A really cool micro-loft/bedroom hideout for kids (and adults?)

I just love this one....

 I especially dig its use (and repainting) of a simple wooden step ladder- which would work great in many tiny house and cabin applications (and these can be found at tag/yard sales all the time for close to nothing).

From AT....
Names: Wylder (2) & Arlo (3 months) Smith
Location: Clinton, Oklahoma
A few weeks back we had the pleasure of touring the home of Meridith and Jason Smith on Apartment Therapy. They've been busy with some serious renovating including their boys', Wylder and Arlo's, rooms and playspace. Let's just say there's already a waiting list of folks requesting to move in! Now, are you ready to see where that ladder goes?

 via apartmenttherapy.com

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Two micro-cabin treefort/treehouse videos (shelters for the homeless?)

Up n' runnin'- finally....had a blast making it and filming it with Steve Sherrick (Modern Vintage Productions)- who is now working on the new Adam Sandler film (congrats- Steve)- so we might lay low on new shoots for just bit (we'll see)- although we have FOUR unaired ones in the bag, awaiting editing- so editing superhero Mike Amato might jump in for those....

And for those who missed the "U.B. 30" Treehouse we built (in ONE day)- check out the video tour below....

Back on the "GottaGiddaWay"- This shoot shows the post NY-Times version of this tiny little single sleeping hut, with a new leg chamber for stretching out in, and a few other small add-ons you might notice.

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Join our tiny house- redneck hacking facebook group too! HERE

A treehouse/treefort shaped like an owl/vampire/pacman ghost/spaceship???

I've gotten all those references so far.....whatever the case, it was built in one day, the transported to VT (from MA) and erected in a single day as well. I dubbed it "The U.B. 30" as it was a 30th birthday gift for my brother Dustin. It was based on a loose notebook sketch I had, and might end up in the newer/2nd version of my book, "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks" in 2012 through The Lyons Press....

Here's a video we took deep in the woods of Vermont of this two-sleeper tiny cabin/fort/guest dome....(built and designed by myself)

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Super-cool playhouse from the aptly titled “Project Playhouse”

 Super-cool playhouse from the aptly titled “Project Playhouse”

Posted on November 3, 2010

Wow….and well…”Wow”. Stonework and all….

Forget the kids, I want to live in this thing!

(File under: Small homes, houses, shacks, tiny huts, forts, treeforts, treehouses, cabins, cottages, playhouses, treeliving, camping, outdoor play, shanties, shantyboats, playforts, retreats, micro-architecture, micro-homes, mini, dwellings, for kids, children)

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Make your own hobbit hole/house (well kinda,,,) for indoor kids play....

Make your own Hobbit Hole/House- Indoor kids fort…

Posted on October 3, 2010 by

These kids must have a blast in this thing! A+ for you, Dad.
I have a similar idea/plan in my book- and another for my next book- already in the works…

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

A naturally-built treehouse video (pioneer-lashings, boy scout- style)

Naturally-built treefort/treehouse video…

Posted on July 6, 2010 by

Its been awhile since I posted, since I’ve been VERY busy since my book and other blog http://www.relaxshacks.com was featured on NPR….but thought some of you might appreciate/dig this video here….

Scrappy n’ Crappy- The Way We Love It! (A cool treehouse/treefort)

 

Scrappy n’ Crappy- The Way We Love It!

Posted on May 7, 2010

Here’s the work of Nick McGlynn- a salvaged wood treehouse, that he began in 2000. Not too shabby, er….REAL shabby, but that’s the whole charm of it. THIS is what treeforts/treehouses should be all about. Great work Nick!

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Got Forts? My indie book- Out Now! (forts, cabins, cottages, camps, guest houses)

Got Forts? My indie book- Out Now!

Posted on May 3, 2010

"Humble Homes, Simple Shacks...." by Derek "Deek" Diedricksen (c) 2010

My main blog (book-based, as is the tied-in tv show I host “Tiny Yellow House” on youtube), has a ton of info on this book, which was released in January, but since this blog is ESPECIALLY fort related, I figured I should at least post mention of the book’s existence here as well.

CHECK OUT A BUNCH OF THE INTERIOR ART AND CONTENT HERE: http://relaxshax.wordpress.com/2010/01/14/the-books-finally-here-gary-larson-meets-bob-vila-housingfortsmall-houseshack-book/

Trash funded (the first printing run), hand assembled, and each copy comes signed. $17.95 each (which already includes shipping, etc). Paypal id: senorsell@hotmail.com, or head over to http://www.relaxshacks.com for snail mail (check, mo, cash) info.

The book and show have received rave reviews and coverage from Make Magazine, Readymade Magazine, Lloyd Kahn, The National Small House Society, Mimi Zeiger, David and Jeanie Stiles, TinyHouseDesign Mag, Jay Shafer of The Tiny Tumbleweed House Company, and many more…

Thanks

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Not so much a fort, but it could be (a chicken coop with asian flare)

Not so much a fort, but it could be….

Posted on April 29, 2010

I was going through my old photo files today and came across this pic of a salvaged and recycled-material chicken coop that I built about two years ago.

"the stained scraps (woodworking leftovers) were added to give the coop a little design/flair (somewhat of an Asian one, perhaps).

Ultimately someone bought it, but for use as shelter for his dwarf goats! Hey, whatever works….

