DIY Up-cycled Nightstand turned Toy Fridge!

Well, Jordan is out watching the Flyers game with some friends, Lily is in bed, and I am surprisingly not too tired yet, so I thought I'd update this bad boy and watch some vintage Dexter. 


For all those over achieving parents that need one last gift for their kiddos and actually have a spare minute to not only breathe, but tackle a new project, this post is for you! For the rest of us, this is a fun project to start after the holiday season is over…like in the spring. 

One of the very first projects I saw that I knew I wanted to tackle on Pinterest was an old television stand turned into a full kitchen play set! Every neighborhood yard sale, bulk trash night, or Sunday afternoon drive, I kept my eyes peeled for the perfect piece to turn into a play kitchen for Lily to use. Sure, the plastic ones are nice and durable, but where’s the fun in that? We stumbled upon this guy at Columbus Market one Saturday afternoon for only $15. 


We thought we could make a refrigerator out of it fairly easily and if that didn’t work, we could always use another piece of furniture to hide all our junk. We decided to make the top drawer into the freezer area We headed to Lowes to grab some supplies. 

Supply List:

Hinges we chose!

• Spray Paint (We went with a white primer (Velspar). I was feeling ambitious but also didn’t want to spend all day literally watching paint dry so I opted to use spray paint. We were also feeling thrifty so we only bought one. Needless to say, I made another trip back to Lowes for another can).
• Hinges (for the freezer door)
• Hardware for the doors
• Plywood (for shelves) 

Fridge door
(my foot's a photobomber)

Jordan tackled the hard work while I made Lily some lunch. He first cut a door for the freezer and attached it with the hinges. The door was a little snug but he sanded it down and that actually helps the door stay shut. Like I’ve said, we aren’t professionals, but we do what we can and we’re proud of our results! He added a shelf to the fridge since there was a gaping hole from where the drawer was by just measuring and cutting a piece of plywood. He also drilled holes for the hardware. 

My task was to paint the piece white. I ended up with spray painted hands (as per usual) but I liked the final look (on the door, not my hands). After it dried, we attached the hardware and admired our handy work so far. I decided I wanted to paint food on the both doors so even when the fridge was empty, it still looked like a fridge. I do not claim to be any sort of artist, but I like the way the food came out. It's very me! I also wasn’t a fan of the indented parts of the door, so I found a small wooden chalkboard at A.C. Moore for cheap, painted the outside white, and we used some 3M Velcro stickers to attach it. Jordan also made a shelf out of some left over plywood so Lily could keep her fridge stacked and stocked!




We couldn’t wait for Lily to see the final product! She loved it so much she climbed right in! I can’t wait to start round two of this project, the sink/stove! We bought a couple of trunks at a yard sale along with a nightstand. (I think this project will have to wait for spring). By that time, I should have cleaned out Lily’s room to make room for all of her Christmas loot! Speaking of loot, this project did not come close to breaking the bank either! We spent around a total of $50 on the piece of furniture and all the supplies! 

A Christmas Wish...

As I sit here finishing up addressing Christmas cards next to this pile of presents for Lily and our families (but mostly for Lily), I cannot help but let the tears stream down my face. On this day last year, in an elementary school in Sandy Hook, occurred such a horrific tragedy that it takes every fiber of my being to hold myself together when I even think about. I am sure the parents of those babies were doing the same things Jordan and I have been for the last month or so--finding the perfect gifts for each child, wrapping them with love, waiting to see those little faces light up on Christmas morning. I cannot (and don't want to imagine) the pain this time of year brings. My heart breaks for every family affected by that horrible event, and I just want to snuggle Lily even tighter and never let her out of my sight. 

I know the holidays bring out the best and worst in people. There are those awkward family parties you’d rather not attend, long lines and traffic everywhere, and everything becomes rushed and chaotic. People are rude, children are crazy, and everybody is on edge. I, myself, am guilty of snapping at Jordan or getting frustrated when the car in front of me is doing under the speed limit when I have so many places to go. But you know what? It's not important. Your kids will still love you even if you don't get them the hottest toy. Your significant other will love whatever gift you put thought in to because it is from you. You don't need to be first in line at the grocery store, and stop stalking me as I walk back toward my car because maybe the extra walk from your car to the mall entrance and back will help you breathe for a minute.

Just take a deep breath, and a step back for a minute and give your loved ones a hug. I am sure those parents wish every single day they could hold their sons and daughters even just one more time and have them here with them around the holidays. Think of them. Send positive thoughts their way. Send a simple text or email to let someone know you're love them. Burst into a random Christmas carol. Smile at a stranger. Let your kids eat way too many sugar cookies before bed. Laugh when family frustrates you. Appreciate everything in your life, and remember the most important things in your life are not things. Spread love, spread joy, and remember 'Christmas comes but once a year' (thankfully).