Kid's Hideaway

Landscape architects David and Isis Schwartz have decided to build a child's playhouse for their son Anthony, complete with a patio and garden suitable for children. Isis says that providing children with their own space gives them a sense of responsibility. On a scale of difficulty from 1 to 5 (1 being the easiest), David rates this project a 2. Isis describes some principles of design to follow when creating the plan, and David suggests the following steps to begin the project.

• Create the feeling of a special, private area by placing the playhouse in a corner of the yard or under a tree in a secluded space.
  
  
• Make the child's house small enough to fit the child but also large enough to allow an adult to fit comfortably. (The dimensions of the playhouse featured here include a five-foot door, six-foot walls and an eight-foot peak in the ceiling.)
  
  
• Clear the site of any unwanted trees and/or existing structures.
  
  
• Next, level the site for the concrete patio and playhouse. (The foundation used here is not permanent, which allows the hideaway to be moved or easily dismantled if necessary.)
  
  
• To prepare the foundation, dig two trenches eight feet apart along the front and back of the playhouse area.
  
  
• Fill the trenches with a pre-mixed aggregate-based compound (this can be purchased in building supply stores and home improvement centers). Wet the mixture as directed on the package to create hard, cement-like strips.
  
  
• Lay three eight-foot-long pieces of 6x8 plywood across the space (parallel to one another), with four feet between each piece. (The ends of the boards should rest directly on the pre-poured foundation strips.)
  
  
• To finish the foundation for the playhouse floor, lay two pressure-treated 2x4s perpendicularly against the outside ends of the beams and secure with screws. An additional 6x8 center beam laid parallel to the end pieces provides extra support. (This board is halved to allow the crossbeam to fit through it.)
  
  
• Construct the floors, walls and roof with plywood sheets, adding creative accents in various areas to personalize the structure. Here, David chose to use redwood roof trim with a scalloped edge to add interest and charm.

Step Two: Completing the Structure and Adding Plants

The structure is completed with the following steps:

• Using 4' x 8' sheets of 3/4" plywood for the walls, fasten 2x2 wood strips along the base of each panel and screw through these pieces to anchor the panels to the foundation. Additional 2x2 strips are used to bolt the corners of the structure together.
  
  
• Erect a temporary brace to hold the back panel in place while putting up the sides. (This makes it easier to anchor the plywood in place.)
  
  
• For the front panel, use two 4'x8' sheets of plywood. Lay them on the ground, then screw the door hinges along the edges of the panels where they meet in the center. The window panel is hinged along the corner. While the boards are still flat on the ground, draw the exact outline of the Dutch door (horizontally halved, two-part design) and window on the front of the panel.
  
  
• Position the front panel in place and fasten it to the two existing sides.
  
  
• Set the depth of a 7-1/2" circular saw to just barely penetrate the plywood, then trace the door and window outlines. (The pre-hinged panels will allow the door and window to swing open after their tops and opposite sides are cut out.)
  
  
• A single roof beam that runs from front to back supports the plywood sheets that form the roof. The sheets should be cut large enough to allow for an overhang that will keep out the rain.
  
  
• Cover the sheets of plywood with tar paper to make the roof weather-tight.

Add plants that will complement the style and setting of the hideaway and make it more inviting for children. Isis offers the following tips:

• Choose plants that appeal to children's senses (taste, touch and smell). Chocolate mint and Stevia both have edible leaves for children to taste. Several other safe, interesting varieties are listed below:
  • Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantina), Zones 4-8
  • Fairy's Joke Hairgrass (Deschampsia vivipara), Zones 5-9
  • Dinosaur Food (Gunnera manicata), Zones 7-10
  • Scented Geranium (Pelargonium), Zones 5-8
• Create a feeling of enclosure by planting fast-growing plants around the hideaway to partially hide the structure.
  
  
• Incorporate edible plants that will yield fruit or vegetables that children will enjoy "foraging" for. (Isis has chosen three different kinds of strawberries and a blueberry bush.)
  
  
• Use large, dramatic plants with strange and unique foliage to create a prehistoric feeling.
  
  
• Everything in a child's garden must be safe to eat because children don't distinguish between poisonous and nonpoisonous varieties. Take children through the garden and show them the plants that are intended for eating.

Step Three: Creating the Hideaway Patio

Ken reviews the steps of the project and suggests some simple accessories for the hideaway to inspire children's imaginations:

• Be creative when designing and building the playhouse structure. (In addition to the scalloped trim detail on this playhouse, David has further customized the structure with a circular window in the back wall.)
  
  
• Paint the playhouse in bright colors.
  
  
• Add whimsical objects to the area to create a fun, unique setting. (Here, the hideaway is accented with a blue ceramic dog, brightly colored pails filled with flowers in the window, a small water sculpture and a decorative windmill.)
  
  
• A large piece of slate can be laid into the ground outside the hideaway to provide a natural chalkboard for drawing, hopscotch or other games.

A simple cement patio can also be added to the hideaway by following the steps listed below:

• On a leveled area, cover the ground with about two inches of the same aggregate-based compound mixture used for the playhouse foundation.
  
  
• Wet the compound as directed on the package.
  
  
• Tamp the mixture down firmly and add sand over the surface to create a base for the pavement squares that will form the surface of the patio. Position the squares in the sand side by side to cover the area. (Added bonus: This element will also eliminate weed growth.)

Step Four: Evaluating the Finished Project

For around $1,300 and about three days of work, David and Isis Schwartz have completed a fabulous children's hideaway, complete with a decorative playhouse, patio and magical garden.