A "Retro" 1970s Playhouse....Pretty WILD!!!

Here's one way to get back at the neighbors! Build this one right on the property line! No, I actually love how wild and 1970s looking it is (which is probably when it was built). Frank Dimster was the architect. I also spotted this over at www.aplaceimagined.blogspot.com

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Clubhouse within a bedroom

I like everything about this one....the divisional rug placement, the door, the natural exposed beams, the built-in storage with the finger holes, and the whimsical misallignment of the clubhouse planks. File Under: DREAM BEDROOM FOR KIDS

I also saw this over on www.eurostylelighting.com

Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

L.A. Tree House Builders....

Here's a great exterior shot of a tree house built and designed by the folks over at www.kirsch-korff.com from Los Angeles, California. Check out the link for more on this architectural/design firm.

A Reading/Writing Greenhouse escape- with recycled windows

 

A super-cool, recycled window greenhouse cabin- what a great reading and writing spot this would be! Single pane windows are thrown away all the time, I actually have a pile of about twenty of them in my backyard to prove it, and THIS is one of the reasons (ideas like this) that I grab 'em when I see them curbside. Of course, their insulative properties aren't great, but still, they can be used in many ways in cabin, tiny house, and backyard playhouse/clubhouse builds. 

I LOVE the yellow door and trim work here, it really brings this micro-structure to life and makes it fun.

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

                                                                 

Forklift Pallet Fort, Shed, or Garden Trellis! So Simple!

Source unknown...

     Love this one- especially since its built from free pallet wood, its so simple, AND it looks good. Something like this would be great for a garden (if you use untreated pallets), or the frame of a chicken coop. Better yet, use a tiny structure like this as a climbing frame for beans, grapes, or any other vine-like plant.

Obviously its use as a simple, open-air, kids clubhouse or playhouse is great too! 

Check out my book for more recycled building and pallet project ideas....

              

                                                                       

A "temple" Tree House/Fort in Washington State.

    I can't find any more photos on this one, but its just friggin' fabulous. I especially love the large bay of windows in the front- which, I'd assume, either face south, or some great view (at least I'd hope so). This tree house has a lot of character, and is referred to as a "temple tree house", perhaps for religious reflection, and for the builder/owners writing/work. Its a simple design overall, but one that is so effective and pleasing to the eye- I just wish we had more trees like that here on the East Coast.

This little structure, while not legally, would make for a great tiny house, or getaway cabin up in the trees, OR the world's coolest kids fort or playhouse!

I hope I can find more on this one! Especially photos!

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

For more on tree houses and tiny houses- check out my book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks"

A mobile sauna/cabin/fort on wheels- pulled by a BICYCLE!

This one's a bicycle camper/trailer, but one functioning as a SAUNA (notice the sillouettes of many people within?). I'm sure its ultra light weight (to be pulled by a bike), and its shaped like a big fat bullet so that its somewhat aerodynamic. Very fun/unique! I'd imagine/guess that the back wall is made/cut from a single sheet of thick plywood- meaning, the whole structure is no wider than 4'  If you look towards the front of the trailer, you'll notice a tiny little smoke stack, and the pile of burning wood on the ground outside.

This one, being so light in weight, would also make for a GREAT tree house too....

A Star Wars/The Empire Strikes Back At At Walker TREE HOUSE!

Absolutely awesome. It looks like it was built around the remains of a once living tree/extended stump, and if you look it over, its really a fairly simple build- a porthole cut-out for the eye, the appearance-only legs, and a ladder into the backside of the structure. I can't find out who built this- can anybody help?

A tiny, funky, 8' by 8' art shack/studio-shed/fort

Here's one I've been working on....an 8' by 8' guest house/art studio (or kids fort). It still has a ways to go, but I'm getting there.....

I've got more on this one over at relaxshacks.com, my other blog.....

This is also most likely going to be one of about 50 forts, shacks, cabins, and tree houses that'll be part of a NEW book I've been collecting material for- a follow-up, somewhat, of my other book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks".

 -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

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....