Three-Story Backyard Treehouse Getaway
A modern three-level treehouse with a pitched roof perches on the remaining branches of a Dutch elm tree as a unique getaway on a family camping retreat. The tree contracted Dutch elm disease, but its trunk was still strong, making it the perfect candidate for this fun and unusual project. Camp Treehouse measures sixteen feet from the ground to the tip of the vaulted ceiling and includes two sleeping lofts, a hammock and lots of charming details.
More a cottage on stilts than a conventional treehouse, Camp Treehouse is a fully enclosed living space made from reclaimed materials, including wood from a dilapidated dairy barn near the property, and from a demolished Chicago bungalow.
One sleeping loft is lined with bookshelves, giving it the feel of a library, while the other puts the beauty of the reclaimed wood on display. Both are accessible via sturdy wooden ladders. A striking chandelier made of antlers found in the woods on the property hangs from the ceiling.
Branches from the tree extend up into the living space to form side tables. Whitewashed wood floors and lots of salvaged windows give it a bright and airy feel. Handmade lanterns made with mason jars dangle down into the open first floor, along with a rope swing. It’s the ultimate cozy and comfortable treehouse getaway, and an ode to the spirit of creative reinvention.
“But the ingenuity doesn’t stop there. Outside, and down below the main floor, David created pendant lights from old mason jars Tereasa found in the basement of one of the buildings on the property. He used some edison bulbs Tereasa picked up at Home Depot, along with some simple lamp kits (adapted with extension cords) to create them… and suspended from the very branch Tereasa’s Dad originally tied it to, the rope swing Tom so lovingly hung for her still blows in the breeze today.”
