http://www.amazon.com/Kidkraft-Retro-Kitchen-Refrigerator-Pink/dp/B001706BRI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325914302&sr=8-1 - Find it on Amazon here.
Of course we didn't pay the current Amazon price of $260. My husband pulled a Sherlock Holmes - Barnes and Nobles ended up having the best price, plus a coupon! $155 total, including shipping. (Thanks, Babe!) While this is more than we ever imagined paying for a TOY, it was so worth it in the end..
The Pottery Barn Kids version was my all-time favorite kitchen, but with a price tag of around $700 this was totally not gonna happen. We did look at a PBK set selling on Craigslist, but I was disappointed at the quality to be quite honest. Plus, if we bought used, it came with another child's "scratches and dents."
At a local fancy toy store I stumbled upon a Kidkraft kitchen and compared to the PBK model I'd just seen was quite impressed! For the price difference, there really wasn't a whole lot of quality difference. Thus it was sealed in my mind - buy the Kidkraft retro kitchen!
My baby girl was so thrilled on Christmas morning. It was truly one of those moments to remember forever!
Grandma helped stock the new kitchen...
http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Birthday-Party-Cake/dp/B000090W81/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1325911944&sr=8-16 - Find on Amazon here.
Melissa and Doug's birthday party set is marvelous. (I'll have to be honest, Grandma found this set minus the "Happy Birthday" disk at a thrift shop for $2! It looked like NEW!) Even if you pay the Amazon price of around $15, it's worth it.
I can't tell you how many pieces of cake my husband and I have had to eat. And of course, blowing out candles, slicing pieces, baking in the oven, etc.
The paint has held up so well. The Velcro pieces have stayed stuck to the wood. All in all, a 5 outta 5 for me!
http://www.amazon.com/Treehaus-Wood-Playtime-Food-Set/dp/B005Q9BCDY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325912049&sr=8-1 - Find on Amazon here.
This set is adorable. Adorable. The bacon, eggs, salt and pepper shakers. Cute, cute.
Unfortunately, the Velcro pieces started coming un-glued during the first play. Also, the paint began chipping during the first play. Because of this, I would have a difficult time purchasing another painted set from Treehaus. It was a huge disappointment. Overall, a 2 outta 5.
I truely do like the style and the smooth wood. It is also pretty realistic, which is nicer than other wooden sets I've seen.
We can glue the Velcro back, so in the end that's not a huge deal. The chipped paint bothers me merely because it happened so quickly - my daughter plays gently, and she's only one kid!
Do YOU have any favorite wooden toys? Any Christmas favorites for ya?
Happy Trails...
**I was in no way compensated for this review.
