By JOHN LEE
SPECIAL TO THE P-I
Nature-loving travelers searching for an idyllic woodland retreat are flocking to an unusual British Columbia sleepover that offers a rustic, squirrel's-eye view of the world.
Suspended several yards above the fern-lined forest floor by sturdy, tree-attached guide ropes, Vancouver Island's Free Spirit Spheres resemble shiny wooden Christmas baubles -- or giant sci-fi movie eyeballs -- nestled among the foliage.
But these two sibling treehouses are not just for the birds. Their exteriors are hand-built from yellow cedar or Sitka spruce encased in clear, waterproof fiberglass, while their interiors recall the homey aesthetics of a cozy Hobbit house.
Each has an ingenious, wood-lined living space filled with cabin conveniences such as comfy beds, surround-sound systems and porthole windows overlooking strapping maple and cedar trees.
Created by Tom Chudleigh -- his workshop is on the bucolic 5-acre property -- each sphere is accessed via a spiral staircase. Eve, the smaller of the two with a diameter of 9 feet, attracts singles or couples who don't mind bumping into each other. Its built-in bed, table and seating are functional and comfortable and twin portholes survey the surrounding branches, sun-dappled pond and two wandering geese.
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Sunday, September 7, 2008
These treehouses for grownups offer a unique way to get back to nature
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1 comment:
I love these tree houses. One of my favorite things to do is to lie down and stare up into the leaf canopy of a large tree. It would be wonderful to be living up there away from the nasty little chiggers that get me when I'm down on the ground!
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