The Most Incredible Kids' Tree House You'll Ever See?
Steve and Jeri Wakefield had the idea nine years ago to build an elaborate tree house for their grandsons, Lincoln and Sullivan Scott, in their Dallas backyard. They hired architect and family friend James Curvan to craft a whimsical playhouse with steeply pitched gables, multilevel decks and staircases. To keep pace as their grandsons grew, the Wakefields added exciting upgrades, including a climbing wall, rope ladder, suspension bridge and zip line.
“To make a good tree house, you have to think like a kid and take care of the tree,” Curvan says. A series of steel posts, which Curvan painted the color of bark, support the child-size structure, while a giant pecan tree grows through the house but does not bear any weight. With their grandsons all grown up now, the Wakefields invite children from all over the neighborhood to their tree house mansion to play king or queen for a day.
My second reaction is "I wonder what the impact was to their property taxes?"! Considering the size of this structure, and that it has electricity & air conditioning, this is an "auxiliary structure" on the lot, and needs to meet the zoning & construction codes. It would also have an insurance impact on the homeowners, especially if they invite neighborhood children in to use it.
My third reaction is that there's some benefit & satisfaction to children making things themselves, or working with their parents to create a fantasy play space. While this is obviously gorgeous & lots of fun, it's really nothing a growing child can take pride in having created, and there's a loss in that.
I am not very astute with tools; however I built a playhouse for my daughter approximately 8' x 8' x 8'. Everything about this house is crooked on purpose. I did not include a tree because none of mine were large enough! Still, I am proud of it and the tea parties we have shared in it.
This little playhouse has windows on all sides, including a round one in the gable! It's difficult to see, but even the chimney stack is crooked. The entire house can be lifted off the floor by six strong men and the structure can be moved. It is not a sophisticated electrical system -- simply an extension cord from the house, but it sure lights up all holiday season as Santa's workshop! My daughter decorated almost every inch of interior space with her drawings she made special for "her house".
Though it's a lovely, creative, and very fun structure in which I love many of the well thought out details, it's a bit much for kids.
If you're receiving elaborate gifts like this as a child, instead of working "with" your parents and building something, it's got to have some long term negative consequences on your character, don't you think? I don't know, maybe it's just me... and no offense intended, it's just a little over the top for a kids' "tree house."
1. These are grandparents doing something for their grandchildren. If it's one statement I've heard over the years growing up it's, 'It's the grandparents job to spoil their grandchildren".
2. It doesn't matter who built it. There are thousands of play things that children enjoy that the parents or grandparents will not or cannot build. Are you saying the kids don't enjoy it any way? I had a swing set growing up. My parents didn't build it. Do you think we as kids cared? All we cared about is how much fun we had on the seesaw, the slides and the swings. What about a pool. Are you saying kids can't appreciate the full pleasure of a pool if they didn't help their parents build it?
3. My little cousin was always taking the sofa cushions and bed linens to make his tent-fort. For Christmas I got him one of those pop up tent things that look like a kids version of a hamster maze. He practically lives in it now. He sleeps in it, Eats in it. Plays hide and seek in it. He didn't care that I didn't build it. Or that we lost quality time because I bought it instead of building it together. What he loves is the play time he gets in it. Whether by himself, or with us, or with the other kids from the neighborhood.
You all need to stop being such a killjoy and look at this through the eyes of a child. There are few things kids love more than having their own miniature space to play in. Get over yourselves and let the kids enjoy themselves.
The upper structure - the one the bridge leads to - is resting on adjustable supports bolted to the branches.
The only sad thing about this tree house is that people have to worry about building permits, taxes, and lawsuits. Too bad our society has become so litigious, (is that a word?) that we are afraid to make some magic!
Cheers
Greg
can they give the house and keep their tree.......
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amoderngloThis treehouse could be titled the giving tree. The owners and builder are some of the nicest, most generous people you will ever meet. I am one of their lucky people whose world is brighter because this magical place is not just for the grandkids, it is for a large circle of extended friends and family, old or young, healthy or disabled. This wonderland was built in stages, using lots of recycled materials and with the utmost concern for the safety of the children. James Curvan built a smaller playhouse for my kids, and almost every board used came from the side of the road or the discount culled wood bin at Home Depot. Even though I had just met Jeri Wakefield, she would show up weekly at my house with some great item she found at a thrift store, that would brighten our playhouse. Yes, this treehouse is large...large because the owners and builder have large hearts and just want to keep adding more magic for all who enter.
You can read about the playhouse James built for us on my blog...
http://amodernglo.blogspot.com/2011/10/moving-on-down-road.html
I would love to build this in my backyard and play with my friends in the house
Jo ccv n bb b
V. Dennehy
Houston, TX
Marvelous!
I request you to add English subtitle in all of the Houzz TV. It would be so useful.
Magnificent! And the ones that critisised in any way, Well......... envy does that!
Very nice...
That is such a great idea. Probably one the best play houses I have seen. The idea of taking objects people just want to throw out and making use if it. Art and love was put into this idea. The structure of the tree house is tremendous. Great job.
This is such a great idea!
'TIS GLORIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This tree house makes this grandma want to play in it. Fabulous!