THE TREEHOUSE
A Treehouse Inspired Living Room in the Pacific Northwest
I was presented with coming up with a concept design for the One Room Challenge for my living room. Nestled among the treetops four stories high on top of a hill overlooking Seattle's urban fringe, I looked no further for inspiration than my immediate impression when walking into our living room.
I always jokingly called our place "The Treehouse" because you experience the tip-top of some different tree through each window. So I let that be the inspiration. But I wanted it to be a bit sexy, while still cozy because it has to be inhabited during long winter months.
I wanted to capture the mood of a misty morning but coupled with the warmth of a hygge feeling of well-being. I also wanted the interior to feel like an extension and reference of its surroundings; where I live means long months of short days and long nights, lots of rain, but the eternal evergreen of all the plants and trees of which there are so many. It should reference the abundant greenery and darkness of winter. It is not for everyone, but ask me and I would tell you this place is enchanted. Regardless, there is a need to stay cozy indoors many months of the year here.
Before I modeled out my living room in Sketchup, I made a splash page of materials and images that helped me envision where I could go with this design. Reclaimed wood paired with warm local douglas fur would make up the primary woods of this treehouse, and Sherwin Williams Messenger Bag 7740 would help to make the interior space cohesive with the different treetop leaves. Other inspirations are wovens resembling snowy tree trunks, stone countertops that look like a windy Puget Sound, and cabinetry veneer resembling sun-glazed layered clouds.
"I WANTED TO CAPTURE THE MOOD OF A MISTY MORNING BUT COUPLED WITH THE WARMTH OF A HYGGE FEELING OF WELL-BEING."
I felt a fireplace would be the perfect addition to create comfort during rainy Seattle nights. I adorned the walls with photographs my partner and I have taken during our outdoor adventures; this keeps me inspired during cold months when the outdoors are inaccessible.
I needed to utilize as much floor space as possible in the adjacent dining room, which is part of our living room, because it is pretty narrow. However, I still wanted to accommodate eight people. By putting a bench along the wall, I removed the need for chair backup space on one side and created a cozy nook that accommodates eight people. In addition, I added a built-in bar that is perfect for hosting guests but can be folded down into a full-size desktop when not being used for entertainment. Our apartment isn't very big, so we knew function would need to be key just as much as aesthetics.
Sitting by the fireplace, I'd imagine you cannot help but feel a sense of peace roll over you. Cozy, naturalistic, and functional, this home fits my philosophy, and if only I actually built this out, I would not be more at home. Sadly I rent - but a girl can still dream. • S.
