Pretend Play Coffee Shop
This closet coffee bar was definitely my most random yet favorite thing to build! I mean come on..Look at it. Isn’t it just the cutest! Besides the fact that it is the most adorable project, 90% of it was made with materials I already had. From the scrap wood to the light fixture and even the apron. The rest of the cost came from the toy accessories. If i’m being honest, the most expensive thing was the plastic cactus and the espresso machine. How could I pass up a toy espresso machine that actually runs water through it!
LET’S TAKE A MOMENT TO ADMIRE THE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES.
What started as a messy storage closet became a boho inspired coffee bar over a weekend. I usually have impulse projects that pop up out of nowhere and little planning goes into them. I kinda just figure it out as I go.
All together this cafe for a toddler cost a little over $150 dollars.
What we had
scrap wood
screws,
Embroidery Hoops (light fixture)
Light
Table cloth (awning)
Most of the paint
shelf
plants
What we Bought
Espresso machine $30
Cactus $25
Toy register $23
Wood donuts$13
Shelf brackets (for awning) $24
Dowel rod $3
Paper $4
Leather straps $12
Sample Paint size $12
ARCH PAINT
Arches are trending right now so of course I had to add some in. I used a pencil with a string attached to it and pinned the other end in the center of where I wanted the arch. I drew a half circle at the top and used tape the rest of the way down then painted.
I used Valspar sample paint in
Arizona Dust
Colorado Skyline
Subtle Peach
This was one of the most challenging things to do because I have very little patience when it comes to projects. It was literally watching paint dry. Starting with the base layer gray, then tall arch (Arizona Dust) and lastly little arch (Subtle Peach) and circle (Colorado Skyline). Painting within the lines was easy around the top and the tape made the rest a breeze. It was just waiting for the paint to dry.
THE BAKERY CASE
We had a few pieces of scrap wood from the deck so I used the 2x4s for the base and a piece of the 2x8 for the counter. I cut this to size and added a hinge counter top with a latch so she can safely work behind the counter.
The absolute hardest part for me to do was the 1x1’s on the front of the bakery case.
They are so close together and you have to cut each board precisely the same length or you will be able to tell. Plus, I don’t have a nail gun yet so every finishing nail was hammered in by hand…. If you have ever worked with finishing nails, you know they bend super easy. I hated this part more than anything I’ve ever worked on but I am so pleased with the result. To add the finishing touches on the case, I bought a piece of plexiglass and scored it using a razor blade until it was easy enough to snap off. I wanted a realistic feel her having the comfort of knowing no one was going to touch the donuts from the customer side.
THE FINISHING TOUCHES
The last few pieces I added were creative ADHD crafts.
Awning: I used an old table cloth, large shelf brackets from Lowes and the dowel rod from the closet.
light fixture: I had some old embroidery hoops that I strategically put together to make a trendy fixture
Paper menu board: I bought leather bracelet straps and a dowel rod from Michaels, paper from Ikea and we had a wood carpet edge trim I cut down to use as the paper cutter.
Saying I’m happy with the end result is an understatement. Sometimes I just sit in here just because I’m so happy with it. Plus, we are till able to use the top part of the closet to hang toddler clothes if we need too. I highly recommend using an old closet and turning it into something new. I can't wait to see what you guys create.
