See a Dr. Seuss-Inspired Playhouse Built for Kids
A father hires his architect son to build a whimsical playhouse for the grandkids to enjoy when visiting
It all started at a dinner table, when Richard Fulton proposed to his son, architect Ramsey Fulton, that they build a backyard playhouse for Ramsey’s young children and his siblings’ children to use when they visit their grandparents’ house in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Now, three years later, the finished playhouse stands in the same spot as the playhouse that Ramsey and his siblings had enjoyed when they were young. Inspired by Dr. Seuss and all things kid-based, it includes features such as a rope swing, a fire pole and even a room sized just for kids.
Now, three years later, the finished playhouse stands in the same spot as the playhouse that Ramsey and his siblings had enjoyed when they were young. Inspired by Dr. Seuss and all things kid-based, it includes features such as a rope swing, a fire pole and even a room sized just for kids.
This image of the south elevation shows the main room of the playhouse on the left with the low-ceilinged kids-only room on the right.
Playhouse design tenets. Richard hired Ramsey to draw up plans for the playhouse and oversee the project. Together they laid out the ground rules and an overall design philosophy. Ramsey describes their design tenets as follows:
Playhouse design tenets. Richard hired Ramsey to draw up plans for the playhouse and oversee the project. Together they laid out the ground rules and an overall design philosophy. Ramsey describes their design tenets as follows:
- Have fun and don’t get too serious.
- If something seems like it belongs in a Dr. Seuss book, they’re on the right track.
- Design the playhouse for children, not for adults.
- Make the playhouse feel like an extension of the yard.
The site. Ramsey built the new playhouse on the same site that the original playhouse had occupied. The site’s gentle slope provided an opportunity to create a stairstepped, two-level structure built into the hillside and offered an easy access point for what would become a roof deck.
The new playhouse was designed to face west — just as the original had been — to look down the slope, awarding views of an open meadow at the edge of the property and a perfect sunset view.
The new playhouse was designed to face west — just as the original had been — to look down the slope, awarding views of an open meadow at the edge of the property and a perfect sunset view.
This progress shot shows the completed frame and floor of the main structure. The interior, half of the exterior shingle siding and the railings for the roof deck have not yet been added.
Construction. After removing the old playhouse and clearing back shrubs and low-hanging tree limbs, Ramsey and the team at Keystone Custom Builders began constructing the new playhouse. “The building is held up much like a typical deck,” Ramsey says. Specifically, the structure sits on four-by-four posts set into inground concrete tubes. The posts have typical construction hangers that anchor them into floors, beams and walls. In all, the project took a little over one summer to complete.
Construction. After removing the old playhouse and clearing back shrubs and low-hanging tree limbs, Ramsey and the team at Keystone Custom Builders began constructing the new playhouse. “The building is held up much like a typical deck,” Ramsey says. Specifically, the structure sits on four-by-four posts set into inground concrete tubes. The posts have typical construction hangers that anchor them into floors, beams and walls. In all, the project took a little over one summer to complete.
After. The completed design features a 1½-story structure with loads of kid-friendly features to inspire active play, including a ladder and rope swing, and a fire pole for sliding from the roof deck into the low-ceilinged kids’ room.
The roof deck is a relaxing space where the adults can enjoy the surrounding views while the children play in and around the structure below.
The roof deck is a relaxing space where the adults can enjoy the surrounding views while the children play in and around the structure below.
Exterior materials. On the south side of the building, a Trex (composite timber) deck leads to the main entrance. Ramsey and the construction team finished the exterior siding with hand-split western red cedar shakes arranged in what is called a staggered butt application. Corrugated metal panels make up the roof.
Seussian details. The off-pitch roof, canted walls, crooked windows and irregular shake pattern make this playhouse seem as though it’s straight out of Seuss’ Whoville. Like many of the settings in Dr. Seuss’ books, “it’s a place that says, ‘Why not?’ and invites imaginary thought,” Ramsey says.
