Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

I'm looking for a doll's house for my 4-year-old dd for Christmas ...

26 replies

imaginaryfriend · 25/10/2006 21:37

Has anybody come across any nice ones? I like the ELC one but dd doesn't go for pink. She likes the look of one called 'Lilac House' which we've seen in the Mothercare catalogue. Our budget is about £100.

Any suggestions?

TIA

OP posts:
earlysbird · 25/10/2006 21:43

toyrus have this for £50 including furniture, haven't found anything better/cheaper ordered it last week, now waiting to be assembled!

LIZS · 25/10/2006 21:44

woolworths had one on offer for about £40. dd loves her Playmobil mansion but it doesn't sound as if that is the style you want.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 25/10/2006 21:51

earlysbird (did you used to be earlybird? if so, we met at Coram's Fields about two summers ago. Hello!) my friend's dd has that one and really like it. My dd wants her small family of bears to live in it and the rooms were a bit too small for the furniture which we've been making together for a few months - they're currently inhabiting a series of cardboard boxes!!

OP posts:
BudaBeast · 25/10/2006 22:05

Just spotted some lovely ones in the GLTC catalogue.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 25/10/2006 22:07

GLTC?

OP posts:
badkarma · 25/10/2006 22:12

Great Little Trading Company

cece · 25/10/2006 22:14

Studio cards had one for £19.99 in their sale catalogue

badkarma · 25/10/2006 22:17

Have you looked on letterbox?

here

another

lovethisone
and lastly
this

I could buy all of these for dd..unfortunately she is more into a punchbag and boxing gloves at the minute

lizziemun · 25/10/2006 22:24

The one in gltc catalogue looks good my mum and sister have bought the £70 one for my dd.

The gltc on includes all furniture and people unlike the elc on where the house is £100 and £12.50 a room for furniture.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 25/10/2006 22:31

badkarma, thanks, they look fantastic, especially the first one 'Lavendar Cottage' - I've ordered their catalogue, it would be nice to see pictures of the interiors.

Going to check out GLTC now.

OP posts:
Peridot30 · 25/10/2006 22:51

I have bought the elc house but my dd is very girlie and loves pink. just turned three. Only thing is you have to buy furniture sep however had joined elc birthday club and they send you a 20% off voucher at childs birthday luckily birthday this month so used it to buy Santas pressie.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 25/10/2006 22:55

I didn't like the GLTC one - too big, too much decoration inside plus having all the furniture included makes it seem very unpersonalisable (no such word I know). And it doesn't have a front that closes I think?

I like the shape and style of the ELC one, also its sturdyness. But too pink for dd. She'll stretch to purple but pink is a no-no.

OP posts:
EmmyLou · 25/10/2006 22:56

Tridias and Myriad toys are nice sites too.

Skribble · 25/10/2006 22:57

woolworth Chad valley one is half price at £39.99.

lipsbite · 25/10/2006 23:09

There are a few here

earlysbird · 26/10/2006 10:26

imaginaryfriend no I've always been earlysbird!

amazonianwoman · 26/10/2006 14:09

this one from John Lewis is v nice, definitely not pink and very sturdy, friend's DD has it and her DS likes to play with it too. Not cheap at £99 but there is a code to get £15 off.

earlysbird · 26/10/2006 18:27

still think the toysrus one is a fab deal and you can paint it what ever colour you like also with 100 pieces included, even people, it is pretty hard to beat for £50!

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 26/10/2006 18:32

lipsbite, I really like the blue one on that page you linked to. I think that may be the one for dd. Just going to see if I can get an image of the interior.

Thanks everyone!

OP posts:
Piffle · 26/10/2006 18:39

we got dd the plan toys terraced house for her 4th birthday this week and she loves it.

3rd one down
We got her living room/kitchen and bedroom furniture plus one family
She adores it

TinyGang · 26/10/2006 18:41

I know this may sound a strange suggestion, but Sue Ryder shops seem to specialise in dolls houses (brand new ones) and all the furniture.

Worth a look if you want a nice one, I would think

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 29/10/2006 14:19

TinyGang, I'm definitely going to get some furniture from Sue Ryder but wasn't keen on the doll's house.

Any last suggestions?

OP posts:
chicaguapa · 29/10/2006 17:22

DD got a doll's house last year for Christmas. I looked everywhere and weighed them all up. I ended up getting one off eBay which had been made by the seller. It came with all the furniture and cost £100. Each room had been decorated individually with little wallpaper and carpet. It was clearly a hobby of the seller. I was really pleased with it and found it great value compared with everything else I found. If you search with your postcode, you could maybe collect and save around £15 on postage too.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 29/10/2006 18:08

There are some great ones on ebay. My big trouble is that I can't drive so picking things up is really difficult. But I'll keep checking as people do sometimes offer to deliver if not too far away.

OP posts:
mrsmalumbas · 29/10/2006 18:39

We did the offer out of the Daily Mail (MIL reads it not us - honest!!) for a house and furniture which apparently is the same as sold in Sue Ryder - think the house was about 30 quid and the furniture about the same again. Thought it was a good deal and intended saving it until Christmas as the "big present" from Santa. However MIL called today and said it had all been delivered and all the furniture was beautiful (incl a real ceramic bath!) but was plastered all over with warnings saying "collectors item - not suitable for children under 14!". Grrrrr. I am pretty cross now as the pictures in the paper clearly showed children playing with the houses. Don't know whether to give it to the DD's anyway and accept that it will probably get broken and spoiled or put it away and save it until they are older - but what 14 yo's play with doll houses fgs? Of course if I put it away it also means I have to go and buy something else and I had my heart set on a lovely dolls house for the DD's! But anyway back to the OP - have seen some very good deals on e-bay for ELC houses and fisher price as well but wouldn't recommend Sue Ryder for the reasons above - same stuff basically.