Playhouse Renovation – Poppy’s She Shed.

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I love a good project. I truly do. Although time consuming and sometimes stressful, a craft project is often something that really serves me. I love to solve a problem and apply myself to create something new. The small “high” I get from enjoying the finished product and knowing that I did it is amazing. There are few things better than feeling proud of oneself.

A playhouse renovation and remodel felt like the ultimate project. A big undertaking but something I could do for myself with the outcome also benefiting Poppy. What more could you ask for as a mom.

The what:

After some online searching for new and used playhouses we were lucky to stumble upon a neighbor of Poppy’s Grandma that wanted to sell theirs that their children outgrew. The house is the Seaside Cottage Outdoor Playhouse by KidKraft and was used for about five years prior to being acquired by us. I knew that I wanted to go big with this project and really turn it into something special, something “Pinterest worthy” as they say.

We used a U-haul van to get in home and it fit right into the van with the roof removed. It was certainly a two person job but manageable. We knew that regardless of the house we purchased we would be building some sort of floor. The location in our yard has a slight slope and there was no floor to the playhouse, or most playhouses per the research. This portion of the project was my husband’s. He is an engineer and this is something that he enjoys. He constructed the floor with a 2×4 frame and plywood on top (photos to come below!). The width is the exact size of the house and we extended the front portion of the floor an additional 12 inches to create a porch for an easier and safer entrance (and because a porch is too stinkin’ cute). We used pavers and gravel stone to level the side that was on the slope and it has been very stable thus far. We then covered the stone with mulch as part of the adjacent flower bed.

The asthetic plan:

I spent a lot of time picking a color palate. I wanted to keep the natural wood. I like the earthy look and also wanted to save the option to paint the whole house later if need be. I selected Rust-oleum Universal Metallic Spray Paint in Aged Copper for the roof almost immediately. I loved the more realistic metallic look of it. I used this same spray paint for all the small accents on the house (flower boxes, sink hardware, phone holder and bar for the awning).

The next thing I selected was fabric for the awning. I shopped around on the internet (I just didn’t have the energy to go to the fabric store and be overwhelmed) and landed on P Kaufmann Brand – Basketweave Parkland Springtime Fabric. I love the colors of this pattern and the subtle feminine touch.

The windows themselves are white plastic and were in good condition so I did not feel the need to paint those (Especially in practicing doing things in moderation and not needing absolute perfection in every element).

The wooden decorative portions around the windows as well as the the “kitchen bar” portion at the big window opening above were quite worn. I stained them with solid exterior deck stain that I had left over from the deck off of our home – Sherwin Williams – Spicewood. I also used the same stain to paint the front porch of the house.

The front door was a hard choice! I polled lots of family and friends regarding 3 different color options that I pulled from the awning fabric. Ultimately the decision was a peachy pink color (Sherwin Williams Emerald Interior/Exterior Paint – 6612 Ravishing Coral) however a green or a blue were close runner-ups and I think also would have looked amazing.

Lastly, I wanted to zhuzh the faux rocks on the front facade of the house. This is an item I did not have a good plan for. I found the inspiration while at Home Depot purchasing the spray paint for the roof. I found a product for creating a faux rock texture that contained “chunks” of paint called Rust-oleum Stone in Blended Stone and it is so awesome. I did prime these pieces with Rust-oleum Painter’s Touch 2x UltraCover Primer and sealed it with Rust-oleum Matte Protective Finish Clear to ensure it would adhere well. There have been no peeling issues thus far.

The how:

The first step is to clean everything. I used a pressure washer to rinse the entire house (inside and out). I they used a rag, without or without simple green, for any areas that needed additional cleaning. Don’t skip this step, it helps the paint adhere and also makes for a better final product.

Despite the initial jerk reaction to keep the elements together – take all the pieces apart. It will ultimately be less effort than trying to edge or tape to prevent mess and will allow for better and more even coverage. For this particular playhouse, the roof was four separate pieces which laid flat when separated. Pro tip:: Be sure to sort and label all the hardware as you remove portions for less confusion when re assembling.

