We know when it comes to choosing the perfect cubby house, parents want something that’s both practical and magical. This is exactly what Lily Thornton and her husband Ashley were looking for when they came upon Castle and Cubby. After a lot of searching and comparing options, they chose our Signature Pitched Roof Cubby House with added decking to expand the play space.
Choosing our DIY option, they built their cubby in a few days (with the assistance of a small helper) and have created a beautiful space where their kids and their friends can play make believe and create memories for a lifetime.
Lily is a talented cellist and with Ashley on saxophone they form music act Sax on Cello. With two young children – August, 3, and Sunday, 9 months – and a busy life balancing parenting and work, they wanted to create a play space where the kids could play independently.
"One of the big reasons for getting a cubby house was to encourage Augie to play by himself,” said Lily.
“He’s not quite there yet – he still wants me to come out and sit next to the cubby while he plays. But it was also so that when he has friends over, they have somewhere to go and have their own little world, which the cubby provides perfectly.”
The cubby house is currently styled as a cafe and most mornings Augie will be out there, taking orders and serving up coffees and cake across the counter, while the blackboard lists the current special – blueberry muffins.
“We got some cute little wooden cafe toys, and Augie loves to ask me what I want to order. He is loving playing all of that make believe stuff,” says Lily. “But his interests do change, and the cubby house just allows him to have those different make believe games.”
“His best friend was over and they were both in the cubby house playing mum and dad. They’ve both got little baby siblings. So she said ‘August, the baby’s crying. Can you go check on the baby?’ and he said ‘Oh, okay’ and went to get the baby doll, which was adorable.”
For Lily, a big motivation for getting a cubby house was remembering the imaginative games she played in her own parents’ garden as a child.
“We didn’t have a cubby house, but my parents had this amazing garden with lots of little nooks and I remember building areas to play. I wanted to give my kids the same experience of playing in the garden, making up games and just being outside, even in the winter.”
The family spent a lot of time researching the best cubby house option for them, looking at various options and even exploring second hand. Ultimately, the decision came down to quality, ease and aesthetics.
"We spent ages looking into cubbies. We wanted something easy to assemble and high-quality because we wanted it to last," Lily said.
Lily describes the actual building of the cubby house as straightforward. Best of all, August was involved in every step of the DIY process, from painting to construction.
"I think he loved that part probably more than even playing in the cubby," she said with a laugh.
The cubby house is now a much-loved playspace in the garden. And friends and family are just as impressed with it.
“Whenever we have people around, they’re amazed. Even when we put anything on Instagram, everyone says ‘Wow, that is so cool.’”
But it’s what Lily hopes her kids will take from having a cubby house that is most important to them.
“I hope they remember the joy and creativity, and that they were able to express themselves freely. I have so many memories of my childhood playing make believe. And I want that for my kids, that making things up, playing without time constraints and getting to be kids.”