing. You will have a lot of space left for other activities...

The most magical playhouses/treehouses that I have ever come across -- the ones I dream of! -- are the ones by Barbara Butler. She does custom work too, and so could work with you to make an indoor playhouse...

http://www.barbarabutler.com/index.php

She also has all sorts of neat accessories you can get -- chairs, tables, swings, cabinets to lock up,

http://www.barbarabutler.com/accessories.php?mid=5&section=Indoor

I've always loved this one...
http://www.barbarabutler.com/product/tree%20house/1098216168.html

and she does little theatres too

http://www.barbarabutler.com/product/play%20houses/1095425855.html

We love the castle bouncer for our playroom! It's fun to inflate on rainy days and deflate and store for another day! I'm sure there are more expensive/more durable versions out there, but so far this one works great and is small enough for any room but big enough to play in. Good luck!

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=535511&cmSource=Search

I don't know if someone already posted it, but I stumbled upon this woman's work, and it seems pretty amazing and fanciful. She does custom work, too.

http://www.barbarabutler.com/custom.php

I also think it'd be great to have a tent of some kind...filled with pillows, stuffed animals, and blankets.

I also really think the less specific/naturalistic playhouses leave more to the kids' imagination...so a space can alternately be a house, a fort, or an airplane depending on their mood.

Southpaw makes a lot of fun play equipment, usually for use in Physical and Occupational therapy. I work in a pediatric clinic that has swing hooks hung throughout each room, so that you can constantly change the setup. With a bunch of hooks and a variety of swings, ropes, nets, etc, you can create variety so that the room is always fun and new. We set it up for obstacle courses, hide and seek, climbing, or even just swinging.

Their website is http://www.southpawenterprises.com/ The website is pretty extensive - it might be easier to order their catalog and see what catches your eye. I would recommend a lot of their swings, many of which will support an adult AND a child swinging together. I also love giant pillows for safe crashing - I don't know if these are Southpaw as well.

This sounds like an amazing project! Best wishes to you all.

Large fish tank &/or ant farm

She is beautiful. I am so so sorry you have to go through this. I'm sure whatever you do will be wonderful.

Mini-trampoline!! Greatest indoor contraption for kids, ever:

http://www.amazon.com/Galt-America-A2500H-Nursery-Trampoline/dp/B00003G4K2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1229918688&sr=1-5

I definitly agree that there should be some kind of grow lights or something to help with Vitamin E. Anything that helps plants grow indoor will be great for her. Not Low VOC, but NO VOC would be best. Everything used should have as little out gassing as possible. I know that she is probably not into skateboarding, but I love the idea that the floors and walls meld into each other with transitions. I love the idea of them and I would love to fill my whole house with them because I think that it removes the ideas of walls as being boundaries. A moon bounce would definitly be a bonus along with an inflatable velcro wall. I would love one of those water pistol shooting galleries like they have at carnivals where you shoot the ducks going by or it inflates a water balloon.
I know that these ideas might be kind of random, but the most important thing is that the room stays modular so that she can rearrange things. The worst thing to do to a child is to limit there creativity. A cool playhouse or slide or play area is only cool for five minutes if the child cannot move it around and make it what "they want". Oh yeah... do not forget the obligatory year supply of Oreos stashed in a secret hiding spot.

Ski-ball... from an old carnival

A great source for wood toys that are not chemically treated, do not contain any formaldehyde glue and are painted with water-based paints is Plan Toys. www.plantoys.com
Oh- and they're toys are beautiful.
Julie- I wish your family the happiest of holidays and the very best of new years.

just wishing you the best -- please take care of yourselves.

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