Tree houses bring about the childhood nostalgia of summers spent in the backyard.  Not only do tree houses encourage people to be more connected with the outdoors, but they also bring a sense of youthful whimsy. Luckily, with modern architectural design, tree houses are no longer just for the kids. Take a look at these tree houses that give traditional designs a playful twist.

We love going on day trips (some closer than others) to see fantastic and inspiring architecture. Here are some of our favorites:

Architect: Alvar Aalto; Built: 1970; Address: 1 Abbey Drive, St. Benedict, Oregon

Olympic Sculpture Park

Architect: Weiss / Manfredi; Built: 2009; Address: 2901 Western Ave, Seattle 98121

Warmer weather has us dreaming of the outdoors, but along with the spring weather comes the spring rain.  Here are some creative ways to treat the ground planes that soak up the April showers.  

Farrar Pond Project - Mikyoun Kim Design

"Wrinkle in Time" - Karen Stefonick of Karen Stefonick Design

"Alley Garden" by Peter Fudge