For Jacob’s first birthday, we wanted to get him a special playhouse. Having a playhouse is having your own secret little space to hide and play. It is not only fun but so beneficial for children to develop their imaginations through play.
Although we do not currently have a garden, our parents had kindly offered their garden space to host this playhouse.
We decided on the Crooked Cottage from the Play Expects @ Big Game Hunters. They specialise in outdoor games and play equipment and they are committed to creating and designing products that are built to last.
Wooden playhouses are far superior to a plastic playhouse. Contrary to believes, wooden playhouse are much more durable than plastic ones. They use heat-treated wood for their playhouses meaning the wood is extra durable and stable. The process also drives out moisture, acid and bacteria from the wood. This is great news for any parents because who wants a moldy playhouse??
Our playhouse was delivered and it came in 6 parts. We also ordered some wooden floor to add a nice finish to the house.
THE BUIDLING PROCESS
I enlisted my dad’s help as he is very good at DIY. The whole process took about 2 hours as we made some mistakes that we had to rectify along the way.
The instructions provided were clear but I wish they were more detailed as that would have prevented some of our mistakes in the first place.
Overall, it was relatively easy to built and immensely satisfying when all the pieces come together!
My tips:
- Wear gloves
- Electric screwdriver is your best friend
- Get at least another person to help
- Open all the boxes and familiarise yourself with the pieces before putting them together
- Keep referring back to the photo of the playhouse every step of the way
- We actually inserted the side panel upside down and as a result, the round window was closer to the floor rather than the roof (my dad managed to rectify that after! Thanks dad!!)
END RESULTS
I am so incredibly impressed with the end results. The Crooked Cottage is whimsical and fun. It has a wonderfully attractive colour and a spacious interior! There is enough room for me to almost stand in there!
I love the little details like the door, window and the skylights. Jacob loves peeping out of the windows!
I am really glad we decided on the floor as well because it is much safer than having the stone floor and it will keep the house nice and dry inside when it rains.
DECORATING
Obviously, a playhouse is not completed until you furnish it. We really wanted a kitchen play set in there but we didn’t want it to be too big and overpowering.
My 1stYears have the perfect sized mini kitchen! Jacob was kindly gifted a personalised one. The kitchen comes equipped with a sink, oven and kitchen utensils!
This is seriously the perfect thing for the house. I had always dreamt of a play kitchen like this when I was little!
We were also gifted an Ikea chair by our friends for Jacob’s birthday. Although it is on the bigger size, it still fits in the house. It is such a comfy spot to chill out and I have to admit, I have done my fair share of sitting and relaxing there!
I also added some framed photos for the wall to add that extra homely touch. I mean, I don’t want my son forgetting about his family when he is out there living on his own do I?
Finally, I got this mini faux fur rug from eBay a while ago when I was meant to buy a full size one (I totally forgot to check the measurements!) I am glad I have finally found a use for it! It really adds comfort and a touch of class to the house.
PURCHASE THE CROOKED COTTAGE HERE
It is currently on sale for only £260
** Disclaimer: This playhouse was gifted to us by the Big Game Hunters but all opinions and photos are our own. **
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