Los Angeles wooden arbor, pergola, patio cover, fence, deck, driveway gate, entry gate, garden gate, tree house and play house designer and builder.

Peter A. Kirsch-Korff

Fun Treehouses, Playhouse & More


Los Angeles      Pasadena      Hollywood      La Canada      Malibu


 Wood Treehouse (Multiple Levels with Club House) Photo - Malibu  
Free Standing Wood Treehouse - Bel Air, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, CA   Free Standing Wood Treehouse - Bel Air, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, CA   Firepole Cutoff for A Free Standing Multilevel Wood Treehouse - La Canada / Flingridge, CA   Custom Wood Treehouse - Arcadia, CA   Custom Clubhouse on Treehouse Platform - Arcadia, CA

Rustic Wood Treehouse     Multiple Tree Forts with Connecting Bridges - Pacific Palisades, CA      Los Angeles Wood Playhouse and Retreat - Craftsman Style      Large Wooden Hexagonal Outdoor Dining & Entertaining Gazebo - Tarzana, CA     Wood Playhouse

Los Angeles Treehouses, Playhouses & Entertaining Decks

Hi. I design and build custom wood treehouses, playhouses, entertaining decks, and play spaces that transform the unused parts of your backyard into special places to play and dream.

I focus on building structures that are can be used by both kids and adults, are an excellent value for your money, and built to last. The right craftsmanship, building techniques and materials make all the difference in whether your treehouse will last 5, 10 or 15 years.

That is one of the reasons why I do all the work myself, so I can control the quality of construction and you never have to deal with crews of workmen you have never met. My clients also hate having construction start and stop and stretch out for weeks, so I build for one homeowner at a time and stay on your project until it is done - usually completing most projects in one to three weeks.

I love creating a custom design for each client which reflects the unique look and feel of your home and garden and makes a great place to play that goes beyond the traditional prefab playhouse or ordinary swing set you can buy online or at a Big Box store. Treehouses aren't just for kids anymore -- when your child outgrows it, it can be transformed into a place to retreat to with a book and a glass of wine or take a private nap in a hammock.

Below is my portfolio of treehouse photos, as well as pricing for treehouses in the Los Angeles area and a detailed treehouse design guide. I hope these will help you find the right builder and design a treehouse you will enjoy for years to come.

As a first step, I recommend that you look at lots of treehouses to discover what you do and don't like. You can mix and match design ideas and accessories to create the perfect place to play. If you see what you want (or something close), we can use that as a starting point. For even more design ideas, check out the resources below. Then read over my design guide to get a really good idea of what you want, and the budget you want to spend.

When you are ready to get started, contact me and we can set up an appointment to tour your location, discuss design options and establish a budget, so I can give you a detailed estimate.

 

Portfolio of Wood Treehouses

My online portfolio features photos so you can get an idea of the type and variety of custom treehouses, playhouses and play forts I can build, as well as the cost of each.

 

 

Traditional Treehouses, Tree Forts & Playhouses

Custom Wooden Treehouse with Ladder Access - Arcadia, Ca     Custom Wood Treehouse with CLubhouse - Arcadia, CA

Custom Wood Treehouse                               Clubhouse on top of platform (detail)

     

Wood Treehouse (Multiple Levels with Club House) Photo - Malibu     Free Standing Wood Treehouse - Bel Air, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, CA

Multiple Level Wood Treehouse                        Multilevel Custom Treehouse

 

Fun Play Activity Center (Climbing Rock wall, Swings and 'Grandparent Friendly' Slide) and Treehouse - Pasadena, CA     Whimsical Lunar Lander Playhouse - Studio City, CA

Fun Activity Play Center with Rock wall         Whimsical Lunar Lander Playhouse

 

Redwood Tree House in Redwoods with Traditional Clubhouse - Pasadena, CA     Greene & Greene Inspired Redwood Treehouse with Traditional Clubhouse, Fireman's Pole and Crow's Nest - Pasadena, CA