I completed all the spray painting outside for ventilation as well as physical space. I spray painted one side of all the roof pieces at a time and then flipped when dry and did the other side. I feel like every time I spray paint there is a learning curve again, like riding a bike. Practice makes perfect to get great and even coverage. I used several cans of the metallic spray paint (almost 4 cans), so be prepared to have enough paint. All of the wooden elements I moved into our craft space (ie: the garage) for painting or staining.

For the awning, I used the old and tattered awning as a pattern. I selected the portion of the fabric that I wanted and cut out the pattern, being sure to account for additional material for the outside edges and seams. I then cut an additional piece to make the sleeve pocket for the metal rod to slide through. I did use an iron to assist with creasing the fabric on this portion due to the small size to aid with the ease of sewing. I measured how far from the bottom of the awning the pocket should be placed and then pinned and sewed it.

The finishing touches:

Flooring. I went to a local space here in Pittsburgh that carries used or small amounts of new construction materials called Construction Junction. I found a box of 3″ vinyl plank dark hardwood flooring for $15. What a steal! One box was plenty for the square footage of the house. We used vinyl flooring adhesive to glue the boards in place. This is one of my favorite portions of the house because it makes the floor so “soft” and comfortable to be in. It’s certainly a bit over the top and swanky but is truly very functional.

Flower boxes. The flower boxes were removed and spray painted in the Rust-oleum Universal Metallic Spray Paint in Aged Copper just like the roof and other accents. I purchase indoor/outdoor floral foam and used a utility knife to cut it to the shape to fit into the boxes. I purchased faux flowers from Michael’s to fit the aesthetic. I actually shopped online for these and did curbside pickup (a style of shopping that I think I will never let go). It was truly much easier and less stressful that walking around the craft store pretending to not be freaking out by the endless options. Here are the flowers and greens I ended up with: 2 – Pink & Blush Tulip Bush by Ashland® (Item No: 10679863); 1- Green & White Ficus Bush by Ashland® (Color: Green/White, Item No: 10680744); 2 – Green Eucalyptus Bush by Ashland® (Item No: 10680739); 2 – Hanging Ficus Bush by Ashland® (Item No: 10679992); and 1 – Cream Mini Ball Bush by Ashland® (Item No: 10681322). One of my best friends came over for some wine and snacks and we did the flower arrangements together as a fun mom craft away from children.

Chalkboards. There are two small blackboards with clocks and open spaces for coloring. I refreshed the surfaces with Rust-oleum Chalkboard Black Spray paint. I used painters tape to cover the clock faces while painting.

And finally we needed to reassemble everything. I was able to do many portions by myself but an assistant was needed for a few portions, especially the roof. Having the hardware labeled for each portion was very helpful. I did use painters tape to block off the wood for some touch ups of the roof once reassembled which was not difficult. I choose not to use primer for the roof prior to the metallic spray paint and this may be a beneficial step to consider. Reassembly of the roof was significant manipulation of the pieces so I expected some small damage after doing so. It was an easy enough fix to touch it up in our case.

Doormat. The same friend as above bought Poppy a housewarming gift of an adorable doormat for the porch on her house. Check out this etsy shop with similar items. It is the perfect finishing touch!

We absolutely adore this playhouse. Poppy spends so much time in it playing with her kitchen items and just enjoying the space by herself or with friends. We love the plastic food and kitchen sets from Learning Resources. The plastic is very durable for outside and they come with adorable baskets. We have some sets similar to the breakfast, lunch and dinner sets as well as an ice cream and even a Little Tikes Barbeque Kit. The options are endless and creating a set that fits everyone’s needs is so easy (and not too costly). It came with a small little bench that I stained the same color as her deck and my partner even built her a custom picnic table recently for outside. More to come on this soon (when I find the energy after spending long summer days outside in this house).

I hope you enjoy! Ask any questions below or tell us about your projects for your kiddos (or secretly yourself).

Let’s talk soon,
Al