Shari Raymond
Milton & Goose began with a first-birthday present that did not seem to exist.
As her son’s birthday approached, our founder, Shari Raymond, began looking for a play kitchen he could enjoy for years. At the time, her family lived in a small New York City apartment, which meant the kitchen would not be tucked away in a separate playroom. It would sit front and center in the living room.
Shari wanted something her son would love, and something she would not mind living with every day.
Three Simple Requirements
The list did not seem unreasonable.
The kitchen needed to be made from high-quality wood, thoughtfully designed, and manufactured in the United States. It needed to feel substantial enough to last, safe enough for everyday play, and beautiful enough to remain in the middle of the family’s home.
But after searching, Shari could not find a play kitchen that brought those qualities together.
So she decided to create one.
From an Idea to the First Kitchen
Developing the original Milton & Goose kitchen took far more than drawing a smaller version of a grown-up one.
Shari researched materials, finishes, hardware, testing requirements, and manufacturing partners. After interviewing dozens of manufacturers, Milton & Goose partnered with second-generation toymakers in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to bring the first design to life.
The result was the Essential Play Kitchen: a wooden kitchen created for imaginative play but designed with the quality and presence of furniture.
One Kitchen Became Something Bigger
Parents should not have to choose between a product their children enjoy and one that feels considered in their home. Children’s pieces can be playful without feeling disposable. They can be designed for childhood while still meeting an adult standard for quality, materials, and aesthetics.
Milton & Goose began with a play kitchen, but the idea behind it was much bigger: children’s products could be beautifully designed, thoughtfully made, and created to last.
That belief still shapes everything we make today.
Explore the Milton & Goose collection.