Treehouse

Featuring beautiful images and a lyrical text with an exquisitely readable cadence, this book gives life and meaning to all the requisite elements of a treehouse, from time, timber, and rafters to ropes of twisted twine that invite visitors to sprawl out on a limb and slide back down again. For anyone who's ever wanted to escape real life and live in a nostalgic dream come true, this poignant picture book captures the universal timelessness of treehouses and celebrates all the creativity and adventure they spark.

It seems that almost everyone likes treehouses. Smiles of recognition turn into grins of enthusiasm as more people discover them and dream about making their own private retreats or family play spaces. And it's nice to remind ourselves that treehouses are built into the oldest and most forgiving, living things on earth. Also, history records treehouses as being built as deliberate follies, as challenges for arboreal designers, for merrymaking, and for keeping the spirit of fairy tales alive. But treehouses can also be social places. We will visit many that were built to entertain, to hang out with friends, or as guest houses. Trees come in all types. Master treehouse builders Peter and Judy Nelson, with David Larkin, have embarked on yet another treehouse-discovery expedition across America, this time adding the investigation of backyard playhouses to their agenda. Now, in The Treehouse Book, they reveal their findings, illustrated and described in the most complete volume yet. From casual treeshacks made from discarded lumber to multitiered feats of fancy, they found shelters representing myriad builders--interesting characters ranging from childhood fanatics grown up, to weekend carpenters, to those who want their grandkids to have the best clubhouse on the block. Detailed how-to information, including plans and drawings, is woven with behind-the-scenes tales of each structure's occupants and stunning interior and exterior photographic exploration.

The Treehouse Book is a global round-up of the best in modern treehouse living. Tree houses have come of age. The image of a few planks nailed into the branches of a tree has changed into a new generation of specially designed and built structures, suitable as a playhouse, a study, or even a guestroom. Totally inhabitable and filled with designer furniture, plumbing, and electronic wizardry, the twenty tree houses featured in this book are to be admired, dreamed about, and even built. Featuring spectacular photography of exteriors set up among the trees, and interior shots that offer design ideas for living the “high” life, The Treehouse Book offers a fairy tale castle, a thatched cottage, a complete hotel, and much more. Each project was designed using computer technology and built using sustainable materials to create structures that only seem like fantasy. Each is cleverly fitted to the chosen trees, avoiding long-term damage to these remarkable structures. With a section on plans and building techniques to help the competent reader design and build a fabulous tree house for him or herself, The Treehouse Book will inspire everyone to dream about what life would be like leaving all cares and worries behind and below. From basic cabins suspended in the trees, to the unbelievable "High-Tech Hideaway," The Treehouse Book may inspire us to commission the retreat of our dreams ... or to get out the hammer and nails!

A guide from the premier treehouse designer: “Stunning photos of fanciful houses . . . To browse through Nelson’s book is to fantasize about life in midair.” —The Washington Post Book World The host of Animal Planet’s Treehouse Masters and the world’s best-known treehouse designer and builder, Pete Nelsonwants to put you in a tree. His motto: “Get ’er done, so you can BE in a TREE.” With this book he provides a comprehensive source of inspiration and practical information about treehouse design and construction, and shares the basics of treehouse construction with his own recent projects as case studies. Using photographs taken especially for this project along with diagrams, he covers the selection and care of trees, and explains the fundamentals of building treehouse platforms. To ignite the imagination, Nelson presents twenty-seven treehouses in the United States, Europe, and Africa. It’s an indispensable handbook for anyone who aspires to have a treehouse, from the armchair dreamer to the amateur builder to the professional contractor.

Many of us dream of owning a treehouse, whether it's a tree fort or playhouse for the children, a secret retreat or just a unique space for relaxing and reconnecting with nature. This book is a comprehensive guide to designing and building your perfect treehouse. Beautifully illustrated, and written by a professional treehouse builder, the book explains how you select the right tree, which materials and tools to use, and how to construct the platform, walls, floor and roof. For anyone wanting to be more ambitious, there are options for installing special features such as ladders, slides and climbing walls.

