Skip to content

Top Navigation

Parents Parents
  • GETTING PREGNANT
  • PREGNANCY
  • BABY NAMES
  • BABY
  • TODDLER
  • BIG KID
  • FUN
  • HEALTH
  • PARENTING
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAY
  • News
  • THE STAY AT HOME GUIDE
  • SHOP
  • OUR MAGAZINES
  • MORE

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Your Profile
  • Your Profile
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Parents

Parents Parents
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 22 Chore Ideas for Every Type of Kid

      Find a chore your kid loves to do, and start a habit of wanting to help out that'll last a lifetime. Read More Next
    • Top 5 Mom Friend Problems—And How to Fix Them

      Parenting is so much easier with good pals. Learn to overcome friendship hurdles and bond with women who get you. Read More Next
    • How to Sleep Train Toddlers and Big Kids

      I’m a pediatric sleep specialist who has seen it all, and I’m here to tell you that it’s not too late to get your child to (happily) stay in his own bed all night long. Read More Next
  • GETTING PREGNANT

    GETTING PREGNANT

    See All GETTING PREGNANT

    Your Chances of Getting Pregnant Every Day of the Month

    When sex coincides withĀ your most fertile ovulation days, you'llĀ increase the chances of conceiving.Ā Get to know each phase of your cycle to get pregnant faster.
    • Ovulation
    • Reproductive Age
    • Maximizing Your Fertility
    • Pre-Pregnancy Health
    • Trying to Conceive
    • Dealing With Infertility
    • Genetics
  • PREGNANCY

    PREGNANCY

    See All PREGNANCY

    Signs of Approaching Labor: How to Tell Your Baby is Coming Soon

    Anxiously awaiting your baby’s arrival? Learn to recognize the first signs of labor approaching, which signal that your little one might make an appearance soon.
    • Signs of Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy Week-by-Week
    • Giving Birth
    • Labor & Delivery
    • Pregnancy Symptoms
    • Due Date Calculator
    • Pregnancy Complications
    • Fetal Development
    • Gender Prediction
    • Baby Showers
  • BABY NAMES

    BABY NAMES

    See All BABY NAMES

    These Are the Most Popular Baby Names of 2020

    Curious which baby names stole the show this year? From new classics like Noah to tried-and-true faves like Ava, here are the top boy and girl names of the year so far, plus more naming trends to consider.
    • Baby Girl Names
    • Most Popular Names
    • Names by Origin
    • Twin Names
    • Baby Boy Names
    • Names by Religion
    • Celebrity Baby Names
    • Baby Name Quizzes
  • BABY

    BABY

    See All BABY

    How to Decode Your Baby's Cough

    Caring for a baby with a wet or dry cough? Listen for wheezing, hacking, or barking first, then read on to find out what's normal and when it's time to worry.
    • Newborn Care
    • Crying Baby
    • Health
    • Baby Development
    • Safety
    • Gear
    • Breastfeeding
    • Diapers
    • Sleep Issues
    • Feeding
    • Nursery
  • TODDLER

    TODDLER

    See All TODDLER
    • Preschool Activities
    • Behavior & Discipline
    • Toddler Development
    • Milestones
    • Potty Training
    • Starting School
    • Health
    • Safety
    • Childcare
  • BIG KID

    BIG KID

    See All BIG KID

    How to Deal With Bullies: A Guide for Parents

    Mean kids aren't just a middle-school problem. The trouble has trickled to the youngest grades. Learn how to spot it—and how to protect children of all ages from bullies at school.
    • Education
    • Health
    • Food & Nutrition
    • Bullying & School Problems
    • Child Development
    • Safety
    • Manners & Responsibility
  • FUN

    FUN

    See All FUN

    17 Budget-Friendly Kids’ Birthday Party Ideas

    A fun celebration doesn’t need to cost a pretty penny. Throw a memorable bash with these clever cost-cutting kids’ birthday party ideas.
    • Birthdays
    • Indoor Activities
    • Outdoor Activities
    • Arts & Crafts
    • Printable Coloring Pages
    • Kids' Entertainment
    • Best Toys
    • Holidays
    • Family Vacation Ideas
  • HEALTH