Treehouse with Clear Roofed Clubhouse        Greene & Greene Style Treehouse

  

Free Standing Tall Platform Wood Treehouse Clubhouse with Zipline -  Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, CA     Wood Play Fort (Playhouse) Photo - San Rafael (Los Angeles County)

Elevated Traditional Treehouse                                 Play Fort in the Woods

 

Elevated Play Areas & Decks

Free Standing Wood Tree House / Elevated Entertaining Deck Area - Bel Air, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, CA     Rustic Wood Tree House / Entertaining Deck Area Photo - Pasadena, California

Elevated Play Area Deck                                   Free Standing Rustic Tree Deck

    

Multiple Elevated Tree Platforms / Entertaining Decks with Connecting Bridges - Pacific Palisades, CA      Elevated Entertaining Deck Area with Tree Cutouts - serving Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Bel Air, Brentwood

Play Decks w/ Connecting Bridges                  Play Deck area (detail)       

 

Hillside Redwood Elevated Entertaining Tree Deck with Slide - La Cresenta CA      Redwood Elevated Entertaining Tree Deck with Slide - Glendale Hills, CA

Hillside Play Deck with Slide                                       Elevated Play Deck     

 

Double Deck Treehouse Hidden in Trees - West LA, CA

Hidden, Double Decker Treehouse

 

Gazebos & Entertaining Areas

Large Wooden Hexagonal Outdoor Dining & Entertaining Gazebo - Tarzana, CA      Wood Playhouse & Adult Retreat (Craftsman Style) Photo - San Rafael (near Los Angeles)

Hexagonal Garden Gazebo                                         Outdoor Studio

  

Outdoor Garden Wood Pavilion - South Pasadena (Los Angeles Area)     Ranch Style Entertaining Wood Pergola - South Pasadena

Classical Style Entertaining Area           Ranch Style Entertaining Area

 

 

Prices For A Custom Treehouse

A well built treehouse should last for years and adjust to your kid's changing needs as they grow. Unfortunately, not all wood treehouses are built well. And it can be difficult for a layman to tell the difference between one that is well built and one that will start having problems in a few years or poses a safety hazard. Good quality material and hardware, combined with superior building skills, make all the difference.

The cost depends on what type you are looking for: basic, custom or high end.

  • A basic treehouse or play deck starts around $7,000, which pays for purchasing and installing a pre-made play structure and adding customizing accessories. For this type of treehouse, please see the pre-made resources below or my related links.

  • A custom wood treehouse, play fort or play deck costs from $9,000 to $16,000. That includes helping you select the appropriate tree or site, creating a design that will be useful and fun throughout its life, and building your play structure on site.

  • At the high end, you can spend anywhere from $17,000 to $50,000+. This covers the cost of envisioning, designing, building and accessorizing the playhouse or play fort of your child's dreams.

If you are purchasing a pre-made play equipment, remember to include the cost of on-site installation in your budget. You may also be interested in reading about comparing estimates.

 

Design Guide for Wood Treehouses

This design guide provides information on how to achieve the look of a specific style, create the best design, and choose a location for your treehouse or playhouse.

Treehouse & Play Fort Themes

The first place to start when thinking about having a custom play structure designed is to think about the themes that best reflect your children's individuality favorite play fantasies and unique interests. A fairy princess needs a castle while a budding astronaut would prefer a spaceship.

You want to also look beyond the moment (and the latest children's blockbuster) to the activities that your children love and the emerging talents you want to help them discover. The right playhouse or treehouse theme can grow with them and be a safe place to explore their interests. For example, if your child has an enduring love of astronomy, you can build them a "mini observatory" where they can set up a telescope, plaster the walls with star charts and fantasize about traveling to Saturn or colonizing Mars. If they love painting, you can build them an artist's studio complete with an easel, art supply cabinet and gallery space to hang their latest work.

