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Pasadena Playouse

 
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Pasasdena Playhouse was designed to elegantly fill in the previously unused space on top of the upper retaining wall. A series of platforms and steps lead to the 1-story playhouse with gable roof & side deck with rung ladder. Along the way to the playhouse, take a detour down the 1st of 2 slides or climb down the rope net ladder. The mid-level retaining area is filled with bark chip and secured with rope net railing that curves to follow the edge of the lower retaining wall. Chutes & ladders!

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Featured
Overview
Overview

Pasadena Playhouse was designed to elegantly fill in the previously unused space on top of the upper retaining wall. A series of platforms and steps lead to the 1-story playhouse with gable roof & side deck with rung ladder.

Walkway
Walkway

There are 2 doors on the playhouse, front & back, and both doors have a sliding "who-goes-there" peephole with doorknocker. The back of the playhouse also has a mail slot. The interior mailbox hanging on the inside wall catches any mail slipped through the mail slot.

Double Slides
Double Slides

What can we say? Two slides are just more fun than one and a great way to traverse the two retaining walls. The upper slide leads down to the mid-level bark chip area. The lower slide then leads down to the yard. Notice how the railing curves to fit the curve of the retaining wall!

Mail Box
Mail Box

This little "corner" close-up shows the hand-carved MAIL slot, the star, moon & planet cut-outs, the inside of the small balcony and the Pulley Box with bright pink bucket on a rope - a great way for Mom to get lunch up to the playhouse!

Close-up
Close-up

Close-up view of the adorable playhouse with gable roof, plus the entry walkway (on the right) with openings for the slide and the hand-woven rope net ladder. Both the slide & the ladder take the kids down to the mid-level bark chip area.

Ladder
Ladder

The children love climbing up the ladder to the bark chip area.

 
 
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Hillside Hamlet

 
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Hillside Hamlet played a starring role in House Beautiful TV's episode entitled "Kids Live Here Too."

One of Barbara's most ambitious projects, the Hillside Hamlet’s four Towers and four connecting Bridges nestle into an ivy-covered hill.

It’s packed with is packed with delightful Play Features; The Hexagon Tower has a Dutch door, bridges galore, shuttered windows and Rock Climbing all around. The Crow's Nest spouts a Flagpole with 3 flags. The Entrance Tower has a secret escape door on the left and a Super Slide off the back (hidden in this view). Shuttered windows, a curved-top door, and Turrets with Pyramid Facade Roofs complete the look of a tiny, medieval castle.

The unusual black, white, and gray color scheme of this luxury play structure gives it serenity and complements the classic palette of the client's home and guest house.

 
Hillside Hamlet Gallery
Hillside Hamlet is packed with delightful Play Features and Bridges, Bridges, Bridges up in the trees. The Hexagon Tower has a Dutch door, shuttered windows and Rock Climbing all around. The Crow's Nest spouts a Flagpole with 3 flags. The Entrance T

Hillside Hamlet is packed with delightful Play Features and Bridges, Bridges, Bridges up in the trees. The Hexagon Tower has a Dutch door, shuttered windows and Rock Climbing all around. The Crow's Nest spouts a Flagpole with 3 flags. The Entrance Tower has a secret escape door on the left and a Super Slide off the back (hidden in this view). Shuttered windows, a curved-top door, and Turrets with Pyramid Facade Roofs complete the look of a tiny, medieval castle.

The Swings in the Sandbox Area of Hillside Hamlet are always popular, whether you're swinging, pushing, watching from above or resting at the base of the Super Slide. All areas of the Hillside Hamlet connect to each other and invite kids to explore

The Swings in the Sandbox Area of Hillside Hamlet are always popular, whether you're swinging, pushing, watching from above or resting at the base of the Super Slide. All areas of the Hillside Hamlet connect to each other and invite kids to explore these creative "loops" of play. There's a large escape door at the base of the Rectangular Tower. Just climb up the Super Slide a few feet, hop off and tackle the Rock Climbing Wall or Firepole of the Hexagon Tower.

Color Map #1 is the color palette chosen by the client as it matches the main house.

Color Map #1 is the color palette chosen by the client as it matches the main house.

The Crow's Nest, the Rock Climbing Wall, the Firepole and the Wavy Super Slide are visible here and swarming with kids.

The Crow's Nest, the Rock Climbing Wall, the Firepole and the Wavy Super Slide are visible here and swarming with kids.

