The High Life

THE BIG IDEA  The owner of this Carbondale property wanted a whimsical treetop sanctuary where his kids could indulge their artistic fantasies, so he sought out architect Steve Novy of Green Line Architects and designer and craftsman David Rasmussen of David Rasmussen Design. Together the three dreamed up a retreat that feels organic and playful—for both children and adults.

DEFINING DETAILS  Free from the practical constraints of most buildings, the structure “has very few right angles,” Rasmussen says. But it does borrow design elements from the main home: The rooflines are similar, as is some of the siding material. A window configuration on one wall is a riff on the windows in the main house. “We kept the language of design within the same family so that [the main house and the treehouse] look like they’re brothers or cousins,” Rasmussen says. “Obviously, the treehouse is the funky cousin.”

And as you might expect from a treehouse, most of the materials are reclaimed and local. For example, the exterior is clad with a rough-sawn cedar from a local mill, which means it’s less processed, greener and a bit less polished, perfect for a home among the branches.

FINISHING TOUCHES  For CH&L’s photo shoot, interior designer Robyn Scott of Basalt-based Robyn Scott Interiors played up the structure’s extraordinary design with art and grown-up furnishings that balance the space’s organic style. “[The treehouse] is kind of like an art piece, so we brought in other art pieces,” she says.

Take the chaise, for example. Called the LC4 Chaise Lounge, it was designed by Swiss modern architect Le Corbusier and is perhaps one of the modern era’s most recognizable shapes. The same goes for the Saarinen side table from Knoll. The crowning touch comes from equine-inspired artwork—some pieces in bright, bold colors and others in black and white—from local artist Summers Moore.

The final design proves that treehouses aren’t just for youngsters. “Adults need to have places that are less serious, where you can see the frivolity or folly or fantasy of life,” Novy says. “We need places that inspire creativity. That’s why places like this are so important.”

Tips For Treehouse Lovers

No trees? No problem. The team at Green Line Architects constructed “trees” that would support the structure by driving steel rods through the centers of blown-down oak logs. No heavy excavation required—though you might enlist the help of a structural engineer.
Get in the zone. Before you break ground (or branches) check with your county’s zoning board. Structures under a certain square footage can sometimes be constructed without a permit, but you want to be sure that you’re building within the rules.
Go natural. It’s easy to find beautiful materials that are less processed, more eco-friendly—and far more charming than their polished counterparts.

DESIGN DETAILS

Architecture: Steve Novy, Green Line Architects, Carbondale, (970) 963-6689, greenlinearchitects.com
Custom Woodworking: David Rasmussen, David Rasmussen Design, Carbondale, (970) 963-1653, davidrasmussendesign.com
Interior Design: Robyn Scott, Robyn Scott Interiors, Basalt, (970) 927-5354, rsidesigns.com