DIGS is the premiere luxury real estate lifestyle magazine serving the most affluent neighborhoods in the South Bay and Westside of Los Angeles, California.
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34 DIGS.NET | 5.10.2019 S P O T L I G H T | B A R B A R A B U T L E R M A R K E T PHOTOGRAPH: COURTESY OF BARBARA BUTLER ARTIST/BUILDER INC. Combining childhood fantasies with architectural know-how, Barbara Butler creates elaborate backyard play structures. Recreational Gems W R I T T E N B Y W E N D Y B O W M A N I n 1987, artist/builder Barbara Butler co- founded a company geared toward outdoor design and immediately nabbed a job crafting an out-of-the-ordinary play structure for the two sons of singer/songwriter Bobby McFerrin and his wife Debbie. Butler went on to conduct a wealth of research—which consisted of frolicking on almost all of the play structures in San Francisco—before coming up with a distinct design the couple loved. Fast- forward to today, and Butler now owns her own design/build company where she hand-sketches and creates everything from small, cozy cabins to large treehouses to extensive play forts replete with monkey bars, rope swings and bridges for families in L.A. and far beyond. "I have always loved play, outdoors, trees, color and treehouses," says Butler, whose clients include the likes of Robert Redford, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, and Walt Disney Productions. "I have seven brothers and sisters, and we played outside daily. e old garage at the back of the property was our playhouse, and the giant Chestnut tree was our treehouse. ere were 30 [to] 40 neighborhood kids to play with as well…the Butler backyard was 'Play Headquarters' for the neighborhood." Her process includes examining the spot the play structure will occupy, drawing up a design, showing her idea to clients and then building the structure modularly in a 10,000-square- foot studio, all while carving and staining (she uses 59 stain colors to help her clients create their own personal color palettes), and hanging doors and shutters. Butler adds bridges, tunnels, fire poles, swings, secret escapes, built-in furniture and more. e structure is then broken apart, delivered and installed in about a week. Ranging from $13,000 for a pre- designed, one-story playhouse to $540,000 for custom play structures and treehouses, Butler's designs are rife with secret escapes, fun things to do, special clubhouses, and play experiences for younger and older kids alike. She even likes to include a theater stage whenever possible, where kids can put on a play, set up a band, or practice dance. "Moving forward, I am looking forward to more exciting custom treehouse and play structure projects," Butler says. "Each one is so unique, and I enjoy the challenges that a new site, a new tree, or a new request brings. I still love it and can't believe I get to build these on a full-time basis. I am about to start my 700th project, and I am very thankful to my family for supporting me in my work from the beginning…back when it was a crazy idea to want to build play structures for a living!" barbarabutler.com (CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT) CASA DE ARBOL FEATURES A BEAUTIFUL GNARLED BRANCH THAT TRAVELS THROUGH THE PLAYHOUSE AND OUT THE SIDE WALL. L.A. FORTRESS IS A COMBINATION PLAY STRUCTURE/ CASTLE/TREEHOUSE HIGHLIGHTED BY A STRIPED JAILHOUSE WITH A SECRET ESCAPE SLIDE. THE PASADENA PLAY STRUCTURE BOASTS A LARGE DOUBLE PLAYHOUSE IDEAL FOR PLENTY OF SWINGING, ROCK CLIMBING, SLIDING AND ENDLESS LOOPS OF PLAY. " " -Barbara Butler, artist/builder EACH ONE IS SO UNIQUE, A ND I ENJOY THE CHALLENGES THAT A NEW SITE, A NEW TR EE, OR A NEW R EQUEST BR INGS. I STILL LOV E IT AND CA N'T BELIEV E I GET TO BUILD THESE ON A FULL- TIME BASIS. I AM ABOUT TO START MY 700TH PROJECT.