Play Kitchens?

[leighe]

DD has fallen in love with the little pink play kitchen from Pottery Barn. It really is much cuter than the ones I have seen at Toys R Us. We were planning on getting her a kitchen set for Christmas but I wasn't really planning on spending $700 on one. I was just wondering where else we could look for one. Surely there must be a middle ground between the plasticky ones at Toys R Us or Target and the $700 one at Pottery Barn.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[mousemommyx3]

DD 4 wants the pink washer and dryer from PBK. It is all she has talked about and at the very top of her list. I think that Target has a nice wooden kitchen this year. It is around $100. I think that the PBK stuff is a great investment though. You know you will get a great resale from it later. I am wishing that I had not invested so much in the endless assortment of plastic stuff that clutters my house and just bought the good stuff to begin with! Maybe you could have grandparents/aunts /etc.. pitch in and make it a joint gift.
Happy Shopping!

 

[scrapnmom]

We did get the pink retro kitchen from PBK for DD's 2nd birthday. I just fell in love with it! I've heard this one is nice and is available at Costco for $150:

 

[bumbershoot]

Oompa Toys. We're getting, maybe, DS a kitchen and a tool bench from there this Yule. Wooden, and they promise that they oversee their manufacturers to make sure no naughty paints are used.

 

[tinkandpan]

If you have a learning express store- they have a really nice white wooden one (or at least they used to) I bought it for ds about 2 years ago and I know I saw it in the store not too long ago. I don't think they sell it on the website though i might be wrong.
www.learningexpress.com

 

[Tink561]

We did get the pink retro kitchen from PBK for DD's 2nd birthday. I just fell in love with it! I've heard this one is nice and is available at Costco for $150:

This is the one we got for my dd. I can't wait until Christmas! I got accessories from PBK to go with this kitchen. I looked at it closely at Costco and it is really nice.

 

[leighe]

Thanks for all the advice! We actually have 2 DDs so I'm considering justifying the expense by saying, "Well that's really only $350 if we split it between them." Never mind that our second daugher is only 3 months. I'm sure she'll play with it eventually. I don't think we have a Costco around here but that one looks nice as well.

This is the best place to come for advice!

 

[Tink561]

Thanks for all the advice! We actually have 2 DDs so I'm considering justifying the expense by saying, "Well that's really only $350 if we split it between them." Never mind that our second daugher is only 3 months. I'm sure she'll play with it eventually. I don't think we have a Costco around here but that one looks nice as well.

This is the best place to come for advice!

You can also order the kitchen from Costco online. I really wanted the PBKids kitchen but with the Costco one I was able to get all the accessories I wanted. It is super sturdy and will last a long time.

 

[LadyShea]

Constructive Playthings has some nice wood ones under 200.00, I just got a catalog from them www.constplay.com

 

[katerkat]

Is the Costco one only in pink? We're just starting to look for Russ - we bought a plastic one at a yard sale but after two summers outside, it's staying outside this winter. I want a nice wooden one for inside. I've only looked at the Target one and One Step Ahead. But while I don't have a problem buying my son a kitchen, I don't want to buy him a PINK one.

 

[AWilliams]

We bought the pink Costco kitchen for our DD for Christmas last year and she loves it! It is very well made and still loooks brand new after nearly of year of daily play.

Here are a couple pictures I dug up:

 

[Tink561]

Is the Costco one only in pink? We're just starting to look for Russ - we bought a plastic one at a yard sale but after two summers outside, it's staying outside this winter. I want a nice wooden one for inside. I've only looked at the Target one and One Step Ahead. But while I don't have a problem buying my son a kitchen, I don't want to buy him a PINK one.

Yes, the one at Costco is only in pink. The new one at Target this year is blue and it's cute. You can also get the PBKids kitchen in red if you want to spend that much.

 

[Oceana]

I have the angels and elves kitchen.

The potterybarn kitchen is nice but it is pressed wood... the angels and elves kitchen is serious real uncompressed wood made in america by a family who doesnt use any chemicals. The sink is removable and cleanable (its starlite tupperware) It is the best toy my family owns.

It is heavy and sturdy and my kids have never knocked it over climbing on it. The henges are so well made my boys open the dishwasher on my Victoria's kitchen and stand on it. If my kids draw on it with sharpie I can sand it off.

This is such a sturdy and well made kitchen it is currently loaned out to my church for use in the preK/K classroom

If you choose to get this you will be happy!!! This is the kind of kitchen you will pass down to your grand children

http://www.novanatural.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.4857/.f?

The set I have are Jacobs ice box and Victoria's kitchen. They are not pink or blue a nice wood nuetral color! perfect for boys and girls. It would cost just under $500 for the 2

 

[Caitsmama]

Wow. I had no idea kitchens went for that much cash!!! $700?! Seriously? That's like another trip to WDW!! Yikes!

We just sold my dd's kitchen in our yard sale for $10, granted it was a plastic one, but you know what, they last long, and are easy to clean, and some of the plastic ones are very very cute. I could never justify spending hundreds on something like that ..

Have you done a search for any preschool supply places? They usally have good wooden funiture - and are less than places like PB.

 

[leighe]

AWilliams - those pictures are adorable!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We got ours from Little Colorado. The website is www.littlecolorado.com. is about 6 years old and has held up great. It comes in white, natural, and white with pastel accents. There is a kitchen center, a refrigerator, and a microwave with a pantry/cabinet available. You can also get them unfinished if you want to paint a particular color. They are made in the US, so no lead paint concerns!

Here is the link:

http://www.littlecolorado.com/stock9294.html

Kidkraft is also a good brand - I'm sure the Costco ones would hold up well.

 

[Suzanna1973]

Ladies....a little free advice. Children outgrow their toys. Invest that $700 into their college funds. go with the little tykes brands.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Ladies....a little free advice. Children outgrow their toys. Invest that $700 into their college funds. go with the little tykes brands.

Valid point, but I didn't want a plastic kitchen in my kitchen. I wanted a wood kitchen, and it has lasted six years and through two kids and it still looks great. It will be put in the attic for the grandkids when my kids outgrow it. I didn't buy it as an investment - I just didn't want more plastic and neon colors cluttering up my house. But I didn't spend $700, and the college funds are doing just fine.

 

[sahm1000]

The Costco one is incredibly nice, I definitely like that one as the alternative to PBK. Sam's Club has a plastic one that is very nice too but it is plastic. It is probably the nicest plastic one I've seen though. It is a big square that you actually walk into (kind of). I think it is around $200 or so. Good luck. My girls love their kitchen! It truly is a great toy.

 

[mrs.beast]

my sister in law bought one from lakeshore learning (teaching supply company) years ago (niece is in college) and it has been used for years by all the cousins. It is in perfect shape. My girls love to play there more than anything else when we visit. well made product. i cannot remember the color though.