To help you get started thinking, here are some common playhouse (and treehouse) themes:

 

Houses, Cottages & Castles

  • Miniature of main house
  • Cottage: Rustic, Tudor, or Queen Anne
  • Chalet: Alpine, Bavarian or Swiss
  • Castle: Keep, Tower, Hill fort, Dungeon
  • Fantasy or fairy tale dwelling
  • Adobe: Santa Fe or Mission
  • Nature hut or hooch

 

Western Themes

  • Classic Barn, ranch house or bunk house
  • Western or "Foreign Legion" fort
  • Lodge house: Eastern Native American
  • Log cabin or Homestead
  • Western town: jail, saloon, stable

 

Treehouse Themes

  • Tarzan or Swiss Family Robinson
  • Tree Bridges

 

Ocean, Space & Military Themes

  • Ship: pirate or frigate
  • Lighthouse or lifeguard tower
  • Boat house
  • Rocket, space ship or space station
  • Military fort, bunker, foxhole, battlefield tank or armored car

 

Work Related Themes

  • Clubhouse or school house
  • Main Street: general store, beauty shop, garage, train station, fire or police station
  • Laboratory: functional or mad scientist
  • Restaurant or café
  • Artist studio

Design Criteria & Location Considerations For Treehouses

  • Use ~ As children age and adults mature, so do their need for spaces to play and dream. Consider the alternative uses you want your play deck or retreat to be able to handle: sanctuary, studio, workout room, meditation center, fantasy zone, cooling off space. Design issues include:

    • permanent structure (or built for easy knockdown for transport to another home)
    • utilities (both current and future needs)
    • physical access and interior space (sized for growing children, toys, guests and emergencies)
    • child use (radiused edges, railing height and orientation, childproof hardware and outlets)
    • oversight (do children or adults need to be seen or heard from the house)

  • Structure ~ It should be well planned, especially if it will be used by children. Railings should be high enough so that small children cannot fall over or easily climb up on them. (Vertical uprights are preferred over horizontal rails which can act as ladders.) Metal hardware and bolts should be cut short and filed to remove sharp edges and burrs.

  • Impact on Tree ~ I want to ensure the long life and health of your tree, so I like to minimize the impact of the treehouse on the tree itself. That means avoiding putting any nails or holes in the tree, attaching tree bolts, or making it bear the weight of the structure. Freestanding structures built around the tree with holes cut for the growth of the trunk and limbs are best.

  • Site Selection ~ Proximity to trees, fences, animals, neighbors, streets and cars should be considered. Trees with tempting, climbable limbs should be kept away from high structures. The area should be free of large rocks, stumps, holes, cliffs and overhangs near where children can leap or fall. The ground around the structure should be padded with soft grass, chipped bark ground cover, sand or rubber matting.

  • Noise ~ Also consider the noise of children playing in relationship to the main house, retreats and neighbors.

  • Sunlight ~ Think about the path of the sun and the amount of sunlight and heat exposure during peak usage times throughout the day as well as the seasons. Consider where furniture should be placed to catch the sunlight or shade.

  • Water ~ Excessive moisture can lead to premature aging, structural damage from rot and musty smells. The structure should be designed to shed rain and dew readily. Rain must have good drainage away from site. For the longest life, the structure should be allowed to dry out thoroughly.

  • Finishes ~ Heat and light contribute to weathering, so a UV protective finish is important. Stains (clear, colored or solid) or paint are popular wood finish choices.

Design Options & Accessories

In addition to the general design criteria above, there are lots of options and accessories you can add to make your structure more functional and unique.

