Plum's 2-in-1 play kitchen and dolls house (review + giveaway)

Imaginative play is such a big part of growing up; by observing, copying and pretending we learn how the world works, not to mention vital skills such as creative thinking, social interaction and language development.

Small wonder then that a ‘pretend’ kitchen or dolls house is a perennial favourite for encouraging imaginative play. But it can be tricky to find room for such a large toy in the average family home.

Plum have tackled this practical stumbling block head-on, with the Peppermint Townhouse 2 in 1 Kitchen and Dolls House (RRP £199.99). They’ve created a unique, all-round play design which earns it’s space by cleverly maximising the play value.

It’s not just about practicality though; this really is a lovely-looking piece of play furniture – so much so that we all gasped when finished putting it together and saw how lovely it is.

The townhouse is made from sturdy timber, and built to withstand years of imaginative play – it doesn’t wobble or creak when in use.

The printed back panels are bright and colourful without being too over-the-top, and the colour palette is gender neutral. The design absolutely appeals to my kids, but seeing as a toy this size needs to live in our main family space, it’s great that the design is understated enough not to clash with more grown up decor.

Now, on to the detail. On one side there’s a wooden play kitchen, which has been designed to look just like the real thing. Pans and utensils are included.

The wooden work surface has a food preparation area, hob with click and turn knobs, and sink with turning taps.

The all-important oven and microwave are within easy reach, and the generous amount of storage space is brilliant from a practical viewpoint but also allows little ones to practice sorting, stacking and arranging with independence.

On the other side there’s a spacious townhouse dolls mansion, with a chalkboard roof. There are so many different things going on in here, it’s enough to spark hours and hours of imaginative play.

Again, the design echoes a real, luxury home, with bright decor, a converted loft and a working lift. Most sizes of doll or action figure should just about be able to fit in, so there’s lots of scope for telling stories with little one’s favourite toys. Note: the dolls and furniture pictured here are our own and don’t come with the product.