After the Cutlet got a heap of large toys for Christmas and his birthday, me and the Petite Filet realized we didn't really want our living room to look like a Toys 'R Us had exploded. The Cutlet's room, while a great place to play, also has the necessary bed and dresser that would make placement of said LARGE toys nearly impossible. Certainly inconvenient.
Fortunately for us, we have an "extra" room over the garage that has been used mostly for junk (or if it's nice stuff, "junque") for most of the five years we've lived in the house. It needs a lot of work: paint, replacing the three nasty windows, new floor (it is currently carpet with a cartoony wood-plank design) and then ... decor.
Earlier this week, me and the PF went to Lowe's, where we get most of our inspiration, to look at paint colors and try to find a suitable theme. After all, we came up with the Cutlet's "real" name while driving home from Lowe's a couple of years ago. We settled on a "treehouse room" after seeing something similar in a picture book. It is perfect ... the room is the highest one in the house and is an open, loftlike space with lots of possibilities.
We've brainstormed and come up with some elements it MUST have:
• A bucket or basket on a pulley to deliver items up and down without having to climb the stairs.
• An elevated platform that somewhat resembles a real treehouse, with a rope or wooden ladder to access it. Maybe a slide to come down.
• A hammock.
• Colors that suggest "treehouse."
• Possibly actual tree limbs (coated to seal discourage bugs and such) along some of the walls.
• Big wooden signs that say things like "Members only" or "Welcome to the treehouse" in kidlike letters.
• Replace the carpeted stairs with oak treads, and rip out the wrought-iron handrail and railing upstairs and install traditional wood components.
There are some other debatable brainstorms that might not see the light of day, but you get the picture. Most important for me is to make the space fun for our kid (and any others that may come along) and his friends, but also make it a fun and classy-looking place for us to entertain our friends. If there's room, we're gonna put in a small pingpong or pool table. Oh yes!
So you see the delimma: make the room a fabulous playroom for kids and adults alike (but maybe not at the same time). And I can use your help. Did you have a treehouse as a kid? Did you want one? What would you put in it? Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'll try to take a "current" picture of the room after we've sorted the existing crap (I installed some flooring in the otherwise unusable attic space to store a few things. Yard Sale 2005 coming in the Spring).
Thanks for your thoughts and have a tree-mendous weekend!
I've never had a treehouse but always wanted one. I think it's a great idea! I'm sure it would be possible to do a room suitable for kids and adults. What a fun project!
That sounds like a great idea. I can just about picture it.
I have absolutely no tree house experience, so no help there.
And a tree-mendous weekend to you.
what a great idea! the cutlet will love this! only super cool dads do this much work for their kids. i never had a tree house. i did have a super cool dad though. we created memories elsewhere i guess. my tree house would have needed a fake gun mounted to the window...to fire at the unfortunates below. (you may be anti play guns though). i would have also needed some storage for sure...kids are always finding "treasures" to hide away. we are really going to need pics of this project. i think you should do a before and after. have fun!
i have an idea- teach the Cutlet to say "little sister" and convert it to another bedroom!! The more Cutlets the merrier!
:D
I would suggest one reminder; if you are going to use it as a playroom for either big or little people, (i.e. pool table), you might do well to consider sound proofing materials. Hardwood or tile floors are noisy and echo-y.
Sigh. Must be nice to have so much storage space, and a backyard! I'm currently looking to buy an apartment, and it's so depressing how little room I can get for so much money...
T-Bone, what a fabulous idea! I don't know if this is a good idea, but the roof could be painted to resemble a treetop, with different colored leaves and such. Anyways, the Cutlet is sure to enjoy it no matter what it looks like.
That is an awesome idea. The little cuttlet will be sooooo happy! I always wanted a tree-house. Instead my dad built me a HUGE dollhouse bigger than a shed though...so I was quite content. I wish I had some ideas...i'm not inclined that way....but, it sounds like you have a great start on the idea field! Keep us posted :)
Ohhh...good luck on all that! I've spent months just trying to finish texturing my bathroom. It sounds like a great idea! I have three boys and I know the one sign on it that will be a must soon: NO GIRLS ALLOWED. My daughter finally got one of them to write out "No Boys Allowed" and she taped it to her door. But, when that's all she has to play with, it isn't five minutes and she's begging them to come in and play kitchen. Heh.
I'm jealous of the Cutlet. Adopt me?
I just redid my youngest sons room in a camping theme.. I can give you ideas as for a tree... well I painted 2 large trunks joining together in a corner, from it near the top and on the ceiling I stapled silk leaves. It was easy, and turned out to be a great feature, we even hung a lantern using a nail from it. I have pictures if ya want to see them.