 

Design Options

  • Doors: front, back, trap
  • Windows: openable, set in panes
  • Skylights or translucent roofing
  • Stories or multiple levels
  • Porches & separate rooms

 

Utilities & Access

  • Lighting: ceiling, reading lamps, sconces
  • Heating, air conditioning, fans
  • Water: water faucet, drainage sink
  • Electrical outlets
  • Music stereo or mounted speakers
  • Telephone or data port
  • Stairs, walkways, ramps, bridges & fire poles
  • Ladders: rope or wooden access

 

Activity Elements

  • Sand pit & slides
  • Swings: plank, porch or tire
  • Bulletin or chalk boards
  • Bells, whistles, doorbells
  • Miniature train tracks
  • Steering wheels
  • Telescopes
  • Play appliances: sink, oven, refrigerator

 

Furniture & Accents

  • Storage: built ins, closets, toy chests
  • Secret compartments & panels
  • Playhouse furniture: table, rocking chair
  • Window planter boxes or seat
  • Weather vanes, spyglass, flagpole

 

Selecting The Right Wood For Your Treehouse

To make sure you are delighted with your custom treehouse, play fort or play structure -- you want to choose the right building material. In Los Angeles, the popular wood choices allow you to make tradeoffs in terms of cost, quality, color, visual appearance, ease of maintenance and the ability to resist the elements (water, sun and pests).

You need to select materials for ...

  • the framing (posts and cross pieces) used to support the weight of the your treehouse
  • the wood used for flooring, side panels, railings and trim

 

Wood For Framing & Substructures

The first type of wood to choose is for your framing -- the structure that holds your treehouse upright and level.

  • Pressure Treated Wood ~ For hidden framing, I only use pressure treated lumber (see photo). This wood is treated with a variety of chemicals to make it resistant to termites and rot. In the last few years, a major change has been made to the preservatives used -- they are safer for the environment but less effective.

  • Redwood ~ For visible framing, such as posts and cross beams you can upgrade to redwood for a better appearance.

 

Wood Choices For Treehouses

I primarily use redwood for my treehouses and play decks.

  • Redwood ~ A distinctive pink/red colored wood which ages to gray. The red heartwood is naturally resistant to damage from termites and moisture. Any white part of a redwood board, known as sapwood, has little resistance to termites and rot. I use Construction Grade Heart Redwood, commonly known as Con Heart (see photo), which has no sapwood and some knots. For a beautiful and durable structure, this is your most cost effective choice. I can also use more expensive grades of redwood, if your budget permits.

 

 

Related Links and Resources

If you need ideas and inspiration, check out these resources as well as images online and Pinterest. The more you know about what you like and don't the easier it is to create and build something you will be delighted with for years to come.

Here are a few books I recommend (links may earn a commission).

 

Knack Treehouses: A Step-by-Step Guide to Designing & Building a Safe & Sound Structure

This informative guide covers all aspects of treehouse building and has many inspiring photos of small and adult living treehouses. My work is featured on page 26.

 

 

Kid's Places to Play by Jeanne Huber

This book is full of ideas and inspiration for creating playhouses, treehouses and play areas.  LA Public Library book

 

 

Backyards for Kids: Playhouses, Sandboxes, Tree Forts, Swing Sets, Sports Areas, and More by Ziba Kashef

Lots of ideas for creating fun places to play and grow up -- places that will create memories that last a lifetime.

 

 

A Shelter in the Garden: Playhouses, Treehouses, Gazebos, Sheds, and Other Outdoor Structures

If you already have a great garden and want to add a structure to it, this book is full of great ideas to help you design your own.

 

 

Rustic Retreats: A Build-It-Yourself Guide by David & Jeanie Stiles

Here are great ideas for creating a variety of themed treehouses and playhouses -- from a log cabin or wigwam to a yurt, river raft, and garden pavilion.  LA Public Library book

 

Children's Playhouses: Plans and Ideas by Tina Skinner

This book will provide lots of inspiration with its hundreds of exterior and interior photos of playhouses and treehouses.  LA Public Library book

 

 

New Kidspace Idea Book by Wendy Jordan

Although this book only features about 20 photos of outdoor playhouses, it is a great book for getting inspiration and ideas for designing spaces (bedrooms, bathrooms and play areas) for kids.   LA Public Library book

 

 

Ultimate Guide to Kids' Play Structures & Tree Houses by the Editors of Creative Homeowner

This book outlines ten playhouse projects and talks you through all the safety features.

