If there’s ever been an ideal spot for a tree house, it’s the Wall property in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Nicknamed Camelot, the cinematic landscape comprises 40 acres of forested land at the foot of the Rockies. Bears and deer roam through lush ferns, wildflowers, mushrooms, and moss, and towering aspens, firs, blue spruce, and ponderosa pines grow near waterfalls, springs, and a stream.

When the pandemic set in, Robin Wall and her college-age children, Juliana and Logan, were effectively housebound under Colorado’s stay-at-home order—so they set about building the tree house of their dreams.

“We’d talked about building a tree house for years while the kids were growing up, but never got to it,” says Robin. “During the pandemic, Juliana and Logan were home, and we had more time to explore the woods.” The family walked together and discovered small bridges built for rolling logs by a sawyer Robin hired to clear fallen trees. “The bridges were very creatively done, so I asked the sawyer if he could help build a tree house,” says Robin.

The sawyer built the initial framing and the entrance staircase for the tree house using wood from fallen trees in the surrounding forest. As the building process became more complex, Robin commissioned contractor Ed Ott to finish the structure. “The design/build plan for the tree house evolved as it was being created,” she says.

Wrapped in Douglas fir siding sourced from a local mill, the 85-square-foot shelter features a large Douglas fir deck pierced by tree trunks. “I really wanted to have the feeling of sitting in the trees,” says Robin. “The trees determined the placement and shape of the deck.”

The metal roof, reclaimed from a 90-year-old farmhouse, was cut and arranged around more Douglas fir trees. “The colors of the rusted metal blend beautifully with the forest landscape,” says Robin. She also found vintage French-style windows from Facebook Marketplace for $200. “They were taken out of a 1920s house in Colorado Springs,” she says.

The hardware for the sliding barn door is reclaimed, too. “Ed made the door, and the hardware came from a 1910 building on our property,” says Robin. “I saved the hardware for about 15 years—and then it ended up being a perfect fit for the tree house.”

Robin hired designer Natalia Romero to consult on the project, and to outfit the interior with furnishings that showcase comfortable textures and a muted palette. “I met Natalia through a neighbor and saw lamps, coffee tables, and other beautiful pieces she’d designed, and I fell in love with her style,” says Robin.

Drawing inspiration from the wooded landscape, Romero clad the interior walls, floor, and ceiling with Douglas fir. “The color and grain integrate perfectly with the landscape,” Romero says. The designer selected linen and merino wool textiles for the custom daybed cushions. “I brought them from Argentina, my homeland,” Romero says. “A jute rug adds a rich, rustic texture and blends perfectly with the wood floor.”

Romero created an accent corner for the woodburning stove with steel panels, reclaimed bricks, and custom raw steel shelving that displays a curated selection of small objects. “I chose a neutral palette of oatmeal, undyed wool, charcoal gray, black, and unstained wood,” says the designer.

According to Robin, the project has been one of her more fulfilling experiences. “Creating a space immersed in the forest has been a great adventure, and an inexhaustible source of inspiration,” she says. “It has also been a true lesson about the importance of having an open mind to the unexpected.”

And the getaway has helped the family slow down and spend time together in nature. “We use the tree house for picnics, dinners, morning coffee, and as a reading spot,” says Robin. “The stream winds around and surrounds it on three sides. The little waterfalls have varying pitches, depending on what side of the house you’re on—the tree house has provided us with countless pleasant surprises.”

For more information, visit Colorado Camelot

Related Reading:

A Family of Five Adds a Whimsical Tree House to Their Slice of Paradise

20 Unbelievable Tree Houses We’re Pining Over

Project Credits:

Design: Natalia Romero / @nataliaromero_design

Construction: Eric Ott, D & O Construction

Photography: Ian Warren / @ianwarrenphoto

Appears In

A Family Builds a Fairy-Tale Tree House in the Woods of Colorado