A Little Help From My Friends …

With A Little Help From My Friends … as the Beatles song goes.

My friend Kim spurred this post/project. She gave me a little help! Thank you Kim!

Kim’s a Mom and grandma like me. She crafted a kitchen set for her grands. She made hers on a set of plastic drawers with wheels, so she could roll it into a closet after the kids went home. Like this …

It got me thinking!

Since I now live in a place my two-year-old granddaughter visits several times a week, I have assessed my “play” situation. I have a few toys, but they cover all ages of children. Many don’t suit her current age. The same is true for my other grands who visit. I wanted to add a bit more substantial play piece without creating a whole playroom. I don’t have that much space. Since I have more space than before our move, I knew I could add something.

A kitchen was exactly what I was thinking! So Kim’s FB post stirred my creative juices.

I have some play food from my children’s kitchen. Good ole Fisher Price!

Anyone recognize/remember these?

I have toys set up on both floors of our home when Delaney comes to visit. On the first floor, I use the sunroom. I can see it from any room, and we rarely occupy the space. (Btw, I have not styled that room. One day I’ll show you the details.) It’s a great space for storing toys downstairs. I set up and stage toys when Delaney is coming over versus everything is available all the time. It seems to pique her interest if it changes. I usually change-out toys weekly.

I knew I didn’t have a spacious closet to roll a kitchen into. So, I was considering something smaller that was light and could easily move to another room if we were having only adult guests.

I was out looking at stores for a possibility: I thought it would be plastic, but what to my wondering eyes should appear … an adorable small side table with basket drawers. The colors were perfect, and its small stature was just what I was looking for but didn’t know it! I looked at it. Imagined it. Contemplated it. Walked around the entire store, which was Home Sense, to see if any other possibilities caught my eye. (I’d already looked at other stores.)

In the end, I went back and put it in my cart.

The burners and knobs came from Amazon. Kim sent me the link. Here is the link!

I thought I might only fit two burners, but that was okay too. In the end, I clipped a few burners and fit them all on!

Drumroll … Here it is…

I have taken the drawers out and sat them on the floor for Delaney since she is small. I purchased some Melissa and Doug pots and pans. And a bit more food.

I am thrilled with how it came out. There is a wall in the sunroom I can set it against when not in use. It will easily transfer inside the door of my bedroom if I need it to be unseen!

Delaney instantly knew how to play with it even though she doesn’t have a kitchen at home. She’s made me some delicious treats, mostly corn and cupcakes.🌽🧁

Here is the food I added to the collection (I purchased at reduced prices during Prime Days)…