There are nice looking wooden knockoffs of the PBK kitchen for 1/3 the price. We bought one from Kidkraft I think, and it's still going strong 3 years and 2 kids later, and it doesn't look awful in my (real) kitchen. My sister bought the PBK one for her kids at roughly the same time and it doesn't seem to be any better or worse than ours in terms of wear, from what I can tell. I think there is an ENORMOUS premium for the "name."

Yes, but if you like it and it doesn't break the bank - why not?

IKEA

Anonymous wrote:The kidcraft wooden retro kitchen looks pretty similar to the PBK one and is much cheaper. We have been very happy with it. You can get it all as one piece or as separate ones so that it looks more like PBK.

http://www.amazon.com/Kidkraft-Retro-Kitchen-Refrigerator-Pink/dp/B001706BRI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418004880&sr=8-1&keywords=kidkraft+retro+kitchen

http://www.amazon.com/KidKraft-53173-Red-Retro-Kitchen/dp/B0030HBVG2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1418004880&sr=8-2&keywords=kidkraft+retro+kitchen
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+1000

Not at all. Yes, wood is better, but there are so many instructions of DIY (if that's an option) not to mention ikea, kidcraft, etc.

I have seen so many very nice DIY ones online. IKEA Hackers and Pinterest for ideas. PBK is so ridiculously overpriced.

Wood is so much better, and doesn't have a bunch of chemicals in it. We got a really nice one on Craigslist for $40, like new. retails for $150.

I'd always go for a wooden one with no electric whatsoever...besides that I'd always get one off craigslist (maybe ebay if you're lucky) - very good quality (wood usually lasts forever if you treat it right) and the best prices. I don't support the super high prices people demand for new wooden kitchens.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got my child the plastic play kitchen and then upgraded to a wood one soon after. The wood one was nicer and seemed to hold up better. I really like the ikea one.

I do like a lot of the PBK toys and feel that they are worth the price. My daughter loves the dollhouse collection.

Did the kids like the wooden one just as well? Don't want to spend the money and end up they like they plastic ones better.

The wooden one was the hit. The plastic one was only partially played with and then forgotten once we got the wood set.

The white PBK play kitchen is sold out

My nieces got their PB kitchen from their grandmother on the other side. My kids got Step2 plastic but well made kitchen for fraction of the cost. Both kitchens in my mind got similar amount of play and interest by the respective kids. When my nieces visit, they happily play with our cheaper kitchen. When my kids visit my sister-in-law interestingly enough they have no interest in the PB kitchen.

We love the KidKraft deluxe play kitchen in gender neutral. It's lasted for 3 years so far and still looks practically new despite almost daily use.

My girls love theirs (it was a grandparent gift). We have the red one. We'll sell it when they are done with it. It is really cute.

The kidcraft wooden retro kitchen looks pretty similar to the PBK one and is much cheaper. We have been very happy with it. You can get it all as one piece or as separate ones so that it looks more like PBK.

http://www.amazon.com/Kidkraft-Retro-Kitchen-Refrigerator-Pink/dp/B001706BRI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418004880&sr=8-1&keywords=kidkraft+retro+kitchen

http://www.amazon.com/KidKraft-53173-Red-Retro-Kitchen/dp/B0030HBVG2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1418004880&sr=8-2&keywords=kidkraft+retro+kitchen
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The thing is that you don't know if your kid will be really into the kitchen (and play with it for years) or they may not at all, in which case you wasted $$$. Personally I don't think it's worth spending big money on anything at that age. Their interests are fleeting.

For example, I inherited probably $500++ worth of Thomas trains, track, train table, accessories etc. My 3 year old just wasn't that into it-- sure he played with it but not enough to justify the money (had we spent it). By 4, the trains are all in the attic.


Fwiw, i got the kid craft version that was I think $120, which was reasonably attractive (we keep in dining room) and had cool features but was not ridiculous.