About six weeks ago that I sketched a playroom arrangement on a scrap piece of paper. It was the my response to yet another dispute over someone knocking down someone else’s block tower which was built in a walkway – a result of a small room with multiple play areas.
This was the old room arrangement with the shelves splitting the room in half – it allowed some separation between play areas but was difficult for me to interact with young infants/toddlers on both sides of the room or quickly intervene when necessary;
I wanted the room to have better flow and more open space but still have defined spaces for various types of play. I thought again about all the wasted space above us with our nine foot ceilings and took inspiration from tiny house design to create a new loft space – just for building with blocks, out of all walkways and the reach of infants/toddlers who prefer to destroy instead of create.
Construction took a total of six full 14 hour days over four weekends. Some of the pieces were assembled and stored, installation was done in two phases. The result is a completely new, more functional play space.
A brand new kitchen design is located in the SW corner of the play room. The cupboards and appliances were created by stacking and attaching wooden boxes. The old block bin now contains food and other items that can be used in the kitchen/restaurant/store areas. The table is in the center of the room and has multiple uses.
The music/dance area was slightly reorganized but remains in the SE corner;
The workshop area remains in the NE corner along with some blocks;
And the mini-scenes and entrance to the nature area remain in the NW corner but the dress-up clothes and ‘car’/steering wheel (not visible in this picture) were moved to the space across from the scenes, beside the mirror, adjacent to the kitchen area.
The new 21 square foot loft is over the kitchen area. It is 5 1/2 feet off the ground so the children and I can walk/stand under it. Inside the loft there are bins of blocks and the dollhouse shelf is on the back wall. I still have to find all the dollhouse furniture and people – most of them were removed from the playroom long ago because they were too small or delicate to have out when babies were present. Only older children go in the loft so these toys can be there.
The kitchen area shelves and appliances form a series of platforms that create an enclosed staircase along the side and back of the loft;
Here’s another view of the new kitchen area and staircase. For perspective, the counter height is 24 inches and the fridge is 36 inches tall.
I also added some new storage features inside the fridge but haven’t yet finished painting the inside white.
There’s more new storage under, on, and beside the counter now too;
The children are thrilled with the new play space. From the loft they can ‘see everything‘ – makes me laugh when they include their house, favourite store, and the zoo in their list of things they can see from the loft. Good imagination 
Yet, of all the changes, the one that still excites them the most is the addition of this bell by the cash register.
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