Uploads from peacemakertreehouses, tagged retreat

Upper rear window view, down

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:57:26 -0700

Just a wonderful peek at the warm mood the tree and rear entry combine to create on the rear deck. Of course, it's also a great way to know who's coming and going.

Skylight double feature

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:55:46 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

One of the things that treehouse design pioneer Pete Nelson always reminds his colleagues is to make sure there's lots of glass in every treehouse. What's the point of being up in a tree if the view looks like the inside of any box? This skylight, in the roof just outside the entrance to the second-story sleeping loft, offers a skyward glance at the host tree when viewed from the floor, and a ready view of the house and yard when looked at from the second floor.

Extra strength 3

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:56:34 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

A little steel can go a long way toward adding stiffness where needed. Here, a wall had to be cut in the field when a leaning trunk demanded the room. The building yielded the room, as it should, and then the steel gave the wall back its strength.

Upper rear window view, out

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:56:58 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

A second-story sleeping loft adds a new perspective to the rear view. This window also is one of the most visited by curious wildlife.

Extra strength 2

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:54:03 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

As always, happiness is in the details. Here, the posts are secured with half-inch galvanized bolts and three-inch structural washers. That simple setup far exceeds recommended design strength for deck rail posts, and keep this designer sleeping well at night.

Final thought

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:58:02 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

Opening the rear window at the end of the main first-floor room offers a close-up of a black willow trunk and a glimpse of the rear deck, pond and woods in the distance. Treehouse lovers, and all treehouse builders fall into this category, live for creating this space in the branches. It's hard to imagine a better way to shake off the worries of ground life and return to the peace that's built into all of us. My thanks to the ladies who commissioned this treehouse, and to all of you for coming along for the journey.

Up to the loft

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:54:35 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

The custom-made double-rung ladder that leads to the sleeping loft hooks to an iron pipe that doubles as a guard rail for people upstairs. The ladder can easily be picked up and moved to another pipe along the wall at right for out-of-the-way storage.

Upper front view

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:55:12 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

Different windows have different missions and get different designs. The lower window, tucked inside the porch roof, offers a glimpse of anyone coming up the stairs to the front door to those napping away in the sleeping loft. It also rocks in to help keep the breeze coming. The big faux double window at left is all about the view, but since it has nothing under it until the ground starts 25 feet or so below, this is one solid unit that does not open.

Sleeping loft toward rear

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:54:51 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

This loft was designed for the ladies who will use it. A 6-foot-tall builder can carefully walk down the middle, but the 5-foot-3-inch writers who will occupy the space enjoy a full hall-width space to travel upright under the peak. The space is sized to be perfect for a futon, a small table, a small dresser and a lamp.

Extra strength 4

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:57:43 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

In many ways, small inexpensive details can make all the difference in overall quality and strength. Here the largest wall in the structure includes two sections of Simpson metal let-in bracing. Together with the plywood sheathing, the bracing helps stiffen the walls without adding excessive weight, both good things when you're up among the wind in the willows.

Loft looking down

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:56:04 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

This is just a wonderful view -- looking down from the second-story sleeping loft to the first-floor sitout and rear door foyer below. Lots of light and interesting spaces everywhere.

Extra strength 1

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:53:37 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

Treehouses face wind forces normally found only come late summertime in the Florida keys. Reinforcing key joints means everything stays in place.

Bumped out

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:50:07 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

When building in a tree, you take what the host will give you. Here, some leaning trunks cleared a little extra room for the second floor to extend 18-inches beyond the first.

Rear deck looking west

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:51:02 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

Although not as deep as the section behind the main room of the first floor, the added deck space made possible by Charlie Greenwood's double-girder innovation creates another place to discover when you're up for a visit.

Rear deck, looking out

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:53:09 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

To a person, every adolescent male who stands in this spot asks, "how deep is the pond?" So far, no one has jumped.

Passing through 3

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:51:54 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

The rake end at the rear of the sleeping loft is notched to allow a trunk ample right of way. In return, the branches have created a shimmering green canopy for all deck dwellers. A great deal for all.

Sitout from deck

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:52:40 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

Just a nice interplay of color, textures and dimensions. Even a veteran designer gets surprised some times by the way things come together.

Splitting the uprights

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:50:29 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

It's great when the math works. The end of the deck on this side was determined by where a 42-inch high, 2-by-6-inch top rail could pass through the split in this trunk without hitting either side. Nothing but subtraction, with a little three-dimensional geometry tossed in, but it still adds up to an ounce of magic.

Looking inside

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:51:26 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

With the back of the treehouse coming across on two planes, and the door living in the connecting section, the structure combines with the trunks to create a courtyard feel.

Extra strength 5

nobody@flickr.com (peacemakertreehouses) — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:49:12 -0700

peacemakertreehouses posted a photo:

All the first-floor walls were built on the ground, and then raised and assembled in the tree. To keep things tight and straight, all the walls are bolted together, in addition to the high-strength screws that bind them to each other and the platform. Makes for a stiff box, which makes for a safer space.