A crafty mum has pulled off the ultimate Kmart hack, transforming two Kmart Cubby Houses into the cafe of every toddler’s dreams.

Shan Rickard wanted to create an indoor haven for her boys to explore imaginary and open-ended play. So she set about using a creative mix of cubby house furniture and decor to create a play space that would engage her children, and use her crafting skills.

“I wanted to create a cubby for my boys that would be for inside,” Shan told Mouths of Mums. “A place that would require their imagination and bring them together to play nicely. They took interest in pretend cooking and would bring us ‘coffees’ waiting for our reactions because they had put ‘chillies’ in it etc. So I thought I’d create a cafe where they can pretend to cook sweet and savoury foods, make coffees and play shop keeper.”

The Queensland mum combined two Kmart Wooden Cubbies and then decorated and added decor to suit the Gumnut Cafe theme. And it only took a couple of days. “It didn’t take very long at all. It was pretty straightforward, I did it all within a weekend.”

Kmart Cubby House Hack

Shan is happy to share how she whipped up her mini cafe, including how she added personal touches.

“The cubby itself is made from two Kmart cubbies. A full one and then parts of the other to extend it. Once I built it is just painted the windowsills black, added greenery tiles to the planter boxes, painted the frame of the door, added a black handle and I wood burnt the gumnut design into the wood.

“I also wood burnt the cafe sign which was a ply circle board from Kmart and woodburnt a menu, which is shown on the side of the cubby near the cafe station. I also have a welcome mat and fake grass around it to compliment the bbq.

“The kitchen inside consists of everything you’d ever need to cook up a storm. Everything from all types of food, pots pans, appliances, an eftpos machine and play money.”

• 2 x Kmart Cubby Houses $199 each
• Kitchen (was a diner) $99 – Kmart
• Kitchen appliances range from $5-$15 each -Kmart
• Cafe station $29 – Kmart
• Fridge $15 – Kmart
• Black metal baskets $12 – Kmart
• BBQ $39 – Kmart
• Welcome mat $10 – Kmart
• Wooden foods (so many and sets) $1-$15 each
• Fake Grass mats $39 – the Reject Shop

Shan says she removed the seating area from the cubby and reconfigured and painted some of the items to suit the theme.

Lazing at the front of Gumnut Cafe is an adorable wombat, which Shan says is a personal touch. “It was my husband’s Nan and Pop’s garden statue. I repainted it for my boys to have. His name is Clive, after their grandfather.”

And as for her lucky boys? They adore their cafe. “They honestly love it. I’ve just added battery operated lights they can turn on at night time to help brighten it up for night play.

“They interact with each other well most of the time. There’s an odd fight about who the chef will be but most of the time it’s great. You hear a lot on conversing and laughter.”