The Ship's Ladder on Hillside Hamlet leads from the Bridge-over-Swings to the the Sandbox Area below (which is also the base of the Super Slide). Side Railings at 2 levels make it the easy way up and down for all ages. Attaching the Bridge-over-Swin

The Ship's Ladder on Hillside Hamlet leads from the Bridge-over-Swings to the the Sandbox Area below (which is also the base of the Super Slide). Side Railings at 2 levels make it the easy way up and down for all ages. Attaching the Bridge-over-Swings to a very large tree makes it a very sturdy swingset. Grinding all the redwood surfaces makes a smooth, satiny finish, which Barbara's custom Tung Oil Stains preserve and enhance. It's a pleasure to run your hand down the splinter-free railing or around the finials.

The Crow's Nest for Hillside Hamlet encircles a large tree: the perfect place to play Robin Hood, Tree Sprites or Pirates. The Crow's Nest connects via a Bridge to the back of the Hexagon Tower with its Rock Climbing Wall and Firepole. This view of

The Crow's Nest for Hillside Hamlet encircles a large tree: the perfect place to play Robin Hood, Tree Sprites or Pirates. The Crow's Nest connects via a Bridge to the back of the Hexagon Tower with its Rock Climbing Wall and Firepole. This view of Hillside Hamlet also shows the Bridge-over-Swings on the left leading from the Rectangular Tower to a Tree and Ship's Ladder to the lower level.

 
 
 
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Bluebird Treehouse

 
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Bluebird Treehouse sparkles in the middle of this backyard island. A large Clubhouse with secret sliding door to the balcony sits atop the 1/2-octagon deck with hand-woven rope net railings.  Underneath the deck are plenty of fun activities: monkey bars, parallel rings, trapeze bar, disc swing and giant knotted climbing rope. Inside, a built-in loft for reading, napping or hanging out with friends. And from the top of the deck, take-off on a 50' long Zip Line Ride!

 
Bluebird Treehouse - Gallery
The Zip Line Ride take-off is from the deck. The 50' long cable is anchor high above to the tree and the other end of the cable is secured to a 2nd tree. Just grab the disk seat and jump off for a fast, fun and thrilling ride.

The Zip Line Ride take-off is from the deck. The 50' long cable is anchor high above to the tree and the other end of the cable is secured to a 2nd tree. Just grab the disk seat and jump off for a fast, fun and thrilling ride.

The arched bridge that provides access to the island already existed when Barbara arrived for the initial design meeting. She was totally entranced and subsequently designed the treehouse to look like it was built at the same time as the bridge.

The arched bridge that provides access to the island already existed when Barbara arrived for the initial design meeting. She was totally entranced and subsequently designed the treehouse to look like it was built at the same time as the bridge.

The only "breaks" in the beautiful hand-woven rope net railings are the entrances for Barbara's angled rung ladder (providing the easy way up) and her great Zip Line ride (providing a fun, fast, and exciting way down).

The only "breaks" in the beautiful hand-woven rope net railings are the entrances for Barbara's angled rung ladder (providing the easy way up) and her great Zip Line ride (providing a fun, fast, and exciting way down).

The first few times down, it feels great to have a "spotter" waiting with open arms as you zip by safe & sound on Barbara's heavy duty Zip Line ride. One thing you can be sure of is that someone else will always be in the "next" position waiting

The first few times down, it feels great to have a "spotter" waiting with open arms as you zip by safe & sound on Barbara's heavy duty Zip Line ride. One thing you can be sure of is that someone else will always be in the "next" position waiting for their turn to take off!

From this angle, you can just make out the flying kid on the zip line about 3/4 of the way across the yard.

From this angle, you can just make out the flying kid on the zip line about 3/4 of the way across the yard.

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Barbara made it even more challenging by providing a giant knotted rope climb as the way up to the monkey bars. Fun!

Barbara made it even more challenging by providing a giant knotted rope climb as the way up to the monkey bars. Fun!

Another thrilling way down is via the stainless steel firepole which gets plenty of action from the older kids. Underneath the deck, Barbara has built in plenty of monkey bars and parallel rings. These play accessories are challenging for older kids

Another thrilling way down is via the stainless steel firepole which gets plenty of action from the older kids. Underneath the deck, Barbara has built in plenty of monkey bars and parallel rings. These play accessories are challenging for older kids and a great way to increase agility & upper body strength while having fun. It looks easy but it isn't!

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Barbara's artist rendering of the treehouse during the design process, before it was built.

Barbara's artist rendering of the treehouse during the design process, before it was built.

 
 
 
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