This is a fun book and just what I needed. I could see someone being either delighted or disappointed, depending on what kind of book they were expecting. First of all, this is a thin book, about 125 pages, about the dimensions of a thick magazine. It's not pages of detailed paragraphs of written instructions. This offers a general overview to get you started. It doesn't have plans or start-to-finish instructions with every detail. It's an illustrated idea and tip book, something you can open to any page and read a 'little of this or a little of that'. The illustrations are doodle-style with some little notes here and there, tips, and very basic how-to notes. Also offered are safety precautions, common tools needed, suggested hardware, etc.
One of my favorite features of this book are examples of treehouses for one tree, two trees, three trees and four trees. I've been trying to pick which trees and how many to use and this helped me narrow it down easily based on my personal skill level and ambition. They also offer some basic styles of treehouses and how to go about building a platform, braces, adding a roof, etc. But again, all in an easy to digest format. They encourage reusing materials and show some examples of how the most basic treehouse can be made with scrap materials you might have kicking around. There's also more elaborate styles with trap doors, circular stairs and several levels. There are a few color pages in the center of the book, not many (four color pages with front and back photos, so 8 total), just enough for inspiration and to show a few examples of a house made in two trees, or a house with a deck, etc.
I had an idea of what I wanted to make but only a very general idea of how to do it. This book filled in the gaps of my limited knowledge with basic and helpful info. There's also some random info, like how to install a pulley, best ways to make a ladder, how to make some basic kid-sized furniture, signs, trap doors, etc. Jeanie and David Stiles are both talented and knowledgeable on all things outbuildings: sheds, cabins, treehouses, gazebos, etc. I knew they'd be a reliable resource. I have another book by them on building your own cabin. That one is fun to browse, but turned out to be far too advanced for my skill level. But this treehouse book is right up my alley, and I feel confident now that I can build something simple and fun this summer.
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