• Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
Bungalow 47

Bungalow 47

Where it's hip to be humble

  • B47 Paint
    • About B47
    • Color Chart
    • Support Products
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Become a retailer
    • Retailer Application
    • Affiliate Application
  • Find a Retailer
  • SHOP
    • Bungalow 47 Paint
    • Coordinated Color Kits
    • Clapham’s Wax Products
    • Brushes
  • Contact
  • Blog
    • How-To
    • Retailer Tips

Whole House Renovation in a Weekend – Um, Well, Playhouse

A few months ago my daughter and I were daydreaming and designing some ideas for her backyard. By southern California standards, it’s quite large, and with young children at home, they pretty much live outside. I scheduled a trip to fly in for a long weekend to build an outdoor kitchen area for her. A week before my trip, I got this via text message:

Plans for the playhouse in the eyes of a four year old
plans for the playhouse from the imagination of a 4-year-old

Gwen, my granddaughter had drawn a picture of her play structure transformed into the perfect playhouse. Currently it was less than exciting, with no roof on the upper half, and a useless built-in picnic table on the lower half. Normally the text messages I receive from my daughter are really Gwennie blowin’ up my phone with a bajillion emojis, the names of all family, her address, phone number, hearts, and (the best part) “Gwennie loves Mimi”. Seriously, best text messages ever! She’s four. But this one changed our plans! We were going to transform their play structure into the perfect little playhouse, the outdoor kitchen could wait.

playhouse before
before our “renovation”

I packed my tools, made a list of others for my daughter to borrow, wrote a supply list, and headed to the airport. Our plan was to first stop at Home Depot, (after a lunch at In n’ Out first, duh) buy our supplies, and then head on over to get started. It took a bit of wood, two days to construct, three Diet Cokes, a few hours to paint, and we had a perfect little house for the girlies to play in.

playhouse after
after the renovation

Basically I just removed the old picnic table, and covered the lower four sides with cedar fencing. I cut a story book door for one side, built a new ladder for another (the old one was more like stairs and taking up too much space) with a small window with shutters that open and close, and cut a large window space for added light (otherwise it was like a cave, plus my son was in town for a visit and pointed out that it should be open so the kids can’t do something “sketchy”, whatever that is. Of course, leave it to the sketchy one to be right about that). With a new corrugated roof on the top, it was feeling like a real playhouse. And yes, I slid down that slide about 47 times. When wearing long pants, you have to put your feet out to slow yourself down or you just fly right off and land on your butt. Learned that the hard way.

Ladder and moving shutters
new ladder with stationary window shutters to the left and operational shutters to the right

In a matter of days, thanks to the wonders of online shopping, we had all the needed accessories for creative play. We ordered a new wheel, telescope, and handle set, along with a bell to ring, a mailbox for all their artwork, and a large chalk board for the back fence. I even had plenty of paint to update their current child sized IKEA picnic tables. (Color used: Cornflower by BEHR)

bell and mailbox
every little playhouse needs a doorbell and a mailbox don’t ya think?

After returning home, and while the Coronavirus scare was building, I got a text message a few days later from my daughter. This time it was actually her not Gwen. She sent this picture with this message: “It’s seriously such an incredible blessing that you did the playhouse right before this crazy quarantine. They were outside for forever playing today.” And then the best part, “They love it and you.” I could pretty much die happy now (but let’s hope that doesn’t happen, since the Coronavirus is real and rampant.)

playhouse in the wild
in full playhouse mode: swings and chalkboard being used and someone hiding in the house

I keep these pictures the girls made me awhile back by my bedside to remind me that I am loved by my littles far away (I have five more little blessings that live close to me that I see quite often and get lots of hugs and kisses and “I love you Mimi”.)

These days, with the current global pandemic halting life as we know it, it’s not hard to reflect on the things that are most meaningful in life. I may not know how this whole quarantine thing will turn out, or how long it will go on, but there is one thing I do know. My name is Mimi, and right now, I’m feeling like the best.

«
»

Leave a Comment March 20, 2020 Blog, Create Tagged With: creative, grandchildren, Home Depot, playhouse, renovation, text messages, tools, transform

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

At Bungalow 47 Furniture Paint, we are passionate about our products. We don't just sell paint, but we USE that paint every day. We know retail is hard, especially now in our "buy with one click" universe. We wanted to have a product that would help small businesses create a niche and an experience for their customer. We've created a high-quality chalk and clay paint that you can count on, in tried and true shades and on-trend colors. Follow us as we share ideas using our zero VOC, solvent-free, and American-made paint.

Archives

Facebook

About Bungalow 47

At Bungalow 47, we are passionate about personal style and making creative spaces. We love to inspire our clients to make their homes reflect who they really are. That's why we created a paint line, to give furniture and other items new life and a new look. Our high-quality chalk and clay paint is easy to use, dries quickly, and comes in tried and true shades and on-trend colors that can bring that "wow factor" to any room. Follow us as we design, inspire and paint using our zero VOC, solvent-free, and American-made furniture paint.

Quick Links

  • Retail Shop Home
  • Become an Affiliate
  • Become a Retailer
  • Contact Us
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Blog

Follow Bungalow 47

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Don’t Miss Out!

WHOLESALE LOGIN

Copyright © 2021 · Bungalow 47 - Privacy Policy · Site by Great Oak Circle

Copyright © 2021 · Bungalow47 2015 from Flourish Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in