(Photo: www.ohdeedoh.com)

From all of the things you can buy for your favorite girl or boy, why a play kitchen?

First and foremost, it creates interactive play. It encourages imagination. It allows your child to role play and cook like Mom or Dad. This is a great way to play with your child, and a great way for your child to play with friends. And if you choose, you can turn kitchen play into a learning opportunity. Play food can be used to teach about different foods and nutrition. Also social skills can be practiced with serving food and play eating together. What sort of play kitchen do you want? Children’s kitchens range from very small toy kitchens to very large and feature full. You can find a single unit kids kitchen, which include many appliances, to multi-piece kitchen play sets with individual appliances. Choosing a play kitchen set depends on the age of the child, your budget and your setting. It also depends on your personal philosophy. Where is that play kitchen made? Is it eco-friendly and made with sustainable manufacturing and fair business practices.

Ikea-based toy kitchen. Photos: Ohdeedoh.com

Ohdeedoh highlighted a great play kitchen project made from a $15 bedside table from IKEA and related parts. The hardest part of projects like this is cutting a round hole, which requires a bit more toolage than the rest. Then again, I never knew you could get jigsaws so cheaply – Black & Decker isn’t the best toolmaker out there, but this $30 model gets high marks from consumers. (You’ll need a drill too for a starter hole, but most families have that already!)

What kinds of play kitchens are available?

Single Unit Kitchens – These play kitchens include many appliances such as a stove, oven, microwave and sink in one unit. These units have a “front” and “back”, so that they can be placed against a wall. Typically this style of toy kitchen is either a “assembly-required” wooden kitchen or it is made from molded plastic. A typical large, self-assemble wooden kitchen measures about four feet long, four feet tall, and about two feet deep.

Island Play Kitchen – These are stand-alone pretend kitchens. Children can play on all sides of these kitchens. Island play kitchens also feature various combinations of sink, stove, ovens and microwaves. Toddler kitchens are typically this style.

Complete Kitchen Play Sets – We are talking about a multi-appliance set here. There are separate toy stoves, toy refrigerators, toy microwaves, toy sinks, and toy dishwashers.

Table Top Toy Kitchens – These are small, typically “two burner” stoves, that are designed with portability in mind. These pretend kitchens can be moved from room to room and be used on a table, shelf or even the floor.

Natural wooden kitchens – These kitchens are made from solid wood and not particle board. Many of the “assembly-required” are made from laminated particle board and are still considered wood by the manufacturer. The natural wooden kitchens are typically made from spruce, pine or cedar. Many of these designs are more abstract in nature. That is they do not offer realistic detail; however, there is no mistaking that these are play kitchens. They usually combine a sink and stove and have moving parts. It is just that the details are left to the child’s imagination.

The cushion at the front is by Hettle and the striped cushion is from Adairs. They usually end up on the floor too.

Robert’s toy car is parked at the very entrance to his room. Whenever Robert spots the zebra sitting on the car he knocks him off. It didn’t last long after I took this photo.

There’s something so heartwarming about a baby’s nursery in the beginning. It’s been prepared with love and attention and is just waiting for…the baby. And then the baby arrives and grows and their needs change and so too does their room. (via: Ish and Chi)

Pink Theme For Your Girl’s Bedroom
July 28th, 2009 · 1 Comment

When you are theme decorating a girls room, you should know that a good wall color is the best foundation you can have. From that one color alone, you can start choosing decorations that would fit. But since you are most likely going to start this whilst the kid is still a toddler then your [...]

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Useful Ideas For Designing A Fun Kids’ Bathroom
March 8th, 2009 · No Comments

1 Firstly, consider practical aspects to decorating kids’ bathrooms. It is important to create a space that is appealing to children, particularly if your little ones don’t like bathing, or are a little nervous of having their hair washed. Make your bathroom a fun and relaxing place for kids, and your bath-time worries will soon [...]

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Country Homes & Interiors

a feminine pink bedroom

We have chosen two toning pinks for this exuberant yet feminine bedroom. Sexy Pink on the right creates a feature wall and is complemented beautifully with Sweet Pink on the back wall and Strawberries ‘n’ Cream on the window frames.

virginmedia

The walls were painted Benjamin Moore’s Marshmallow Bunny; the sofa is from Ralph Lauren.

pink princess room

When choosing a color for your room, it is important for you to decide on the type of mood you would like to set for the room. What feel or moods are you trying to create in your room? Would you like a warm or cool atmosphere in your room? What color décor will be incorporated in this room?
The pink princess theme is one of the most popular choices among little girls, teens, even young adult women,when it comes to their bedroom. Almost every young girl dreams of being a princess and decorating her room in this manner is quite popular.

countryliving

Pink and gold interior design

apartmenttherapy

pink, red and gold

Manuel Canovas

pink and black kitchen

Ikea

pink and white, a clean room

Kelley Interior Design

coutry style room with green and light pink

1 Firstly, consider practical aspects to decorating kids’ bathrooms. It is important to create a space that is appealing to children, particularly if your little ones don’t like bathing, or are a little nervous of having their hair washed. Make your bathroom a fun and relaxing place for kids, and your bath-time worries will soon drift away.

2  if you have a plain bathroom structure, you can change the wall color, and other elements, quickly and easily. You can get a whole new look to wow your kids with.

3 Include lots of fun, inexpensive accessories when decorating kids’ bathrooms – such as, soap dishes, soap dispensers, toilet roll holders, light-pulls. If necessary, these can be easily changed and replaced, as your child grows up.

4 Think about storage. Whether your kids are tiny, with loads of bath-time toys, or teenagers, with tons of toiletries, make sure there is plenty of storage, to keep the clutter down. Position storage boxes in easy-to-find spots, within easy reach – or kids just won’t use them. Boxes or baskets without lids are a real user-friendly option. Keep a shelf free for a few items which are in daily use.

5 If your kids are very tiny, make it easy for them to use your bathroom. Get little steps for them to reach the toilet and basin easily.

6 Fit a push-button flush on your toilet. It is much more kid friendly than a traditional handle.

7 Use a shower curtain in the same color, or a co-ordinating color. Learn how to use a color wheel to discover ideal decorating color schemes that you know will work.

8  Add big, soft, fluffy towels and a bathmat in bright colors too. Make sure your bathroom includes a large towel-rail, within easy reach – it will encourage your kids to hang the towels back up after use (…. hopefully!)

9 Include a large linen basket to encourage your kids to keep clothes off the floor.

10 Make sure you use the correct light fixtures for wet areas – safety is all important. Water and electricity do not mix! Be very careful, and take professional advice if necessary. And remember, little kids in a bath splash – a lot!

You’ll be out of this world when you have these amazing wall graphics in your atmosphere.  Launch yourself into an orbit of wall art ecstasy with ChalkBoard sticker art stars, planets, and a groovy rocket space ship!  Blast off into a universe of wonderment and fun when you have these amazing wall decals in your room.

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