Customer Reviews

KidKraft Annabelle Dollhouse

5 star:		(81)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this KidKraft dollhouse based upon reviews of the other KidKraft dollhouses (the Annabelle had no reviews then) and because we own the KidKraft Bright & Bold kitchen play set, which my daughters really enjoy and I find to be well-made and sturdy. I bought this particular dollhouse because it had an elevator and a set of stairs, and all 3 floor have "realistic" access (not like the Savannah dollhouse which has no stairway access to the 3rd floor or attic).

That said, I am really disappointed with the quality of this house, particularly in comparison to the kitchen set. The two side wall are made of MDF and the pitched-roof and elevator sidewalls are also thick MDF. The floors and the back wall are all flimsy, cardboard-y type material (super-thin MDF?) that has a sheet of "wallpaper" on them to represent the inside scenes. The floor "boards" have wood runners on the side edges to allow for the back "boards" to be slid in (and to give the dollhouse a more finished look from the front). I will say that the design and materials used for the pitch-roof are excellent. Real wood support pieces, and just an overall nice looking effect. I truly wish KidKraft would have put as much thought into the interior construction elements/materials. I would have certainly been willing to pay more money for thick MDF to have been used throughout the dollhouse, now, however, I will never buy another KidKraft dollhouse, assuming this one does not last nearly as long as I hoped it would when I bought it. I would also beg all dollhouse creators to give-up the gaudy interior sticker/wallpaper designs that they insist on using. What good is it to put a picture of a sofa on the back wall, when the dollhouse comes with an actual sofa? The wall decals can really, and unnecessarily, limit the imagination.

Assembly took a little time--I had some difficulty assembling the elevator and found the diagrams in the instructions very unhelpful--I ultimately had to consult the picture on the box to figure out how to assemble it. As usual, KidKraft did have every piece nicely labeled and everything lined-up precisely. I would also like to note that this dollhouse is designed to be placed up against the wall. They include a kit to secure it to a wall, which people who place this dollhouse on carpet may want to use--I can see the dollhouse being very easy to tip over, and not sturdy enough to survive the crash. The backside is completely white, and there are no window or door cut-outs on the back wall. This too was a big disappointment for me. The girls still play with their Fisher Price Loving Family dollhouse, and their Barbie My House, which has 360-play--doors that open and close, window, etc.--and even though the KidKraft accommodates Barbie dolls, the quality of the Loving Family dollhouse is much superior, as is the My House.

I specifically avoided buying Barbie's 3-story dollhouse with the lights and sounds this Christmas because I was so happy with the quality of the KidKraft kitchen, and really thought their dollhouses would be on par. I don't think they are, and I hope I don't have to turn around and buy the Barbie townhouse because this one doesn't make it past 6-months.

Lastly, I would also say don't let the "manufacturer's retail price" fool you here. There is no way the MRP here is meant to be truthful or accurate, and I believe it is used to manipulate the consumer into thinking they are getting a higher-quality item at a more reasonable rate. This dollhouse should not be priced into the triple-dollar-digits. The quality is just not there.

I read the review by T. Hough and I agree and disagree with many points made about the house. The house is not completely made out of wood but once I finished building the house it will not wooble and it's very sturdy and heavy about 40 pounds and since I have flooring and not carpet the house will not tip over. The wallpaper designs are kind of weird but I'm a guy so what do I know about decor and if they desings weren't there the house will look cheap besides my daughter doesn't care. The building instructions could be better written, I built the house by following the instructions and looking at the picture of the house which will be included in the box and it's poster size. I was also considering buying the Barbie Townhouse but I decided not to get it because it's smaller then this house, more expensive, not house realistic and unstable plastic. I bought this kidkraft house for $110 and I believe it's worth it. If you really want a wooden sturdy doll house go to menards and buy wood and build one from scratch. Bottom line: I recommend buying this house. I will give it 4 stars because my daughter is happy with it and that's what really matters to me.

