Mon Espace Créateur - { My Creative Space }

When I decided it was high time that my little kitchen shadow needed some "Nigella" room all of her own I had a brief (and rather unpleasant) look at some of the play kitchens out there in the land of toys. Unable to find one that suited my sturdy yet cute requirements I decided to go d.i.y. With a little inspiration from here the hunt for a two drawer bedside table began...the cheaper the better!

This little beauty, or shall we say "ugly" was just the trick. Not quite two drawers but two shelves and we're a flexible bunch here. I removed the door and had hubby cut it down to fit over one of the shelves on his trusty Triton. I then hinged this underneath the top shelf so it would fold up like an oven door, clipping shut with a magnet latch at the top and attaching a handle at the front. Some wood glue and a few tiny nails held the top drawer closed...for good. A few coats of charcoal paint and we had a little wee oven. Another job for ye olde white paint too!


Next, I sourced some old taps (from the shed), some old cupboard handles and hooks (again from the shed) and a stainless steel bowl (from The Warehouse this time...for $1!). With the help of a jigsaw and one exceptionally spunky husband we soon had holes for the sink and taps. Lashings of liquid nails kept them all in place.


Some leftover MDF was screwed to the back and a mini shelf was attached. Hooks were attached on the sides and the front for all those necessary kitchen utensils. The knobs were given a thorough spray with silver paint and two old wooden coasters were titivated with charcoal paint and a (rather wonky) spiral. Again my old friend Mr. Liquid Nails was called upon to attach these petit hotplates.

Two little holes were drilled into the sides of the bottom shelf and a small piece of dowel was wedged in.

Some leftover scrummy Heather Bailey fabric was whipped up into a curtain to keep pots and pans discreetly hidden away from snooty visitors. With a few even smaller scraps I managed another little oven glove for Bijou too.


Some weeny pots, pans and utensils and some vintage salt and pepper shakers and her kitchen renovation is complete!

She absolutely adores it and spends hours each day cooking up a storm for all her toys. Her favourite dish to prepare for her greedy crowd is be-set or spaghetti to you and I and bu-bu-bu-bu-bu (insert chicken noise here) i.e. chicken. Warms the cockles of your heart :)

I wonder what all the other creative lovelies over here have been up to?