Look! Hollie Hobbie Play Kitchen Renovation

One of the first things many people renovate when they buy a new home is the dated kitchen. The same, it would seem, holds true for play kitchens. Valerie sent us some photos of the amazing conversion she did on a past-its-prime Hollie Hobbie kitchen, pictured above, that she scored for $50. Check out the "after" photos below the jump.

Says Valerie:

I've thoroughly enjoyed your links to play kitchens over the last several months, mainly because I've used them to help get ideas for our own DIY kitchen. We didn't build this one from scratch, but we did a bit of recycling. I know it's almost sacreligous to some people to repaint over Hollie Hobbie, but how many kids can you say have a play kitchen with "stainless steel" appliances?

Thanks so much for sharing, Valerie!

Comments (11)

While the new kitchen is really cute, it makes me sad to see such a classic get painted over.

posted by HPez on January 5th 2009 at 4:57pm
view HPez's profile

The kitchen went from cute to awesome, I love it. I doubt most kids even know what hollie hobby was.

posted by senoritamommy on January 5th 2009 at 5:11pm
view senoritamommy's profile

Top Chef Season 25, look out! Very cool remodel.

posted by CraigPelz on January 5th 2009 at 6:58pm
view CraigPelz's profile

yow! I love that something so 70s/80s got such a modern update. It looks so so cool now! (and I'm not missing the HH jeans I had in '79.)

posted by julie_k. on January 5th 2009 at 7:47pm
view julie_k.'s profile

Oh I had that! It was a santa gift and i remember coming down the stairs that morning and seeing it. Makes me wonder if my parents still have it.

posted by grayla on January 5th 2009 at 8:12pm
view grayla's profile

Way to go, guys! Turned out great!

posted by patricia on January 5th 2009 at 9:12pm
view patricia's profile

sniff sniff!
I liked it better before!

posted by veeveeme on January 6th 2009 at 12:18am
view veeveeme's profile

I like the Hollie Hobbie version better. I don't think it's sacreligous--I was the right age but never liked Hollie Hobbie very much--I just don't think it looks like stainless steel, it looks like gray-painted board. I would have liked it better painted in a color. Fridges come in colors now. Imagine a tiny litte SMEG fridge!

I had a very nice all-in-one Creative Playthings kitchen that's currently up in my parents' attic. I hope it's not too damaged so my o

posted by Pencils on January 6th 2009 at 10:12am
view Pencils's profile

that's supposed to say: so my own daughter can play with it in a few years!

posted by Pencils on January 6th 2009 at 10:13am
view Pencils's profile

Well done. It is just right for a little boy.

posted by Splomo on January 6th 2009 at 10:57am
view Splomo's profile

Hollie Hobbie kitchen renovator here -- Pencils, the paint is really a metallic-type paint so in person it has a shiny finish to it. I agree, in the pictures it just looks grey.

Thanks for the enthusiastic responses!

posted by stlprintchick on January 6th 2009 at 11:40am
view stlprintchick's profile