    HEALTH

    See All HEALTH

    All About Coronavirus COVID-19: A Concerned Parent's Guide

    Here’s everything you need to know about the disease that originated in Wuhan, China.
    • ADD & ADHD
    • Allergies
    • Autism
    • Cold & Flu
    • Coronavirus and COVID-19
    • Cough
    • Down Syndrome
    • Emergency Aid
    • Fever
    • Medication & Vitamins
    • Obesity
    • Rashes
    • Stomach Aches
    • Vaccines
  • PARENTING

    PARENTING

    See All PARENTING

    The Stay at Home Guide for Parents

    Everything you need to thrive at home as a family.
    • Positive Parenting
    • Parenting Style
    • Celebrity Parents
    • Family Dynamics
    • Divorce
    • Home
    • Adoption
    • Just for Mom
    • Money
    • Toy Recalls
    • Stroller Recalls
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    • Family Recipes
    • Baby Food
    • Toddler Finger Food Recipes
    • Hints & Tips
    • Healthy Eating
    • Birthdays
    • Holiday Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Meals
    • Food For Pregnant Women
  • HOLIDAY

    HOLIDAY

    See All HOLIDAY

    44 Fun Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids

    Spend an afternoon making these Valentine's Day cards, decorations, and edible projects for kids. Bonus: These craft ideas are perfect for preschoolers and the ideal homemade gift for a few special someones!
    • Christmas
    • New Year's
    • Valentine's Day
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Memorial Day
    • Father's Day
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
  • News
  • THE STAY AT HOME GUIDE
  • SHOP
  • OUR MAGAZINES

    OUR MAGAZINES

    See All OUR MAGAZINES
    • Parents
    • Parents Latina
    • Ser Padres
  • MORE

    MORE

    • Newsletters
    • Contests
    • ParentsIRL
    • Adulting
    • First Year Playbook
    • Celebrate Your Way

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Your Profile
  • Your Profile
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Fun
  3. Family Activities
  4. Outdoor Activities
  5. Playhouse Beautiful

Playhouse Beautiful

By Jasmine the UN Ambassador
March 27, 2012
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Alexandra Grablewski
Children dream of having a private spot to throw tea parties, host club meetings, and hide out from grown-ups. Check out these amazing kid-size creations in Fort Collins, Colorado -- all built from reclaimed materials in support of charities.
Start Slideshow

1 of 15

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Cottage Charm

Credit: Allen Birnbach

When Dot Cada bid on this cheery playhouse built by an all-female crew of volunteers at a Habitat for Humanity fund-raising auction, her granddaughter Chloe was just 7 months old. She wanted to support the organization and knew Chloe would grow into it. "I thought she was way too young to appreciate the house," says her mother, Chryss Cada. "But she crawled right to it and sat down on the front porch with a look that said, 'Finally, a place of my own!'" Seven years later, Chloe and her little sister Neve, 5, play in the house almost daily and even grow veggies in a garden their father built for them out back. Now their mom says, "I dread the day they outgrow it!"

1 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 15

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Welcome, Friends!

Credit: Allen Birnbach

Chloe greets her guests through the Dutch door wearing a fairy costume. The address number on the porch post is her home's plus 1/2.

2 of 15

3 of 15

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Plant Pixies

Credit: Allen Birnbach

Chloe and Neve's garden is adorned with sweet fairy ornaments.

3 of 15

Advertisement

4 of 15

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Credit: Allen Birnbach

Inspired by the whimsical style of Dr. Seuss, this crooked little house was dreamed up by Rohan Goel, then 16. As part of a school project, he built his colorful work of art using donated materials (many of them recycled), and then raffled it off for close to $10,000 to benefit Respite Care, a nonprofit organization that provides short-term care for children who have developmental disabilities. The raffle winners, Johnna and Art Bavoso, donated the playhouse to The Gardens on Spring Creek, a free city-owned community botanic garden.

