Here’s a new design I’m hoping to build. I use the caveman program PAINT to draw my ideas right on the photo. I like the restrictions of the Paint program – not very many choices, can only undo about 7 steps, makes me feel like a kid!
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Every spring & summer, when there are “holes” in our build/install schedule, our crew goes out and refurbishes some older ones. It is amazing how resilient redwood is.
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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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We’ve done tons of ziplines and I never get tired of them! Each one presents a different challenge because the trees, the distance and the slope are always different. My ideal backyard zip line ride goes between two trees and involves jumping off of a tree perch to start the ride.
Hooray! Plans have been approved for me to start building a Rustic Treefort, using old logs as well as our usual redwood lumber. Here’s my sketch of what we’ll be making:
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The crew returned on Friday to finish the details, pack up all of our tools & materials, and apply a final coat of tung-oil to the play structure. We were right on schedule and just in time – the client was having a huge party with 150 guests on Saturday to celebrate the 4th of July.
It takes strength, agility and team work to put a roof up on a 2-story play set. Barbara, the overseer (and also referred to as the “clucker”) documented the process with her camera while keeping watch and making sure all went safely & smoothly…
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.
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Barbara forgot to download the site images from yesterday’s install, so here are a couple of shop pictures instead. The client had a last minute request for a Pirate’s Wall Cupboard with “crossed swords”.
Back on site early the next morning the crew enjoys the beautiful view, then gets to work adding the corner Slide Deck to the Big Deck. Barbara is standing up the hill, amongst the trees, to take this photo:
Castle Play Structure: Everything is built and the site is ready! Barbara does a quick layout inside the newly graded space to verify that the play structure, with appropriate Use Zone, will still fit…
The Barbara Butler crew of Play Professionals packed up the truck this morning and drove to site. Hot, hot day for carting heavy pieces up a hill and digging post holes- pics tomorrow!
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Good Morning! Barbara likes to start her day with a cup of coffee from Atlas, favorite cafe in the San Francisco Mission district.Followed by a hug with husband Jeff while discussing business…Married over 18 years, they still love to work, live & play together. Barbara’s nephew, Tym, gave her a…
The entire Play Set will be packed up Monday morning and transported to site for installation. The end of this past week was all about the details: Aubrey adds professional Rock Climbing Holds to the Princess Tower walls: Marco hangs doors and shutters & glues the long screws into the…
After a week on site installing the Long Island treehouse, this is Barbara’s 1st day back at the shop.
1st order of business is to walk her dog, Daisy, who is really happy to have Barbara back! Daisy (a rescue from the Ridgeback society) is half Rhodesian Ridgeback and half unknown – maybe German Shepard.
Good news. Rudi came in this morning and announced that he passed the interview. He has been “recommended for approval”. Now he is just waiting to receive notification of the final decision and then he will be sworn in at the ceremony to become a US citizen.
Congratulations Rudi!
Barbara received the following email comments from our Long Island Treehouse client: A huge hit (Grand slam) my daughter Screamed and my son looked up in awe. Couldn’t get them out last night until dark then they got a little spooked and shut it down for the evening. At first…
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Remember Castle Play Structure? While Barbara and crew were in Southampton last week installing the Long Island Treehouse, the guys were back at the shop in South San Francisco building this large, intricate Castle Play Structure.
To the great dads that have actively enjoyed their Barbara Butler tree house and/or play structure with their kids over the past 25 years!