A playhouse made from old books!? HUNDREDS OF 'EM!

This one really needs no explanation. With printed books, sadly, going semi-obsolete, here's one thing you can do with them- make 'em into a kids playhouse or tiny (INDOOR) house! -Just make sure you have strong floor joists, as I can't imagine what this many books would weigh! I'd guess they're held together with drilled holes for rebar, or at least glued- if this were to collapse on a child, it just may ruin his/her, and YOUR, day.

 -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

A Swedish Playhouse/Greenhouse- Sun Room....

Here's another photo that was sent in. This one's kind of cool in a sparse and modern way, but it'd be hellishly hot in the summer sun. Also, if you're going to make something like this for clubhouse or kid use, don't use real glass if you can help it- its dangerous, especially when used EVERYWHERE like this structure.

"The Wedgie" A super simple, scrap cedar fort/playhouse!

This was made with some nice little scraps of cedar I had. There's a small door on the side, a hole/window to crawl through, tiny triangular window, and the back side is open so as to keep it lightweight and to save wood. Shown is a kid of a neighbor that had me build this for 'em. This fort/clubhouse (for indoor AND outdoor use) is basically a big ole triangular shelter, or a "WEDGE" shaped hut- hence the goofy name.....

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My book.... Was Amazon's #1 Kid's Fort/Idea/Carpentry book for 14 weeks! 
Its a concept/idea/sketch/photo/weird-shelter collection....

 -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

A Mock Shipping Container Kid's Fort Concept (Tree House?)

A photo of a sculpture I took while in Chicago- it would make for a GREAT n' funky tree house or mini shipping container-looking fort for kids! Just screen it in and add a door....

MORE PHOTOS can be seen on my other blog Relaxshacks.com- CLICK HERE

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My book.... Was Amazon's #1 Kid's Fort/Idea/Carpentry book for 14 weeks! 

 -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

A great beachside tree house in Scituate, MA

So simple- its not even painted, just bare plywood- but what a great little fort/playhouse this one is! Its in Scituate, MA, and I just happened to be driving by it one day when I had my camera. Below, it a better shot showing how great the tree and locale area- one street from a beach, and backed up to some woods/a marsh.

 -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Tiny Hobbit Huts/Forts in Maine- A Postcard Picture

I toured these over the past summer and have a video walk-through coming out soon on Make Magazine's site/blog- part of my "Tiny Yellow House" show on youtube that I host/produce/direct, and often film too!
Wooden-Wonders, in Unity Maine, builds these lil' shelters, in the J.R.R. Tolkein-fashion, in several sizes and styles, ranging from full-out cottage, to micro-sized chicken coops! They do great work, and you'll be seeing more from them soon on this very blog. www.wooden-wonders.com for more info. I took this shot when visiting them, as well as the one below... 

I'd love to see one of these as a tree house/tree fort at some point.... just built a fitting platform and raise one into place.

 -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Paint Can Lid Siding for your clubhouse/fort/tree house

I posted on this more extensively over on my other blog www.Relaxshacks.com, as I'm pretty addicted, and involved with salvage-material building- especially when it comes to building clubhouses, tree forts, and shed offices on a budget. This is a great/simple idea (my favorite kind!) and uses saved paint can lids as effective, and decorative siding for a kid's play space. The window box is even made from re-used vegetable cans! Very clever AND fun! The brightly colored trim also adds a large whimsical and attractive element to this little shack as well!

 -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

An A-frame Fishing Shack in Iceland, as a Kid's Fort?

From Iceland! Its a fishing shack/hut. but if you look at the VERY simple lines and construction of it, it would make for a great budget, low-skill, kid's fort, clubhouse, shed, or even a tree house! Basically its a lopsided A-frame, and while A's aren't so space efficient on the interior because of their sloping roofs, they are simple to build, and GREAT in areas with heavy snow loads. I love the look of them too!

I have a few A-frame concepts in my book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks"....including a pretty wild UPSIDE-DOWN A-frame.

 -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

A Pine Bough Tee Pee/Wigwam Fort for kids....

File under: Kid's Teepee/Wigwam. I don't know who made this, but I've seen it online a few times now. Whatever the case, its a fun little temporary fort/shelter structure for play. My only suggestion, I wouldn't build something like this so close to a campfire....when the thing dries out over time, and floating embers or sparks land on it- WATCH OUT! The Christmas-lights are a nice, simple, affordable, touch too, and something that every little fort or playhouse seems to benefit by- light AND decoration, all in one.

For more on fort, playhouse, tree house, tiny house, and shed conversion designs and concepts, check out my book...

 -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Lucy Marr's Greenhouse/Hot House/Playhouse Cabin....

Check this one out! Its a playhouse, but one that can also be used as a greenhouse of "hot house" either now, or when the kids outgrow it, AND, its made from a slew of salvaged and recycled windows! ALTHOUGH- with kid's playhouses, forts, and tree houses, be careful with the use of REAL glass windows, and keep in mind that older ones may have lead paint and asbestos glazing. In many cases, if the putty work and paint is intact, a quick coat of paint or two over all will help and seal in the old paint, but still, be wary of old windows.

 -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

A tree fort playhouse in a bedroom/closet

A tree house/tree fort in a bedroom hallway, or closet? I can't really tell which, but its a great little addition to a kid's bedroom, and one that would not only be easy to build, but affordable enough. The recycled-material flowerbox outside the tree fort window is just icing on the cake. Very fun!

For more on tree house fort and shelter designs, and with the holidays coming, check out my design/concept book on the subject- only $11.53....