With Thanksgiving approaching, our thoughts naturally turn towards giving thanks. While adults may be happy to jump in with a list of gratitudes, children aren’t always the best at showing their appreciation. Sometimes its because they’re busy running off to their next adventure but often its because they think you…
Read MoreAt work on this Atherton treehouse, Barbara breaks out the coffee tool box, complete with everything she needs to brew up some potent java and keep the crew properly fueled. To support the weight of the treehouse without harming the tree, we use a special bolt called the Garnier Limb,…
Read MoreKids love to climb. And while it can be maddening when they climb on the furniture, if you take them outside to a safe space, you can see how climbing builds whole-body strength, coordination and focus. Not to mention confidence — who wouldn’t feel like a million bucks after scaling…
Read MoreThe countdown to this weekend’s Magical Bridge Grand Opening is on! On April 18, the community will gather for a celebration of children of all abilities as the playground officially opens to the public. In anticipation, several groups came through last week for sneak previews of the new playground and…
For children, a door can be many things: Protection against the Big Bad Wolf or a howling blizzard. A welcoming entrance to a land where kids rule. A threshold they can control, welcoming friends and banishing enemies. Add in a few play accessories and the door often becomes a focal…
You’ll need both a secret password and solid climbing skills to get into this clubhouse! Start by making your way down the steep hillside with the help of a massive rope. If you’re up for yet another challenge, test out the climbing wall and you’ll end up at an…
Read MoreIs that a play house or the world’s prettiest piece of gym equipment? Where a child sees fun and adventure, many health experts see a path to lifelong physical fitness. And where there are active, moving kids, there is less likelihood of childhood obesity, diabetes, asthma and other ailments. Growing…
We’ve had a fantastic, productive 2014 and we’re looking forward to more adventures next year! For now, cuddle up with some hot chocolate and join us in a virtual tour of our winter wonderland: Though she lives in sunny California now, Barbara is no stranger to cold weather. Here’s the…
Read MoreIt’s rare to see one of our playhouses with a rope and a “Do Not Climb” sign on it, but in this case it’s for a good cause! The Wizard’s Hideout, seen above, is actually on display prior to the 2007 Dreams Happen Gala,…
Read MoreChildren of all abilities will soon have a chance to play in the country’s first fully accessible playground, Palo Alto’s Magical Bridge. To celebrate, we hosted a Studio Tour for the team where we displayed the second story of the playhouse and the stage.
Josie (almost 16 years old now) stopped by our shop last Sunday with her mom, Michelle, to visit her old Garden Playhouse. Josie enjoyed her Barbara Butler Garden Playhouse from age 3 to 15 and then decided to donate it to help raise money for a good cause. Barbara collaborated by throwing her skills at refurbishing and re-creating the playhouse, using reclaimed materials…
Read MoreJoin us at the September 24th fund raising event for Coyote Point Museum!
Barbara’s “Garden Potpourri” playhouse, made from 100% reclaimed materials, will be auctioned to highest bidder!
Read MoreThe Cozy Cabin is our smallest playhouse: perfectly sized for kids ages 1 to 5 years old. It will fit in a corner, on a deck, inside a play room or in the middle of a garden! Young children love to go inside, close the door, open the shutters, slide the “peek-a-boo”, put mail in the mail slot, peek through the cut-outs and then invite you in. It is exactly right for their size.
Back at the shop, Rudi is also working on adding color to the Cozy Cabin, our next project. Here he has just finished staining the Universe “cut-outs” on the back wall (star, moon & planet) and has cut around the carvings with the wall color.
Read MoreWe are about to pack up this playhouse and send it off to NY (along with a treehouse that is going to Southampton).
Read MoreIf you have ever wanted to bid on a Barbara Butler playhouse, then this is your chance! You can now bid on eBay for The Magical Bridge Playhouse, donated by Barbara Butler Artist-Builder Inc.100% of all proceeds from this sale go towards building The Magical Bridge Playground in Palo Alto,…
Read MoreHere are some photos from our new playhouse in Tiburon. I’m calling it Rosefield Cottage because my client loves roses. Soon the roses will be growing up a trellis that will cover the big I-Beams.
