Somehow I hadn’t heard about the treehouse before we moved here. What a wonderful, unexpected surprise!
The details continue to make me smile — like this scalloped metal trim.
This bell waits at the front door.
The front door opens and closes with this little knob.
A small shelf (to leave gifts of seashells) and a place to write a note. You can open the cupboard by pulling the ribbon and leave a message inside.
The scalloped trim on the awning is amazing. And so are the walls made of woven sticks.
Inside, you’ll find a collection of antique keys…
…and some dishes ready for tea time.
Let’s admire the shutters. They open and close.
This is the view from the back. Do you see the heart cut out of the wood?
A hanging picture frame to gaze through. Genius!
So many great ideas — I hope to copy them all some day.
Update: Here are some more details I just received from the homeowners. “As you probably guessed, Hugues [the husband/father] built the treehouse around that big walnut tree several years ago. It was a labour of love, and he spent the good part of a summer constructing it. The wonderful thing about it is that we didn’t buy anything to make it (apart from nails). We had all the materials either in the house, the barns or in the local forest. The decorative woodwork is in hazelnut. The antique keys are [my daughter’s] key collection and we thought that a good place to display them.”
How about you? Did you have a treehouse growing up? Have you built one for your kids?
I want an antique key collection! How wonderful for your kids!
What a great treehouse!
What an amazing surprise! I love every detail too. I’m sure your children will have so many lovely memories of this special hideaway.
Here is our version, made from salvaged material last summer. http://www.kidbaltimore.com/2009/08/the-treehouse-is-finished.html
Wow, everything is better in Europe!
Wida
Missing Amsie Blog
BEST EVER! I want to climb up and gaze through the frame!
That key collection!!! I wonder what magical places they open doors to… ;)
It’s so picturesque that it’s hard to believe it’s real. How adorably perfect for a French estate to hold such a treasure, and one that will be well appreciated over the next year, I’m sure!
Wow I wish the person who built this had a blog because they are obviously amazingly cool!
PRICELESS! I can only imagine the conversations that will take place in this sacred little dwelling of sticks and stones…So dear…I enjoy reading about your unique and special family… Barbara Smith
Get out! This whole France series is killing me, and now a treehouse styled by Anthropologie, to boot? Le sigh.
Those keys are so cool. Those alone would keep my kids busy for hours. They think antique keys unlock dragon dungeons. What an amazing creation.
Is it real? I absolutely want to make this and my kids are young adults. I will have sweet dreams tonight with swirling thoughts about that magical house in the branches.
That place is truly magical…We built many a tree”house” and fort growing up, But they were nothing like that. They usually didn’t last long, because the teenagers in the neighborhood would usually dismantle them after a few days. Hence the reason, for building many:)
Enjoy France, I so look forward to reading about all your adventures.
Fabulous surprise! I didn’t have one but would love something like this for my kids rather than the kit kind.
Can I come over to play? Seriously, the cutest ever.
Are you kidding me? This is amazing!
When i was a kid i remember we have a tree house. But it can
not fits 3 people, it’s just like a terrace. We hang out there just
to talked and annoying each other. It’s a very good feeling to
remember to my childhood days.
great post!
I dreamed about living in france with my kids and that beautiful treehouse. It was a good dream to wake up from.
I am moving in when you move out. :)
this treehouse is a fantasy come true!! if you ever need a moment by yourself Gabby, this would be the perfect place to hide-away!!
My dad built me a little victorian playhouse when I was little, and I can’t wait to build one on my farm for my daughter!
Wait…IT GETS BETTER?! So excited to be on this journey “with” you. This totally rocks. Can my kid be an exchange student with your family for a month? :-)
Enjoy, and keep on inspiring us to do GREAT THINGS! xo Christina
That is seriously the sweetest tree house I have ever seen. I love the antique keys. Lucky you!
This is fantastic!
G-This post is lovely. Lately (longer than the move, tbh) I have found your blog lacking actual content. Giveaways aren’t content, posts about another post on another blog, especially if everyone does a post about that post, aren’t content. Links to Babble aren’t content. I miss the DM content! I only check your blog infrequently now. I may be in the vast minority but before we broke up I thought I would let you know!
That is DREAMY!! I would have LOVED to have such a fun treehouse/playhouse. What an adventure!!
This just keeps getting better and better…next I suppose I’ll hear about the Rolls Royce and the chauffeur that came with the house too! :) Such an amazing experience…I just had an idea…maybe you could have a GIANT “come visit the Blair’s” giveaway at the end of your year?? (I’m sorta joking, but mostly not…)
Seriously! Only you could land a rental with the most magical tree house on earth..can’t wait to see some shoots from there! What fantastic memories already and you’ve just arrived!
My husband and Father-inlaw are going to be building our girls a treehouse/playhouse this spring! This gave me some great ideas!
More, more, more…we want more of everything…you can’t keep it coming fast enough!!! (okay,okay I guess I will try to be more patient…it never was my strong point!!)
My family has a treehouse…I’m grown and I live with my husband and baby in Denver, but my family and two younger siblings still live at home. This was the treehouse my dad made almost 3 years ago. We love it!
http://ashleyandjared.blogspot.com/2008/07/treehouse-love-in-mulberry-tree.html
This is so absolutely stunning it made me cry a little, Gab. When I come visit, I think I’d like to sleep in the treehouse :)
the beauty of childhood.
Magical! Thanks for sharing. What wonderful memories you are making with your children!
Utterly charming! What a perfect place for your children to dream and imagine great adventures.
The treehouse would make me not want to return to North America :) What a great surprise!
Absolutley charming, my grandchildren would adore this enchanting tree house!
I think better that it was a surprise for your children: exhausted, already a little lonely… and BAM magic happens on the first day.
A beautiful beginning.
That treehouse is just fabulous!! The former owners…*the father…Oh! A father’s love!!!*…were…are…genuises!! :-)
So cute! So long as everyone is current on their tetanus ;)
Whoa. Where have I been? I had no idea you were in France!!! Got sick of Colorado, huh?? ;)
Such a fantastic treehouse. It looks like a dream. Hope you are having the most lovely time.
Oh my gosh… what a nice surprise! Love the frame, keys.
Hi Blair Family!
Alie would like to know if Betty likes her new big girl swing…she’d also like to explore the treehouse! Glad all is well…please tell Betty she is missed! -Alie & Leslie
Wait, when is your lease up there? Cause I think we are moving in!!! What a cool find. You guys must be having the best time. What a special journey for your family :)
I hope our tree gets big enough to build a tree-house for our grandchildren someday. This is a wonderful place to empower imaginations!
What a wonderful treehouse. As an adult I built a little garden house for myself.
I’m having such fun reading through your old posts…only have time for a few a day, but what a nice armchair travel to your world I’m having! I never had a treehouse, nor did my daughter, but it has always been a dream. This inspires me to get my husband “inspired” to get making one this summer!!!
Oh dear! It’s a little difficult not to think of the Prince and the Pauper when I see that treehouse and the walls around the yard that are oh-so-french-revolution.
Huzzah for the skeleton keys!
This is so darn cute, love it…