4 of 15

5 of 15

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Cheerful Chimney

Credit: Allen Birnbach

This detail on the roof definitely says the Cat in the Hat was here!

5 of 15

6 of 15

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Home, Sweet Home

Credit: Allen Birnbach

Eva Jentsch and Colin Butrico were among the thousands of children to enjoy this playful place in the Children's Garden last year.

6 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 15

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Rhyme Sign

Credit: Allen Birnbach

The plaque that hangs on the front of the house tells guests that it was sold to benefit Respite Care.

7 of 15

8 of 15

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Hello there!

Credit: Allen Birnbach

No cell phones in this home. Conversations through metal funnels, built like the Whisper-ma-Phones in The Lorax, are way more fun!

8 of 15

9 of 15

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Flower Power

Credit: Allen Birnbach

A garden of metal flowers along the house's fa?ade will never wilt.

9 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 15

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

A Tiny Traditional Home

Credit: Allen Birnbach

With an electric fireplace, running water, and a built-in china cabinet, this petite palace has everything Hanna Smith, 7, (right) could ask for when hosting friends. Hanna's grandmother, a retired antiques dealer, built the house after neighbors gave her some old windows and redwood decking, which she used for framing. Nearly all of the other materials -- from the shingles down to the baseboards -- were left over from different projects or purchased at a nearby Habitat for Humanity ReStore, which sells reclaimed building materials to help fund building real homes for low-income families.

10 of 15

11 of 15

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Playing House

Credit: Allen Birnbach

Hanna (left) loves to host her friend, Devon Johnson, at her private residence in the backyard.

11 of 15

12 of 15

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Door D?cor

Credit: Allen Birnbach

Every detail of this playhouse was considered, starting with the hardware on the double front doors.

12 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 15

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Vintage Variety

Credit: Allen Birnbach

Hanna's grandmother used to own an antiques shop, and she passed down her chipped china for her granddaughter's collection.

13 of 15

14 of 15

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Time Flies

Credit: Allen Birnbach

Devon inspects the inner workings of the cuckoo clock.

14 of 15

15 of 15

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Custom Built

Credit: Alexandra Grablewski

Go green and design a DIY playhouse for your own backyard!

Material World: You can find reclaimed brick, hardware, and other building matter for projects both big and small on a site like planetreuse.com. Or visit habitat.org/restores to see if one of the 750 ReStore outlets is near you. Proceeds of sales help fund the local affiliates to build homes in their area.

Cool Construction: Check out the How-To Projects section of lowes.com to find a free set of plans, complete with a shopping list, for building a safe playhouse at home.

Vintage finds: Add a little antique flair to your kids' digs with pre-owned fixtures. Visit recyclingthepast.com to shop for interesting knobs, wall hooks, and more.

Originally published in the May 2012 issue of Parents magazine.

  • Click here to search for reclaimed materials from Planet Reuse in your area.
  • Click here to find a Habitat for Humanity ReStore near you.
  • Click here to download playhouse plans from Lowe's.
  • Click here to shop for vintage hardware at Recycling the Past.

15 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 15 Cottage Charm
2 of 15 Welcome, Friends!
3 of 15 Plant Pixies
4 of 15 Oh, the Places You'll Go!
5 of 15 Cheerful Chimney
6 of 15 Home, Sweet Home
7 of 15 Rhyme Sign
8 of 15 Hello there!
9 of 15 Flower Power
10 of 15 A Tiny Traditional Home
11 of 15 Playing House
12 of 15 Door D?cor
13 of 15 Vintage Variety
14 of 15 Time Flies
15 of 15 Custom Built

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Login

Parents

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • About Us
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • From Our Sponsors this link opens in a new tab
  • Affiliate Program this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en EspaƱol this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Parents.com is part of the Parents Network. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.parents.com

View image

Playhouse Beautiful
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.