I found some rather uninspiring melamine bookshelves at Red Dot. (I think I keep that place in business!) The shelves may have been dreary but their low price was truly exhilarating. With the ‘help’ of my children, we transformed them from this:
To this:
To make the sink, I traced the outline of a plastic container onto the top of the shelf and cut it out with a jigsaw, then slipped the container into the space. The container had a lip to stop it from falling through.
To make the taps and faucet, I found some garden reticulation parts that vaguely resembled the bits I needed. I screwed the ‘taps’ in and attached the plastic white button thingos that conceal screws – not sure of the name, but I found them at the hardware.
The hotplates are simply 4 circles of black plastic with red craft foam circles in the centre. The knobs are milk bottle tops. Like the taps, I attached them with screws and stuck on white buttons to conceal the screw.
The doors are 3mm MDF. I chose this to keep the costs down, but if I had my time over I’d probably spend more to get the thicker board. The 3mm warped a little when we painted it. It was also difficult to attach the hinges to such a thin board. Rather than complicated latches, I used sticky-back velcro to keep the doors shut.
The 3 tier bookshelf became the fridge/freezer.
I found some carboard boxes that fit perfectly into the bottom shelves for storage. We painted the front of the box to match the doors.
I have 2 mini muffin trays. Goodness knows why. The chances of me baking even one mini muffin = zero. So I donated one to the play oven. I screwed 2 pieces of pine to the interior sides of the oven so the tray sits in the middle as a sliding shelf.
I made the kitchen to fit perfectly along one wall of our cubby house. The kids enjoy it immensly, hence it is already covered in sand, leaves and sticks – as it should be. It really wasn’t terribly difficult to make – and I’m certainly no woodworking expert. Altogether the whole kitchen cost me about $70 (including the shelves)
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[...] to these websites for the inspiration http://www.jellyfishjelly.com/?p=1809 http://www.mytrendytykes.com/2010/08/eggs-bacon-and-toast.html [...]
This is fabulous!!! I love the colors
I am trying really hard to re-purpose more things. My husband is capable of building things from scratch, but there just isn’t time so projects like this are a lot more likely to get done sometime this century. *LOL*
This genius!!!
Thanks for linking up to last week’s Tuesday Confessional link party! You’ve been featured so grab a brag button and let everyone know that you are a big deal: http://www.craftyconfessions.com/2011/08/awesome-features-from-last-weeks.html
This week’s link party is going on now, so don’t forget to link up!
~Macy
I love how the kids can help make this and then spend hours enjoying it! I’m featuring it at this week’s Craftastic Monday/ Kids Can Craft party. Please stop by and grab a Featured On button. Thanks for linking!
Thank you so much for linking up at Savvy HomeMade Monday. I hope you will party again tomorrow!
Wow, you have quite some vision! This little kitchen is adorable. Thanks for linking up with Show and Share.
I featured this excellent post here, on facebook, and pinned on Pinterest. Thanks for linking up at Creative Bloggers’ Party & Hop
[...] Simple Play Kitchen Renovation {Jellyfish Jelly} [...]
absolutely love it – hat a great, thrifty idea!
Wait a second . . . how is this a craft idea for an uncrafty parent?! This is SO very crafty! I absolutely love it and I’m sure it’s much bigger and better than a pre-fab play kitchen. Great colors! Thanks for sharing
What an excellent play kitchen! The colours you chose are so vibrant. I’ll have to keep my eye out for cheap bookshelves! Thanks for the inspiration.
WOW!!! I want this!! I NEED this!! You’re a great crafter!!
I have never been to red dot- I will look at it, great thinking outside the box I mean inside the box in this case!
Very clever.
Would love to have you link this up to my {wow me} wednesday link up party going on right now over on my blog. 
Ginger
gingersnapcrafts.blogspot.com
This is such a creative transformation, and it looks like so much fun!
This looks so easy and really cute! I hope you will link it up to my Delights Me party at Doodles & Doilies!
Great idea! Very cute!
I just bought my daughter a super expensive kitchen a month ago. Im so sad I didn’t see this before- This is awesome!
This is so cute and every child’s dream! I am so impressed! I am a new follower and would love for you to link up at my Savvy HomeMade blog party at http://www.homesavvyatoz.com/2011/08/14/blog-party-3/
I look forward to blogging with you!
AMAZING!!! so creative. i pinned this so i can save it for when i have kiddies or when i’m a teacher.
thanks for sharing!
{love} lauryn @ lovenotesbylauryn.blogspot.com
Cutest idea. My grandchildren are too old for this. Just wish I had seen this way back when. Thank you for sharing. I am sure a lot of mothers will be making this.
Gee! That’s amazing!
I featured this on my Favorites today! Thank you so much for sharing!
Feel free to grab a button!
http://formamas.blogspot.com/2011/08/few-of-my-favorite-things-1.html
Chrissy @ ForMamas
This is incredible! I love it! I love the colors too and there are so many cabinets to put things in. I would love it if you would stop by and share this at the crafty link party going on right now at Lines Across My Face.
Rachel
http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com/2011/08/cure-for-common-monday-4-craft-link.html
How clever! We bought ours from Ikea and it is soo boring compared with this beauty!
Great play kitchen!! Very inventive!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a great week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
I am a sucker for make over kitchens! Precious work you all did!
This is so clever. I wish I had a place in my house to do something like it. Thanks for sharing.
I’m pinning this on Pinterest and will feature this on Thursday so I can make one for my girls
This is such a labor of love! Thanks for sharing your creativity at the Creative Bloggers’ Party & Hop 
In Australian dollars it works out cheaper – not sure about the rest of the world. The really good kitchens are usually over $100 here. But, yes, there is importance in the making. I don’t think the kids would like it nearly as much had they not had a hand in making it. Thank you to all for the nice comments! Miya
What a great idea, so much fun! Thanks for showing off!
That is too cute! But how does the cost compare to a pre-made, well constructed play kitchen? Or is it more about the making?
Fantastic idea and great job! I am blown away. I find that my daughter plays a lot longer and nicer with the things that we make together. Thank you for sharing
Thats so cool- and cheap!!..Definately be making one of those for the lil’ one. Just have to build the cubby house first!
wow, you did an amazing job! thanks so much for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday!
Oh my gosh, that’s cute! I constantly use my mini-muffin pans. In fact, they are the only muffin pans I use! The recipes are easier and healthier than buying muffins or mixes from the store. But, I bet your kids looooove the pan in their toy kitchen!
This is genius! Thanks for sharing it with us:)
I need a new kitchen center in my kindergarten classroom. Beautiful job! I’d love it if you’d link this up to my Home and Family Friday linky party!
Becca
becca-homeiswheremystorybegins.blogspot.com
Wow! So very creative! I want one
Hi!
I came across your project on 504 Main’s Friday Link up! I love your project!! <3
Its so cute! Thanks for sharing this with us!
This is awesome! Such a great job!
love this idea’ wooow this is sooo great to make and to let them play with it.
thank you for sharing your new play kitchen;-D