The greatest gift of this season is undoubtedly spending time with family. However, a close second is the privilege of doing inspiring, fulfilling work surrounded by a creative and fun-loving crew. In this picture from 2004, Barbara and Suzy are playing the part of holiday elves hiding amongst a crop…
Read MoreMeet James Butler: an owner of Barbara Butler, Artist/Builder, big brother to Barbara and a key player in the day-to-day operations of the company. Originally a general contractor, James is currently the resident AutoCAD Wizard.
Read MoreSure, kids love to climb, but is it really that important? After all, they love staring at screens, too, and the jury is still out on whether that’s good for them. Turns out, young growing bodies are made to pull, grasp and leap and spending enough time on these activities…
Read MoreEvery Thanksgiving, the Butler clan gathers for a family dinner in the small California town of Sebastapol. Here they are in 2014, celebrating with good food, conversation and red wine. (Absent are James, Patty and Eileen, who weren’t able to make it that year.)A table massive enough to accommodate the…
Read MoreWith 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 MoreJoin us in the time machine as we journey back… The year is 2004. The place is Perched Playhouse. Two sisters are testing out their brand-new play structure for the first time. Their tour begins with a stint on the swings with an assist from Barbara. Next up for the…
Read MoreThe most engaging play spaces? Ones that give kids options. Distinct areas for different kinds of play are key. One benefit of multifaceted structures is that they help integrate a wide range of personalities, from the bookish introvert living next door to the high-energy cousin who can climb anything. Another plus: they are welcoming…
Read MoreThis lovely little Cape Codder looks brand new, but it is actually a used playhouse that we refurbished for a new family to enjoy. Originally a white stand-alone cottage, this well-loved playhouse was ready for a new home as the children morphed into gangly teens. Luckily, another young family was in…
Read MoreAt this point in the calendar, there are only ten weekends until Christmas. But before we surrender the remainder of the year to a mad rush of festivities, let’s take a moment to savor the season we’re in right now. Shifting temperatures, shorter days and golden leaves… Even if it…
Once the design process and stick-out is complete, it’s time to head back to the shop for the fabrication process. Alongside stacks of sustainably grown redwood lumber, a playhouse begins to take shape. Our structures are designed to be built in flat panels, making them easier to transport to site.…
Read MoreHere’s the scenario: You’ve come up with the perfect design for a fort encompassing two trees. Mom’s on board. Dad’s on board. The kids are beside themselves with excitement. Now comes the tricky part. To speed up the installation process, you’ll be building most of the components in your shop…
Magical Bridge, a uniquely inclusive playground for people of all abilities, has been open for several months now and it’s still a thrill to stop by and see it swarming with so many kids! With such a multitudes of visitors, however, our swinging bridge to the slide mound was creating…
Read MoreAfter bringing you photos of the stick-out and the fabrication at our shop, we are thrilled to unveil the finished Pasadena Playhouse! Above, the installation process is distilled into two action-packed minutes. Looking just as majestic as we’d envisioned in the design process, this regal playhouse sits high above the…
Read MoreAfter witnessing countless shrieks of laughter, games of chase and secret clubhouse meetings, some playhouses are the worse for wear. Luckily, sustainable redwood lumber can stand up to the strains of time, and needs only a new coat of stain to look good as new again. When kids are grown…
Read MoreTake a peek at our shop wall and you’ll see that we love signs. “Adults Keep Out is one of my favorites because everyone should become a kid again when they enter the clubhouse!” laughs Barbara. “I design the structures to hold kids and big kids but adults should keep out!” …
The whole Barbara Butler Artist, Builder team contributes to the finished goal of a beautiful new treehouse or play structure. This week we’re taking a closer look at the role of our Artist and Master Stainer, Rudi Verhoeven. For over 11 years, Rudi’s talents have beautified our playhouses. Here he…
Read MoreWith the return to school right around the corner, you might be mourning the loss of outdoor time and free play — and not just for your kids! However, there are simple ways to incorporate playful learning into your fall schedule.A treehouse-mounted blackboard works for practicing sums or spelling words.…
Read MoreThe old carpentry adage “Measure twice, cut once“ is particularly applicable when you are building a treehouse around irregularly shaped trunks. For this Healdsburg project, we head out to a gorgeous grove of redwoods to get initial measurements to work with during the design process. The super precise stick-out won’t happen until later in the process, after design plans have been finalized.
The life of an artist/builder is part work, part play and 100% creative activity. Barbara’s workday begins at the shop, where she confers with the various members of her team and moves each project ahead. …
Read MoreThis month’s issue of Play and Playground Magazine focuses on accessible playgrounds with a spotlight on Magical Bridge in Palo Alto, a uniquely welcoming playground to visitors of all abilities. We’ve been involved in this project from the get-go (read more here and here) and we’re thrilled at the lovely write-up by Jay Beckwith.…