My daughter has had this almost a year. I'm surprised by the reviews about it not being sturdy. My thoughts are that maybe they didn't put it together right. The directions are a pain, but it's so worth it. My daughter couldn't love it more. I debated on this vs the plastic barbie one and I'm so happy I got this one. It's beautiful, really sturdy, and my daughter loves all the furniture that comes with it. She is 6 now and seriously plays with it everyday! It was the best gift I ever got her, hands down!! I got it from Amazon last year for x-mas and delivery was easy and quick. But be warned it comes in the original package, so your kid will see it if your not careful. I had to make sure I intercepted it or else she would have known what it was.

The reviews for this dollhouse ranged from "Awesome" to "Junk", making me very nervous when purchasing it as the main Christmas present for my 7-year old daughter. Now that I've put it all together and had a chance to examine it carefully, I feel much more confident in recommending it. The dollhouse is made of a thick fiber board material (like nearly all modern dollhouses). Unfortunately, the days of custom wooden dollhouses are long since past. That said, the walls and floor feel sturdy enough, and I think they will last for years as long as they don't get wet.

The furniture is mostly made of wood, and I really can't complain about the quality or detail. The stairs in the dollhouse is one long molded piece of plastic - probably would have been better if made of wood. The elevator is basically a hand-operated chute with a small handle that allows you to push it up or down. It works fine, but a little lubricant on the slides helps it move up and down easier.

Contrary to some other reviews, I found the instructions to be very easy to follow. The instructions are basically a set of about twenty breakout drawings showing how each piece screws together. The screws come bundled and labeled by type (e.g., A screws are used on the roof and walls, B screws are used on the bannister, etc.). The screw heads are also painted pink and purple to better match the walls - a nice touch. The dollhouse took me about an hour and a half to complete all by myself. The only issue I had was with a wooden dowel that has a small hole cut in it. The instructions do not make it clear that the hole should be towards the bottom floor of the house. I had to take mine out and flip it around late in the assembly - an easy thing to do so no big deal.

Overall, I've found the KidKraft Dollhouse to be of acceptable quality at a reasonable price. My daughter loves it, and I suspect it will give her many years of play.

Written by Arthur Bradley, author of "Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family."

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I bought this for my 4 year old daughter's birthday. The elevator was next to impossible to move and I figured it would get easier over time. The second day we had it, my 6 year old was playing with the dollhouse. Trying to get the elevator to move, it ripped off the track and ripped the "wall" it's attached to. I had to tape the wall back together and it already looks like an old piece of garbage. Save your money and buy something else!

This is a great dollhouse and with my oldest 14 and my youngest 2 I have had plenty of experience putting toys together. Its time consuming BUT all the pieces are labeled and the screws are even color coded. Every hole was pre-drilled and once together it is very sturdy,Bright, Colorful and absolutely adorable! The Free shipping made this item the best deal on the web and in stores. Received it two days after ordering it. One of the furniture pieces was broken when I opened the box. I called KidKraft spoke to a live human who I could understand and was completely quick efficient and courteous. I will receive my replacement part free of charge in Two days. All in all I would Highly recommend this dollhouse for anyone looking to please their little girl.

This has lasted almost 2 years and both of our girls still play with it; very reasonably priced and made well.

Our daughter asked for a dollhouse for Christmas and after looking at all the possibilites, this one seemed to be the best deal for the best price. This dollhouse is absolutely perfect, it has so many details that you don't see in the pictures. My husband said the instructions and assembly were great and he put it together in about an hour with no problem. I can't wait to see her face on Christmas morning!!

Got this for my girls for Christmas. I was nervous about putting together since I had read the reviews so we started early. My husband and I did it In one hour tens minutes it was a breeze pieces were labeled and everything was there. Very pleased and highly recommend. We even took our time and read the directions.

it is a very nice dollhouse, the only downfall is that it is not very durable, the elevator has broken off already (it is repairable) however slightly disappointing. plus not so easy to put together, my fiance spent x4 consecutive hours putting it together. but all and all our daughter loves it, it is worth the purchase/work!