A thrifty parent has revealed how she built an incredible Wendy house-themed bed for her young daughter – for £100.
Heather Hollis, 39, and her husband Mark, 50, from North Ayrshire, decided to surprise their five-year-old daughter Isabella with the remarkable piece of furniture, making it their lockdown project.
The mother-of-six revealed how she recycled most of the materials from previous projects, before buying the accessories from IKEA – with her husband spending three months building the bed.
Sharing the pictures of the incredible results, which garnered 10,000 likes on the DIY On A Budget Facebook group, she wrote: ‘Our daughter’s bed we made over lockdown. Made as cheap as possible and used every scrap of wood in the end.
Heather Hollis, 39, and her husband Mark, 50, from North Ayrshire, decided to surprise their 5-year-old daughter Isabella with the remarkable piece of furniture, making it their lockdown project
Sharing the pictures of the incredible results, which garnered 10,000 likes on the DIY On A Budget Facebook group, she wrote: ‘Our daughters bed we made over lockdown, made as cheap as possible and used every scrap of wood in the end’
‘She is one happy girl. We used lots of ideas from Pinterest. There are lots of little secrets in it, like glow-in-the-dark paint and a secret hiding place for her bows. Lots of storage in the base and stairs.’
Speaking to FEMAIL, Heather revealed how they started out with her daughter’s two-level standard bunk bed, before building a roof complete with three windows around the top bunk with sheets of plywood and MDF.
The couple then encased the bottom bunk with open windows, adding faux flower beds, and integrated drawers.
Making use of every inch of space, they built sturdy stairs up to the top of the house, complete with hidden storage, making a small playroom out of the second bunk.
Making use of every inch of space, they built sturdy stairs up to the top of the house, complete with hidden storage, right, making a small playroom out of the second bunk, left
Heather Hollis and their five-year-old daughter Isabella enjoying the stunning bed
The playroom, which is entered through a pink miniature door, comes complete with pink rug, a painted ceiling, hanging paintings with hidden storage and fairy lights – kitted out by Isabella with her birthday money.
Heather said: ‘I’ve had the idea to make this for a while and had a dedicated Pinterest board as I do for many things I want my husband and me to make.
‘We started off with her original bunk bed and five sheets of plywood and MDF given to us by friends. We had previously built my son a Star Wars bed so had most of the fixings and fittings from it.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Heather revealed how they started out with her daughter’s two-level standard bunk bed
They then built a roof complete with three windows around the top bunk with sheets of plywood and MDF
The mother-of-six revealed how she recycled most of the materials from previous projects, before buying the accessories from IKEA – with her husband spending three months building the bed
‘Our only real cost was the cedar shingles, bought online for £50, but we felt they were need to finish the look.
‘My daughter Isabella used her birthday money to buy little extras for it like her rug and bean bag.
‘My husband worked on the bed every day for 13 weeks, only taking the day off for my birthday.
‘Isabella helped us to decide what she wanted on it like unicorns, flowers and a small door like Coraline has in the film.’
Heather concluded: ‘She is over the moon with is and spends every day in it now.’
The playroom, which is entered through a pink miniature door, comes complete with pink rug, a painted ceiling
It also boasts hanging paintings with hidden storage and fairy lights – kitted out by Isabella with her birthday money