Look! Improvised Ikea Play Kitchen

This is our favorite kind of email to get from readers. Hanh in Cambridge, MA devised a cute, clever and inexpensive play kitchen using a few items from Ikea. We're totally excited about it!

Like many of your readers, I was in the market for a play kitchen for my toddler. I wanted something simple, but I was not willing to pay a couple hundred dollars for it. Inspired by some of the improvised kitchens featured on this site, I made my own from a few Ikea products. I specifically chose parts that I wouldn't have to repaint. I think it turned out pretty well, considering the cost was about $50.

Here's what Hanh used:

Eina bedside table: $29.99

Lagis mouse pad: $0.99 x 3 (or 2, depending on the size of your "burners")

Spontan magnet: $2.99/pack

Bolsnas basket (red): $5.99 x 2 (The lower basket was already in my possession, but I'm pretty sure it's vintage Ikea.)

Hanh says she "might get ambitious down the road and add a curtain to the bottom shelf" which we think is a terrific idea, but she's shown that with a bit of creativity and resourcefulness you can make a play kitchen on the cheap and without sewing or woodworking skills. Brava!!

Comments (11)

Fabulous use of materials and imagination.

posted by racheloncegentry on October 15th 2008 at 12:07pm
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Clever! Thanks for sharing.

posted by LaneC on October 15th 2008 at 12:33pm
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Nice! Maybe you can make a fridge out of the narrow Billy bookcase.

posted by jenniejen on October 15th 2008 at 4:39pm
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Oh, she should have kept the wheels! Great kitchen, great hack.

posted by icicle on October 15th 2008 at 4:47pm
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Ingenious!!! Very clever and cute!

posted by KellyBelly on October 15th 2008 at 6:51pm
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OMG...fantastic. You're brilliant. Imagine the dreadful sum that we dished out for our little kitchen that is just as lovely as this one that you have crafted. good for you!

posted by alura on October 15th 2008 at 7:10pm
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wauuuu!!! fantastic idea!!! i love it!!! very cute hack!!

Regards from http://babydeco.blogspot.com, i think the next week i post it linking you of course :D

posted by x4duros on October 16th 2008 at 12:01am
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are you kidding me? this is awesome. I need one of these for myself.

posted by inkstainedwriter on October 16th 2008 at 8:03am
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Curtain? Easy!

Get a thin pressure rod and a really cheap shower curtain with large holes (for the hooks to go through). "Thread" the pressure rod through the holes (toss the hooks) and cut off the extra shower curtain. Or hem if it's fabric.

Ta da!

posted by Mrs.Mack on October 17th 2008 at 9:10am
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Forgot to mention, with the left over parts (especially if it's fabric) you can make a little matching apron for her. :)

posted by Mrs.Mack on October 21st 2008 at 9:18am
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I actually have baskets that look identical to the lower one that I bought @ Target for $12.99 each, in case that helps anyone looking to copy this design.

posted by tmscott on October 22nd 2008 at 1:59pm
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