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A Writer's Tree House | House Flipper


Welcome back to another House Flipper blog post! You can find all my projects using this tag, HouseFlipper.


So... What are we doing today? You may catch some hints from the title already:


Yes, we're designing a tree house for a writer!

There's only one property in the game that's perched on the tree: the Summer House.




SWOT Site Analysis: Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat


Views, views, views.

This property has the best views in the game, hands down. Just look at this:


House Flipper 1 only has 1 tree house, the Summer House from the base game. This small property boasts a lovely lake view... a perfect place to relax and enjoy nature.
House Flipper's Summer House, a tree house overlooking a tranquil lake

This 100-million dollar view comes with a hidden cost...


Summer House is a teeny tiny property.

With a meagre floor area of 78 sqm, I think this tree house could only comfortably accommodate 1 to 2 people. Even a typical apartment's studio unit has more floor area than this!


House Flipper's Summer House is a tiny property decorated in modern style and furniture
The existing unit only has one bedroom

If you think the floor area isn't cramped enough...


There's a tree trunk in the middle of the house!

Things won't be as bad if the tree trunk is at the corner or along a wall. It is what it is, so... we need to be smarter architects to work our spaces around.


The unique feature of House Flipper's Summer House is the tree trunk that cuts into the living room
The tree trunk's location limits the flexibility of space configuration


Daily Routine


As mentioned many times before, good architecture serves the needs of the occupants, not vice versa. Let's detail up our writer's persona now!


I imagine a young writer, female, single with a chill and easy lifestyle... a cottage-core girl, but on the tree haha!


Morning - wake up, light exercise, breakfast, then writing

Afternoon - lunch, then continue writing

Evening - light exercise or gardening

Night - read / hobbies, sleep


Converting House Flipper 1's Summer House to an author's haven, or a writer tree house. Check out this YouTube video by mypassionmythoughts, explaining the design process, architectural considerations, tips and more
Sneak peak of our writer's tree house. Isn't this cozy?!


Architectural Style and Colour Palette


Since this is a tree house, it only feels logical to go with a rustic design. Timber will be the primary material, complemented by a lighter colour scheme to enlarge the house psychologically.


The palette that go with nature is brown, beige, and orange, as well as its complementary colour, green.

Let's tour the house from her POV... in a vlog style. Introducing: A Day in the Life of an Author.



Rise and Shine~


Good morning, everyone! I wake up around 6 am every day and am immediately greeted by these amazing views:



Let's step out to the terrace for fresh air, shall we?



Also good morning to my pet dog, Summer. I live independently, so security is among my priorities. She's a good companion <3


The sun will not be out until 7am, so I take this opportunity to explore Mother Nature.



Outdoors are for Farming, Exercising or Relaxing.


I try my best to be self-sufficient. One method is to farm my vegetables: carrots, corn, potatoes... you name it.


Summer loves running about the yard while I'm farming

I utilise the shade underneath the tree house for dry and wet utilities. The "dry zone" is storage for farm and general needs.


Keeping the shelves moisture-free by placing them on elevated platforms

The "wet zone" comprises Summer's bath and an outdoor shower. One to keep the dog clean, while the other for its hooman before entering the house LOL. Economical plumbing work, you see.


The rest of the garden is for relaxation! During the evenings, you may find me "snuggling" with my book next to the lovely lake view:


Typical outdoor furniture include swings, coffee tables, picnic mats, picnic table set, barbeque grill, hammock etc.
A swing is installed onto the floor beams to enjoy the lake view. Alternatively, lay down a picnic mat and laze through the evening!

Hammock under a shady tree - perfect way to spend the weekends! With barbeque and fire pit of course
Sometimes the best relaxation plan is not having any plans haha


My, my... look at the time. It's breakfast time!


I'm the sole occupant of the house, indicating a small kitchen will suffice. After studying the floor plan, the most efficient use of space is to allocate the kitchen along the narrowest edge.


Even then, the layout obeys the working triangle of storage (fridge), washing (sink) and cooking (stove):


kitchen design tip: a linear arrangement doesn't support the kitchen work triangle. However, we should still follow the logical flow of fridge, sink and lastly the stove
The kitchen is in a linear configuration, serving only the essentials e.g. the fridge, sink, and cooktop

Where do I eat? Well... this plot has magnificent views, so let's make use of it. Bring the food outdoors!


outdoor dining area is a steal for every property with views
Converting the balcony as outdoor dining area, complete with basic furniture and carpentry for the television

How do you feel about this custom-built TV cabinet? I'll be looking into more personalized cabinetry designs in House Flipper in upcoming projects!


Custom furniture designs are fun and challenging in House Flipper! Here, I combine Gustum and modenette shelves, but use the same timber type to create a homogenous cabinet look
The outdoor dining area is framed by pergola


The Writer's Cove: It's Write o'clock.


Welcome to the main space of the house: the writer's cove. Here is where I work for 50% of the day, so it's imperative to design this area for maximum productivity and clever use of space:



Let's go through every design detail, shall we?


Inspiration doesn't fall from the sky, which is why I installed bookshelves to store my material references.


When an idea kicks in, I'll flesh it out on my "Data Wall":


I also have whiteboards next to the bookshelves to make notes conveniently

Do you notice the low table next to the Data Wall? It's one of my writing desks! I don't mind sitting on the floor... get that hip and thigh muscles working, ya know?


Sitting in the same position for 8 hours is bad for posture, so providing several working modes is crucial.

That said, I also have a typical office computer setup at the opposite of my "Data Wall":


Posture is crucial for long term health! If you're leading a sedentary lifestyle with long sitting hours, then it's highly recommended to buy ergonomic chairs
This work setup is equipped with a comfortable, ergonomic chair

Sometimes I get lazy and just lie down on the floor LOL. I have all that floor space anyway!



I wrap up my work at 5pm. Depending on my mood, I may continue gardening or take a stroll outside.


Most of the time, however, I'll treat myself to the easiest self-care:



Me-Time in the Bath


One bathroom is sufficient for a single occupant and a small property like this. I combined the bathroom with the laundry for efficient use of space:


A custom-made vanity design in House Flipper, using the same timber type and rotating the Gustum shelves to form a bespoke frame
A custom-made vanity design next to the laundry nook
Taking advantage of views by placing the bathtub next to large glazing

It's lovely watching the forest turning night through these windows. Enjoy the night views of this summer house!



Night Views




Thank you for still sticking around with the house tour!


Check out my video walkthrough here on YouTube:



Got any comments about this design? Or even suggestions for future House Flipper projects? Let's keep in touch!



Disclaimer:

All the published media are my in-game screenshots of House Flipper. Kindly contact mypassion.mythoughts should you wish to use any of the published media.

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