Seussian details. The off-pitch roof, canted walls, crooked windows and irregular shake pattern make this playhouse seem as though it’s straight out of Seuss’ Whoville. Like many of the settings in Dr. Seuss’ books, “it’s a place that says, ‘Why not?’ and invites imaginary thought,” Ramsey says.
Ramsey’s daughter Perry, then age 4, peeks out a crooked window in the main room of the playhouse.
Interior. The playhouse is made up of two rooms: an 8-by-8-foot main room and a 5-by-8-foot kids-only room with 4-foot ceilings. Kids enter from the deck into the larger main room, and then they can hop up into the smaller, kids-only zone (which also has a kid-size exterior door).
Ramsey and the team finished the interior walls with cedar-veneered plywood and laid down a Marmoleum floor. The playhouse is set up with outlets and lights (handy for sleepovers). The space is not insulated or heated, but the kids enjoy using it for three seasons a year, Ramsey says, leaving their jackets on inside in late fall.
Floor: Marmoleum Striato in Colour Stream, Forbo
Interior. The playhouse is made up of two rooms: an 8-by-8-foot main room and a 5-by-8-foot kids-only room with 4-foot ceilings. Kids enter from the deck into the larger main room, and then they can hop up into the smaller, kids-only zone (which also has a kid-size exterior door).
Ramsey and the team finished the interior walls with cedar-veneered plywood and laid down a Marmoleum floor. The playhouse is set up with outlets and lights (handy for sleepovers). The space is not insulated or heated, but the kids enjoy using it for three seasons a year, Ramsey says, leaving their jackets on inside in late fall.
Floor: Marmoleum Striato in Colour Stream, Forbo
Ramsey’s son Christopher (then 2 years old) enters through a kid-size door into the smaller of the two rooms.
Kids-only zone. “The windows, doors, doorknobs and ceilings are at kid level,” Ramsey says of the kids-only room. “It makes adults feel out of sorts, as children do in adult spaces.”
The design of this little room came about half by concept and half by necessity. The space sits below the roof deck and, given the natural grade of the slope, there wasn’t enough room for a full-size second story without major grading or losing the bridge to the roof deck.
In the future, as the kids get taller, the space could be used as a sleeping nook for summer overnights.
Kids-only zone. “The windows, doors, doorknobs and ceilings are at kid level,” Ramsey says of the kids-only room. “It makes adults feel out of sorts, as children do in adult spaces.”
The design of this little room came about half by concept and half by necessity. The space sits below the roof deck and, given the natural grade of the slope, there wasn’t enough room for a full-size second story without major grading or losing the bridge to the roof deck.
In the future, as the kids get taller, the space could be used as a sleeping nook for summer overnights.
Challenges. Keeping the footprint small and kid-friendly was one of the biggest challenges. Ramsey says, “With so much crammed into a small space, it became difficult to make it all work together.”
The nonstandard construction was another challenge. “Getting the team at Keystone Custom Builders to understand that we didn’t want things to be finished and square, as they were used to doing, was a challenge,” Ramsey says, “but once they had the message, it was a breeze.”
The nonstandard construction was another challenge. “Getting the team at Keystone Custom Builders to understand that we didn’t want things to be finished and square, as they were used to doing, was a challenge,” Ramsey says, “but once they had the message, it was a breeze.”
Three years after the playhouse was built, “the kids still love it,” Ramsey says. “On any given afternoon or at family gatherings, you will find young cousins playing and sharing this little home.”
Construction: Keystone Custom Builders
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Who plays here: Ramsey Fulton’s children, Christopher (age 2 when the playhouse was built, now 5) and Perry (4 then, 7 now), and the young children of Ramsey’s two brothers and sister
Location: Grand Junction, Colorado
Size: About 100 square feet (9.3 square meters) total; 64-square-foot (5.9-square-meter) entry room and, upstairs, a 40-square-foot (3.7-square-meter) kids-only room
Designer: Ramsey Fulton, principal architect at Bldg Seed Architects, with inspiration from his childhood playhouse that his father, Richard Fulton, designed