Alpacas, Treehouses & Dali the Llama
Sometimes we tend to think that our experiences are random happenings, but I think that we walk our given paths. Most times unbeknownst and unconsciously. This Christmas season I wanted to travel, but didn’t really want to drive for hours or fly so far from home. I remembered about a treehouse in Atlanta that I had seen on Airbnb and decided to find out if it was available around Christmas Eve, it wasn’t. Though the one that I originally had in mind wasn’t available, I found another one that was available. This one is a lot more interesting because there are cute animals involved.
I love Kara and Kate’s story because they’ve created a beautiful way to share a bit of themselves with their guests by creating a treehouse that is truly a unique space. They’ve melded their love of renovating homes and salvaging vintage materials with their love of animals. Thoughtfully designed, mixing old with new, their treehouse is incredibly comfortable and peaceful. Sitting in a small clearing in a bamboo forest at the back of their property, the treehouse is a simple, A-frame structure sitting about 12 feet in the air with a ton of personality.
But it’s all about the details. A full wrap around porch gives you 360 degree view of the bamboo and is perfect for chilling out on warm or even cold days and nights. Using vintage multi-colored beadboard salvaged from a local home lines the walls and ceiling. Pale hues of yellow, green, blue, distressed white, and dark brown colors, the boards are mixed in a attractive, random pattern to create a cozy feeling. Salvaged antique doors, windows on every wall, skylights allow a lot of light into the house. Even lightbulbs with the visible filaments that resemble the first ones made by Edison are used along the outside of the house to add to the chic rustic feel. Love the character and the fact that almost all of the materials are from the local area.
The treehouse is decorated with an eclectic mix of vintage and modern accessories. Blue vintage drinking glasses, metal milk container water container with faucet and bowl with a handle on it serve as your sink. There’s a Keurig for your morning coffee or tea, a mini fridge with complementary drinks and snacks at the writing desk. They’ve thought of every little detail. Very comfortable memory foam bed, down comforter and pillows on a queen bed in the loft make for a cozy night’s sleep. There’s no wifi, no tv, just you and your friends or family, perfect for spending quality time together. There’s no running water in the house, but there is composting toilet. A full bathroom with a shower is just a short walk through the bamboo and past the alpacas. In a small portion of the walkout basement of the main house is the entrance to the full bathroom with shower. Beautiful marble subway tile throughout, complete with a vintage porcelain sink from Savannah, GA.
One or two of the alpacas may greet you at the fence as you arrive and park at the gate to their pen. Dali is the Llama, her attitude is very “not bothered”. She doesn’t really like to be touched and gives side-eye glances along with the best of them to let you know. She’s the protector of the group and keeps them safe from any predators that may be lurking in the night. The alpacas are Kaitlin Tasty (mama of newborn Pixie Von Pickle Sprite), Paloma Piper (the matriarch), Ariana Dandelion and Sunny Shevon. These lucky girls get to live in a stable designed and built in keeping with the chic rustic vibe of the treehouse. Complete with stained glass windows and a vintage chandelier in the open area of the stalls.
Listening to Kara’s story as a writer who quit her job to pursue her passion for restoring old homes and salvaging vintage materials is super inspiring. She didn’t just think or dream about buying her alpacas and Dali or building the treehouse…she did it. She’s a great example of turning your dreams a reality, not just dreaming. If you want to book this amazing stay for a weekend getaway, wedding or other special occasion, contact Kara and Kate here: Alpaca Treehouse.