At 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,…
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Built for the lucky two- to five-year-olds that attend The Orinda Preschool, the TOPS treehouse is a secure way for very young children to experience the highest limbs of a tree. In operation since 1938, The Orinda Preschool’s play-based curriculum offers the children copious amounts of self-directed exploration, and what better…
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…
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Is 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…
Located in Woodside, California, Adventure Cottage is our latest custom-built treehouse. What mysteries do these branches hide? Time machines, fairy groves, or perhaps pirates? Follow me into the magical world of childhood and we’ll take a look around. Let’s climb up this ladder and race around the wrap-around porch. I…
Read MoreHere’s the scene: A gorgeous new treehouse sits perched atop a live oak, tucked into a pocket of a lucky kid’s backyard. The colors are crisp; the ladders and secret doors and zip lines stand ready to elicit giggles, shrieks or shouts of joy. While it might appear to a…
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Atherton Treehouse: The goal was to design a play structure that incorporated the trees, tucked into this corner of the yard, that wouldn’t overwhelm but would be big enough for the many grandchildren that visit every year. Barbara’s “stickout” (above) and Artist’s Sketch (below) shows the ultimate design the client’s…
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Barbara’s tree houses were featured in the Insight page of the July Real Estate & Design issue of Hamptons Magazine. The article featured an image her East Hampton Treehouse, designed and built in 2007 and referenced her newest tree house, The Long Island Treehouse, just built and installed in Southampton two months ago.
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FINAL DAY on site!Marco & Will spend the morning adding the play accessories:pulley bucket, rock holds, drop leaf table & 2 drop benches, top secret wall safe, chalkboard, shelf & pegs set, and lots & lots of Long Island road signs! Then break for yoga exercises on the lawn! Meanwhile,…
FINAL DAY on site!Marco & Will spend the morning adding the play accessories:pulley bucket, rock holds, drop leaf table & 2 drop benches, top secret wall safe, chalkboard, shelf & pegs set, and lots & lots of Long Island road signs! Then break for yoga exercises on the lawn! Meanwhile,…
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The guys start out the day digging post holes. adding knee braces… breaking for watermelon (Jeff was hoping to keep it for himself) Laying the deck boards and lifting the walls into place! At dusk, head back in Will’s “Fit” to the very cute little house rented for the week…
INSTALLATION: Day 1 The first day on site for a treehouse installation is all about positioning the girder box followed by the deck frame up in the tree. Placing of the girder box dictates the fit of the treehouse and how well the rest of the installation will go! The…
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In February, Barbara started the design process for this Long Island treehouse: Her first step was to visit the site, meet with her client, brainstorm ideas and help select the tree. Then take lots of photos. Back at the shop, Barbara “painted” the treehouse design directly onto the digital image.…
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Jeff and I went to inventory a pile of cut tree limbs. The client wants us to use the pieces of two trees in creating a new play structure/play area. To get started we numbered, photoed,and measured each limb and trunk. And I sketched each limb too as part of…
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Washington DC 3/1 to 3/4: Jeff and I visit his folks, go to museums and I meet with a new client in Bethesda who wants a tree perch…
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