The Treehouse Book

by Judy Nelson, Peter Nelson, David Larkin

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 welcome 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 explorations.

Genres: Nonfiction, Architecture, Photography, Art, Reference, Nature, Travel

224 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 2000

Reviews

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolute delight! The authors toured America to locate treehouses and the people that built them for the people that love them! This is the kind of book I shall read again and again. The photography is unbelievable and beautifully done. The photography is unbelievable to me as it shows the many varying styles of treehouses for adults and children. I am amazed and jealous as I would love to have one especially with running water, hot and cold, bathing facilities, plumbing, and lights! There are so many different designs that it is mind-boggling. Congratulations to all who took a dream and made it come true!

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Treehouses are not just for children. This is a beautiful book with gorgeous photos.

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though the authors offer some pointers for building treehouses (have an arborist check your trees; though the canonical tree house is built in/around a single tree, a cluster of 4 smaller trees, one for each corner, will work as well; puncturing the bark with a bolt or screw is actually better than running cable around the limb; make sure to allow for tree growth and movement), this is mostly a 'concept' book, with 2-4 page spreads of photos of different treehouses. Focusing primarily on homes and vacation spaces, with some offices, and some playspaces, it suffered in my estimation from my just having read Microshelters: 59 Creative Cabins, Tiny Houses, Tree Houses, and Other Small Structures which did a better job showing buildings and their features in such short bursts. To me, the best part of the book was the section showing playhouses, forts and 'tree houses' by Barbara Butler, but those and more can also be seen on her website (http://barbarabutler.com/).

A quick book for large-scale dreaming, but not a how-to, and since most photos are of exteriors, often obscured by distance and foliage, there are better examples for getting design ideas.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable book showing a variety of treehouses that people really live in as well as some designs that catastrophically failed. I skipped the twenty-page section on children's playhouses (built on the ground)..didn't really fit with the rest of the book.

[DDog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting little book chock full of photographs of treehouses. And now I want one. Lots of eye-candy. Only drawback is all the treehouses in the book were built by one company; I would've liked to see more variety in the type, builders, and era.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure one can (should) actually rate a book like this. I'm a bit odd and would love to have a vacation tree house. Therefore, I really enjoyed this book and have owned it for years. If you're not into tree houses, I suppose this book is not for you.

[Alissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone who likes treehouses and treehouse offices. There are some really cool stories in here about peeps who have built treehouses.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Tarzan. Me Jane. Great book to dream in.

[Jason Manley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking through this coffee table book will fill your head with grand fantasies of dropping everything to live in a hand-crafted house at the top of a redwood tree.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great pictures and tree house dreaming or planning ideas. Loving the treehouse cottage and office ideas!

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to look at and oggle.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haven't we all wanted to live in a treehouse at some time in our lives? Some of these are actual houses....others are playhouses. Gorgeous eye-candy.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Treehouses represent a return to innocence. They can be refreshingly antisocial... a place of one's own."

[Jenna Parmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun. Makes you dream about building your own treehouse retreat.

[Linda West · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just beautiful! I want to build a treehouse someday and this is in my keeper book for that time!

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years ag, I used to watch Treehouse Masters and was fascinated at all of the work that went into building a treehouse. When we are kids, it's talking a few pieces of wood, a hammer and dozens of nails to keep those boards attached to the tree and viola! a treehouse. Likely smaller and certainly less safe than some hunting tree stands.

But times have changed and adults - with fond memories of their youthful dreams - want a treehouse on their property. Perhaps as an office space. Perhaps a place where the grandkids can play or even serve as a guesthouse. And then there is the place to unwind.

This book is less about building a treehouse - although he does go into the best type of trees to use along with safe ways to bolt the floor and supports to the tree itself - and more about looking at several gorgeous houses out in the trees across the U.S. Even Hawaii. From dozens of feet in the air to only a couple of feet and with some of the children's playhouses, right on the ground. Working with a trained arborist in order to not inflict permanent damage on the living tree. Working with local government building inspectors in order to not run into problems after all the work is done.

Lavishly illustrated. Just be careful that looking through it doesn't reignite any personal childhood dreams of a treehouse in the woods. They can be pretty-pricy as they can have multiple levels, elaborate interior design, decks, various access route to the cabin in the air from ladders to ramps and elevators too, along with heating, electrical and plumbing (do check with your local government agencies on those additions)

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[Ralda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Steve Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read before you start on your own tree house. Easy read, with some finer points to address in your build project.

[Maggie]

dream house.

[Kimberley Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it...good pics!

[Kuyacarlo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars for the pictures!

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tree house people are strange.

[Simone Vd stadt beaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of pictures of existing tree houses as well as some instructions on how to build your own and what to look out for.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

skimmed through this, but mostly got it for the good photos of cool treehouses