The Architect Sends 1st Sketches

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At this point we have chatted with our architect multiple times and have exchanged ideas and inspiration.  David Fall (architect) has been on it from day 1!  Always responding ASAP, providing ideas, truly being amped about the project and putting in 100% effort.  (We are very happy with Dave.)  As mentioned in an earlier post, we are not able to tie a structure into a tree and we have been told by both our architect and engineer that CA is one of the stricter states when proposing the idea.  So the 1st set of fun sketches from our architect show some basic designs that incorporate stilts but sill have the feel of being in the tree's.

More Inspiration

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The project is moving along and I'm constantly keeping my eyes open for inspiration.  (Thank you to everyone who has sent links my way to check out;  I've been having a lot of fun looking at those). My husband and I have conversations for hours on end of all the fun things our Treehouse can have.  Some of the idea's being ridiculous (financially) but still fun to talk about and get our gears going.

Key Elements to the tree house:
   - Incorporate Wood, Metal & Big Windows
   - Bridge
   - Bird's nest
   - Balcony of some sort
   - Modern/Clean Simplistic look

The Search for an Engineer

I have no idea where to even start... at this point in the project I know I don't need an engineer for a little while, so it's not a pressing matter but it would help to chat with an engineer to answer my many questions.  Our architect (David Fall) puts us in contact with the engineer of the Treehouse Masters T.V. show.  We begin to chat with Charlie Greenwood and realize that he's extremely knowledgeable as well when it comes to tree houses and actually lives in a treehouse himself.  He's created a system that allows for the hardware to grow with the tree instead of having to completely re-install all new hardware in 5-10 years.  He also explains that tying into the tree can actually make the tree stronger ;)   Happy to have Charlie on our team!

The Visit to the Lot

Rad surprise - Lake View!

Now that we have the lot as well as the architect we have one small obstacle - our architect is based out of Washington, which means he is planning without ever stepping foot on the lot.  This also means that my husband and I will need to create a site plan (measurements between tree's, diameter of trees, height desired, etc)  We continue onwards and visit the site...

My husband has always been a McGyver, hands on type of guy and is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to ropes and knots.  This being said, he somehow created his own pulley system to get himself up the tree (always impressed).  By this point, I'm pregnant so I opt out on climbing the tree and trust in my hubby to find a good height for the treehouse.  Life continues to throw surprises at us and I feel my husband and I have pretty good luck (or maybe it's our outlook)  Either way, to our surprise, my husband finds that if we build high enough, we have a lake view! - Pretty Legit.  We later have lunch in town at this place called Grub and Whisky  - We're liking this place more and more ;)

The Search for an Architect

 

I have realized being an architect is an oversaturated profession, which in turn gives us many options :)  Only 1 small problem; the tree house architect is slim to none, and many architects are turned off or nervous about doing something different.  In the end, we were between 3 architects (all talented)  After screening the architects, we have chosen David Fall.  He is the architect for the show Treehouse Masters.  He has 10+ years of experience in treehouse architecture and continues to create new ideas with each project.  We look forward to working with him and creating something beautiful. 

The Lot

Brendan climbing the main tree

We found a lot!  The lot is filled with trees and 2 specific tree's that look like they will work.  The lot is located in Crestline, which is the town before Lake Arrowhead.  The lake in Crestline is Lake Gregory.  I am familiar with this lake, as it's the kid friendly lake my parents took us to when we would stay at our cabin in Lake Arrowhead.  (a plus for the future family)  The lot is about a 5 minute drive to the lake.  We were pretty stoked on the lot and put in an offer; Our offer was accepted and we began escrow.  Being a real estate investor, I made sure to follow through on our due diligence (check title, get a surveyor on the lot, etc)  We closed escrow and the lot is ours!  First step down ;)

Maybe a good spot for a lookout point

The Inspiration

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From the moment we decided we were going to build the treehouse I went a bit research crazy.  (internet, books, taking pictures of the slightest inspiration) 

A few key things we want to incorporate:
   - Mixture of wood, metal and big windows
   - Bridges
   - Look out point (birds nest)
   - Balcony

The inspiration continues to grow the more we see and experience...