Anyway, with a little enlarging (note: a front stereo-glass (salvaged) window was later added), this boxy design could make for a very simple playhouse or treehouse/treefort.

Some similar designs (TONS of ‘em) also appear/are sketched out in my indie-released book “Humble Homes, Simple Shacks, Cozy Cottages, Ramshackle Retreats, Funky Forts (And Whatever The Heck Else We Could Squeeze In Here” – through Tiny Yellow House Press and available through http://www.relaxshacks.com for $15.95 (includes shipping).

"Here's a shot of the book (hand colored by a purchaser/fan of the book)"

 

-Derek "Deek " Diedricksen

Its hokey, but the idea’s great! A bedroom-treefort/treehouse

Originally posted, April 1st, 2010

I Nabbed this one from…. http://www.raphaeldamato.com/images/photo_gallery/spaces/tre_for_1lg.jpg

I had been contemplated building one of these for my son, and have some semi-related ideas in my indie book “Humble Homes, Simple Shacks, Cozy Cottages, Ramshackle Retreats, Funky Forts, And Whatever The Heck Else We Could Squeeze In Here!”)- avail though TINY YELLOW HOUSE PRESS (micro-independent)- check it out at http://www.relaxshacks.com

Anyway, the idea’s still great, and the hokey-ness factor is high! Love it!

Heck, as an ADULT, it'd even be cool to have one of these, although makin' the bed would be a pain and a half....

As for my book, its received AWESOME/rave reviews and/or coverage in newspapers, tv shows, magazines, blogs, websites, and more, from the likes of….Lloyd Kahn, Katherine Sharpe at Readymade Magazine, Make Magazine, Mimi Zeiger (author of “Tiny Houses”), The author duo of David and Jeanie Stiles, Gregory Johnson of the National Small House Society in Iowa, The Energy Bulletin (.net), Michael Janzen at tinyhousedesign, Kent Griswold at Tinyhouseblog, Jay Shafer of the Tiny Tumbleweed House Company (for my book-related tv/online show “Tiny Yellow House” on youtube), The Stoughton Journal in Stoughton, MA, The Source in Madison, CT, and many, many, many more. (Thank you ALL, so much!).

-Derek “Deek” Diedricksen

The book was just picked up for sale at the legendary BREAKWATER BOOKS in historic Guilford, CT too!

“SPEND it like Beckham (Subtitled: Ya’ gotta be a real dope…)

Originally Posted March 9th, 2010

So I’ve had this photo saved in my archives for a little while. Apparently its a “Tree Tent” treehouse that the soccer-fame Beckham fam purchased for their kids…..ready?…….still?……at the pricetag of $50,000!!!! (assuming word/sources are true…)

     Granted, its a cool-looking little structure, which apparently has hardwood flooring within and a round mattress that sleeps two adults, but, who in their right mind, EVEN IF SO WEALTHY, would spend 50 large on something so Coleman-tent looking?

I initially saw this photo and thought “Aw, that’s kinda neat- what’s it cost? $600 or so? Nope. Apparently ya’ gotta be a giant dope (or dope dealer) to get one of these. And as for his kids, whatever happened to giving’ ‘em a hammer, box of nails, and some scrap wood to build their own creation? I GUARANTEE they’d appreaciate, and use it, ten times as much.

AND….$50,000 spent on a hanging tent that looks like a….well, you know…..I mean c’mon- there are a TON of good charities that could have used that money if you’re just gonna blow it like that. Sad. Design-wise, a decent idea though (which coleman SHOULD steal and sell affordably!).

-Deek (http://www.relaxshacks.com and author of “Humble Homes…”

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Cubism meets kids forts/treehouses? Or just a bizarre adult reading structure?

Orig Posted on March 5, 2010

"For kids AND adults- an ultra-creative, sculpture-esque lounge-fort" (Found originally at http://aplaceimagined.blogspot.com)

 Just think of the pats on the back, and the resume boost you’ll receive when you tell your prospective employer that YOUR handiwork and photo submissions were featured on WHOFORTED.com!

 Today’s the site kick-off of http://www.whoforted.com (bottle of champagne crashes against my computer….many papertowels later, typing resumes…)!

I consider myself a big kid (a big, gangly, beer-drinkin’, thirty-two year old kid). Its for that VERY reason that I’m launching “Who FORTed”? (and yes, the blog site, the “.com” and so on are copyrighted, so we’ll probably get those goofy shirts out down the road!)

Anyhow, My main small housing/cabin/shack/fort/treehouse blog and site is http://www.relaxshacks.com, but this side project is the early beginnings of a subsequent fort-related book I hope to release at some point down the road (Once I’m finished on the follow up to my indie book “Humble Homes…” (see the righthand column of THIS blog page- soon))- which is well on its way.

I’ll be posting some of my findings on this site, naturally, but I’m looking for childish, hokey, character-laden forts, hideouts, treehouses to post on- that just might serve as a creative spark for some adult oriented architectural conversions! Ya’ never know!

So….YUP, I’m looking for cool and original photos of ramshackle, down-home, forts- the hokier, the better. Wacky blanket forts, salvaged-material huts, and so on….

You can email them to kid cedar at gmail dot com- and who knows, yours just MAY make the book, down the road!

-Derek “Deek” Diedricksen

(ALL on here, copyright 2010)