How many of you purchased the Costco kitchen for your DS?

[jstevens]

I know it's a great price and I am just wondering how many of you purchased this kitchen. I guess my only reservation is the color. Any suggestions on how to change it? My husband thinks I am nuts to consider a kitchen that would cost between $300-$400 and to have him only use it for a little while.

[caheinz]

It's in our garage, still boxed up. Grandpa bought it as a Christmas present.

DH doesn't think the color is too bad. (The box is the worst part, I think!) If we have time, we'll probably try to paint some of it -- the checkerboard pattern strikes me as a good place to remove some pink. But, more than likely we won't. I figure that if DH doesn't find it too girly, no one else matters...

[miki]

We got it and I already set it up. It's not an enormous kitchen so it's not as if you have this humongous piece of pastel furniture. If it really bothers you, I'd go with spray painting the doors and backsplash before you put it together rather than another kitchen that cost 3x as much. The kitchen is pretty much completely disassembled so it would be no problem painting the individual pieces and get a nice looking result. As it is, I'm thinking of painting some of the doors with chalkboard paint to add some art surface to the kitchen.

[sue_g]

How difficult was this kitchen to put together and how many hours did it take?

[sdbc]

The kitchen was easy to put together, but it did take a pretty long time--there are tons of pieces. I'm guessing it took me about 3.5 hours (by myself).

Sue, mommy to Aurora (Rory) born 5/13/04

[mommyj_2]

I opted for the Willow kitchen over the Costco one. It was $189 (with the BBB discount) vs. $94, but is well worth the money, IMO. It's beautiful, and my DS loves it. I'm personally a fan of more simple wood toys (especially for large items), but otherwise I probably would have bought the Costco kitchen and painted it, since pink doesn't go in our house at all.

[kaileysmom]

I haven't purchased it yet, but we are getting it for my DD for Christmas. I was thinking of painting it as well. IMO it's so worth the money. I can't really afford to spend $600 for a kitchen like the PBK one, although it is really cute. Once we decide where we'll keep it, the kitchen or her bedroom, then we'll paint accordingly. I think the chalk paint is a good idea. Maybe I'll do that on the backsplash.

[mommab]

We bought the Coscto kitchen for dd for Christmas this past w-end, and it's still in the back of our suv. I'm still waiting to see if another kitchen deal comes along, but I like this one pretty well. I just couldn't see spending $300 when I also want to get her a Kettler trike for Christmas too. I like the idea of possibly painting the pastels another color, as our kitchen area where it would go has more primary colors. Only thing...the dishes that come with the kitchen and the Imaginarium small appliances that I'd already picked up all have the pastel colors - too many decisions! However, the PP's idea to paint on some chalkboard paint is fabulous!!!! Thanks!

[kijip]

Toby has the PBK White/Pink/Yellow one (fridge and the sink/stove/oven combo) so I think the Costco one is just fine! I have considered painting the pink on the fridge yellow but only since I am not a pink fan. However, we got a great deal and I just plain do not care about the colors. Toby uses it all the time. If he ever wants it to be a different color, I will change it!

[imharpersmom]

I don't have the Costco kitchen myself, but I purchased a similiar kitchen from TRU last year and painted the entire thing for my daughter. It was a dragonfly (or butterfly) themed kitchen (which I REALLY wasn't into), but I also knew that if we had another child (a boy specifically), I wanted to make it more gender neutral.
I used white Kilz primer to paint the entire body, and then used cheap acrylic paints (you can get them in little bottles at Walmart or Hobby Lobby) for the doors and for any details. I did a black/white checkerboard backsplash with construction paper and decoupage glue, but now I wish I would have just painted it or used contact paper. I think it turned out really good, but I may redo parts of it. My daughter isn't even old enough to use it yet, so I'm sure it will go through another transformation!
By the way, I think I spent $75 on the kitchen and $25 on supplies to change it. Ended up being worth the money!

Erin

[Mommaof2]

We bought our daughter the primary KidKraft last x-mas from Learning Express. Spending $200 was worth it to have something that will be up for 5-7 yrs (we want another baby). It is the most played with item in our home and when friends come over. It still looks brand new a year later. I personally would not buy the pastel kitchen for a boy.

http://www.learningexpress.com/childrens_toys/partNumber_KDKLEKITCHEN/proj.html

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/30288.jpg

[new_mommy25]

Erin, do you think you could post a picture? Your paint job sounds awesome.

[jstevens]

Wow! I like the kitchen from LE. It looks very similar to the one they have at Costco but coloring is different. Any idea if they have them in the local stores. I would like to take a look in person. Thanks.

[sue_g]

Yes, they have them displayed in the local Learning Express stores.

Does anyone know until what age a child (ds) would play with a kitchen?

[imharpersmom]

I was going to try to post a picture yesterday, but the kitchen is currently buried underneath some stuff in our basement (we're working to set up a playroom down there). I'm seven months pregnant, so I couldn't shift my big 'ole belly around the mess. I'll have my husband take a picture and get it posted soon!

Erin

[imharpersmom]

Okay... I think I figured out how to post a picture of the painted kitchen! Let's hope you all can see it!



http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/30549.jpg

[mommab]

Wow, that looks awesome!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[mharling]

This is CUTE!!! I have the BabyStyle refrigerator for ds and think I could do this to make the pieces coordinate. Thanks for the inspiration!!

Mary - Some days work. Some days don't.
Lane - April 2003
Faye - March 2005