The touching story of "The Adventures of a Group of Friends in a Treehouse" will warm your heart. It's about a trip through time and the power of friendship that lasts forever. Sarah, Sam, Lily, Ben, and Mia are the five friends who are at the center of the story. It is in a quiet neighborhood surrounded by hills with gentle slopes and a river. Their adventures center around the magical tree house that is hidden among the plants and birds that live in a tall oak tree. The treehouse is full of surprises and new things to find thanks to its hardwood floors, big windows, and Sam's time-traveling remote control. Everyone in the group of buddies has their own unique set of skills and hobbies. Ben thinks things through analytically, Mia is a great artist, Lily tells interesting stories, Sam is a creative mind, and Sarah is a brave leader. They go on trips through time and history that take them from ancient Egypt to the Wild West and even into the far future. They learn important lessons about empathy, how to make a good difference in other people's lives, and how to protect the environment while they're traveling. These lessons help them make choices and guide their actions as they try to figure out the mysteries of time and history. As they travel, their friendship gets stronger, and their treehouse comes to represent how strong their bond is. It's possible for them to be there, follow their dreams, and change history one trip at a time. As the seasons change and the friends get bigger, their adventures also change. As they visit historical sites, talk to famous people, and travel to fantastical places, they use the lessons they've learned along the way. Their treehouse is a safe place to be, a source of peace and inspiration, and every day it reminds them of how magical it is to explore with a friend. Friends know that their adventures will never end because they always have their handy remote that lets them go back in time. They honor the thrill of finding, the beauty of difference, and the strength of friendship that lasts a lifetime. At the end of the story, the friends raise a toast to the new things they're about to do, ready to face the unknown, deal with problems, and keep enjoying their great trip. "The Adventures of a Group of Friends in a Treehouse" is a touching story that shows how important friendship is, how exciting it is to find something new, and how lasting the effects of shared experiences can be. This is how the story starts: A big oak tree used to stand in a quiet neighborhood surrounded by hills and a river that meandered. It had branches that reached the sky, and a wonderful woodland refuge was hidden above ground among the plants and birds that lived there. This one-of-a-kind refuge wasn't just any building; it was the center of endless adventures and loyal friendships. The small town that loved this mysterious oak tree was a peaceful place to be. The gentle slopes of the hills around the town added to its rural beauty, making the scenery look like a lush tapestry that is always changing. The winding river that flows through the middle of the town tells stories about exciting things that are about to happen. The huge oak tree watched over the beauty of nature and was a tribute to the careful creation of time. The wind and rain had twisted and broken its branches, but they still looked beautiful as they reached for the blue sky above. Under the lush plants and the pleasant sound of birds chirping, a mysterious forest retreat stayed hidden. This beautiful treehouse was covered by a canopy that made it look even more beautiful. This wasn't just any treehouse; it was a world where magic never ended, and friendship never broke. It was a paradise for people with unrestrained curiosity and innocent dreams. Friendships and ideas lived together happily there. The friends who lived in this amazing treehouse were as different as the colors of the land around them. Sarah was their brave boss, and she was excited to take on new challenges and go on fun trips. As the group's master creator, Sam could make amazing things out of the simplest materials. Lily, the entertainer in their neighborhood, was always interested in new things and could make up stories that took them to other places. Ben, who was always sensible, helped them stay grounded when their dreams got too high. Mia, the amazing artist, used her creativity to make something common and very interesting. On a beautiful morning, the friends got together in their favorite treehouse, which was bathed in warm golden sunlight. With sharp eyes, Sam showed off a new idea he had worked on. He had a small, bright gadget under his arm that had dials, buttons, and a screen that flashed. "What marvel have you made, Sam?" Lily asked, the strange object piqued her interest. With a big grin on his face, Sam said, "Behold, my friends, a time-traveling remote! With this ingenious creation, we can embark on temporal voyages through history itself, all while ensconced within the comforts of our cherished treehouse."

Provides instructions and plans for fifty projects for parents and children to build together, including a swinging treehouse, a model sailboat, and a totem pole.