 

 

Treehouses & Playhouses You Can Build by David & Jeanie Stiles

These authors have a terrific series of books about treehouses and playhouse that are worth a look. Check out their web site at Treehouse Books by David and Jeanie Stiles.

Children's Spaces: From Zero to Ten by Judith Wilson & Debi Treloar

A wonderful book for becoming inspired to create a unique space for your young child, full of ideas and photos of real spaces and rooms.

 

Hideaways: Cabins, Huts, and Treehouse Escapes by Sonya Faure

This book provides lots of photos for a variety of garden retreats.  LA Public Library book

 

 

 

Outdoor Living Idea Book  (Taunton Home Idea Books)

This book has lots of ideas and photos to inspire your next outdoor living project.

 

 

 

The Room Outside: Designing Your Perfect Outdoor Living Space

Drink in the photos and ideas about how to extend your living space beyond your back door and create realxing extensions of your home.

 

 

 

Shed Chic: Outdoor Buildings for Work, Rest, and Play by Sally Coulthard

An inspiring book that is full of pictures and ideas for creating an adult treehouse, studio, getaway den, hobby area or small apartment in the garden.  LA Public Library book

 

 

Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways: Big Ideas for Small Backyard Destinations by Debra Prinzing

This book highlights 28 garden retreats from a wide range of locations across the US as well as budgets and styles. A good resource for how to translate your needs into practical structures and design touches.  LA Public Library book

 

 

Backyard Idea Book by Lee Anne White / Tauton Home

Great book with lots of color photos of decks, arbors, fences, outdoor kitchens and garden retreats.  LA Public Library book

 

 

Haven: Cozy Hideaways and Dream Retreats  by Allison Serrell & Meredith Heuer

An inspirational idea book with lots of ideas about how to create your own haven or dream retreat based on 20 examples.

 

 

 

Gazebos & Other Outdoor Structures  by the Editors of Creative Homeowner

This book is full of ideas for outdoor retreats and structures, such as gazebos, pavilions, arbors and pergolas.

 


I also recommend checking out these online resources for more ideas.

 

Out of Area Builders & Accessories

Unfortunately, since I build everything on site, I can not build and ship you a treehouse or playhouse. If you live outside of the Los Angeles area, check out these online sources.

They are also great sources for accessories as well as basic treehouses and high end playhouses.

  • Daniels Wood Land of Paso Robles, CA
    This "intermediate" level builder of whimsical treehouses offers pre-made treehouses that come with their own tree -- a nice feature if do not have the right tree in your backyard. (Remember to add on the cost of installation to your budget.)


  • Signe's Little Houses of Lancaster County, PA 
    Beautiful pre-made miniature houses for role playing, picnics, and sleep overs. You select the size and then customize all the interior and exterior details. They ship all over the USA and the playhouse arrives fully built.


  • Barbara Butler's Play Structures
    This premier "high end" level playhouse design and construction firm located in San Francisco offers many designs with whimsical touches and installs in the Los Angeles area. Featured in numerous articles and TV shows, they are masters at playhouse design and their clients include celebrities and people who see their playhouses as an investment.

 

 

 

Permission is granted to anyone who wants to
use my work for inspiration outside of the LA area.


Redwood Garden Arbor - Pasadena
Pasadena Mangaris TM deck before patio cover
Modern Horizontal Wood Fence - Los Angeles, CA
Wooden Treehouse with Club House - Malibu
Pool Equipment Enclosure - Beverly Hills, CA

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Serving the Los Angeles area communities of Altadena, Arcadia, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Bradbury, Brentwood, Chino Hills, Claremont, Diamond Bar, Encino, Glendale, Glendora, Granada Hills, Hancock Park, Hidden Hills, Hollywood, La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Malibu, Monrovia, Northridge, North Hills, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Pomona, Porter Ranch, Rancho Cucumonga, San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, Silver Lake, South Pasadena, Studio City, Van Nuys, West Hills, West Hollywood, Westwood, and West Los Angeles.

California Licensed Contractor #701028