It's easy to carve out a play space indoors with some chairs, blankets, and a few couch cushions, but then again not all that convenient if you actually want to use your living room. Modern Playhouse has been in the business of making sleek, minimal, eco-friendly, indoor playhouses since 2010, but the latest addition to their product line takes their modern play cottage a step further, making a structure that's easy to assemble, or dismantle in as little as 10 minutes. Ideal for those of us with limited square footage, or for creating a little play space that might actually improve the look of your living room.
It might seem a little steep with a price tag of $650, but not too far off from what you see kits for wooden prefab, outdoor playhouses going for. And not entirely unreasonable if you take into account they're handmade in the USA with certified sustainable and domestically sourced maple apple-ply, and handcrafted by local artisans to boot. Plus, if you've got any carpentry skills yourself, I'll bet the beautiful simplicity of this design has set the wooden cogs of inspiration turning.
More Info: Modern Playhouse
(Images: Modern Playhouse)
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This just sent my architect brain into overdrive...and I haven't even finished my coffee yet. I prefer the Circle Playhouse and the Dacha with rounded shapes/curves. The Wedge looks a bit generic IMO.
I loved this house but could never it afford it. Inspired by the design, I got my husband on board to try to make something similar and it turned easier than expected! He made an outdoors house for our daughter and treated it with a colored stain and painted a chalk board inside. It was tons of fun to do and we got to really personalize it.
these are so easy to make and so cheaply made! Go to home depot for your timber and make it your self or hire a local carpenter or read some diy blogs but honestly, this is cheap stuff sold at high prices, just a frame and then ply which is one of the photos is not even properly jigsawed (look at the front window). you could not have this outside due to it not having any vapor barrier or exterior cladding. if it were 75% less then I would recommend it as you could then tyvek it and clad it but really how much!
This isn't quite in my budget but I don't think price is unreasonable for a quality product made by hand in the USA.
I don't think the people who designed this actually have kids. It looks flimsy and would come crashing down on the kids inside. (I know my kids would knock it down) It is also terribly overpriced for a few pieces of plywood.
Check these out:
http://www.amazon.com/Gigatent-First-School-Play-Tent/dp/B001O4BIHU
These play tents are safe, easy to store and setup, and are 1/20th the price. we have a couple like this that we keep in our downstairs closet. The kids can even set it up and put it away themselves in seconds.
We have an expensive made in the USA ply dollhouse and you know what? It's not holding up too well. Those little tabs that stick out where you fit two pieces together? Well, if you stub your toe (or kick, maybe, in the case of this playhouse) on one it will break. And even if you use a special glue with wood bits in it the break will never be as strong as the rest of the house. And kids dropping things, or being too rough in their excitement, will really beat the heck out of a ply house. Dropping $650 repeatedly isn't sustainable for my bank account. Getting the company to make these over and over for the same people isn't sustainable for the earth (though it would do the company's bank account plenty of good).
Thank you for your comments!
I am a mom (with a toddler!) and I have had the Circle Playhouse in use in a SF play space for almost 4 years. Looks good as new- no chipping because it is constructed from 7 layer 1/2" apple-ply! These house are truly constructed to last- so that they do NOT end up in landfills.
The Circle, Wedge, or Puzzle are not meant to be stored outside and are to be used in an interior space- as indicated on my website. The Puzzle goes together in minutes so can be set up outside for the day. My latest addition, The Dacha, is meant for outdoor use. My playhouse meet US ASTM safety requirements.
I am working to get my prices down but I am sticking to my company ethos of made in the USA with materials made in the USA. This is an expensive way to manufacture. Most other playhouse manufacturers use imported materials (baltic birch) or are manufactured overseas even if they claim to be made in the USA. Home Depot does not sell this type of plywood.
Finally, designing and manufacturing playhouses is my way of bringing my rural childhood roots- of building forts and playhouses out of boxes, blankets, in and out of trees, and using spare pieces of timber- to parents who don't have the time or skill set to do this. I encourage families who do have the skill set to embark on a family playhouse project- you will have a blast and the memories will last a lifetime!
Cheers!
I definitely like the design of these play houses. But I agree, way too expensive.
I have actually contacted Modern Playhouse, asking them if they plan to come out with a more realistically priced playhouse for the 99 percent of us. I also asked if they knew where anyone could find used ones or if they have any prototypes, let's get Eco-friendly. I never heard back. I guess they are more interested in the 1 percent. Very disappointing...