Climb Up to a Tree House for the Whole Family

Categories: Design & Décor, Hardscape, Landscape Design, Play Sets

In Georgia, where tree house worthy trees are everywhere, the fantasy of owning a tree house can become a reality, like it did for this Druid Hills family. This project, though, has a unique spin—the homeowners envisioned a tree house that truly was fun for the whole family. They approached designer and builder Chip Wade, host of HGTV’s “Elbow Room,” to make it a reality. “They wanted to entertain guests in a space people of any age could enjoy,” Chip explains. “In fact, my team scheduled an extra day on set when we were finished so we could play in the tree house, too!”

The house has two roofed structures, one serves as the main playhouse for the family’s three young daughters and one houses a zip line for the older crowd. Guardrails were fashioned from reclaimed wood and corrugated acrylic panels. There are multiple entry points to the structure and slides to take you from the third floor down to the main patio. Mini-trampolines were installed into one of the decks for added fun. Local carpenter and sculptor Mark Wentz was enlisted to create the details on the whimsical front door. Other materials were purchased from Superior Recreational Products. “A lot of research went into this project,” Chip says. “You have to plan for a tree to continue to grow and for the structure to stay a safe place for kids to play when it does. Preliminary criteria should include finding hardwood trees that are at least 16 inches in diameter, are fairly straight and don't have any signs of disease or decay.”

we love unique solutions!

This backyard play area has something for every age—young or not-so-young—with a three-story tree house and zip line.

Chip Wade

• Atlanta native, resides in Johns Creek  • Owner and lead designer of Wade Works Creative, LLC  • Emmy award-winning host for HGTV network • Expertise: Interior and exterior home renovation. Works with homeowners and DIYers to create stylish, functional living spaces.

• WadeWorksCreative.com