Detailing a Robin Hoods Fort

Luscious browns and blues with touches of curry make a tasty color palette for this Robin Hood's Fort with 9' long bridge (soon to have 2 swings attached underneath).

The guys are "detailing". This is the stage in our process where we erect the structure and bolt it together to make sure that every modular piece fits perfectly.

Then we add:

- swing hangers & monkey bars under the bridge,

- rock holds to the back wall

- play accessories and more...

In this picture Jose is adding the side shutters to the Fort and Marco is just coming in from the metal shop where he was welding. We make many of our own metal parts, such as the special metal sleeves that wrap around the "footing" ends of every post that will be sunk into concrete, 2' below grade.

Santa's workshop: contemporary shapes and colors

It's starting to get exciting as more shapes emerge! The towers are long and sleek, looking like a rocket ship about to launch.

Adding the side "fins" (which will flank the entrance to the swinging bridge) starts to define the contemporary look of this play structure.

Once building is complete, the tower moves to the staining bay where Rudi adds the color.

Then the finished tower is moved to the outside dock to bake in the sun. This complicated black & white pattern will require a longer drying time than usual. We do not want to drag any black into white when we wipe-on the final coat of clear tung-oil.

Fortunately for us, this is California, and we are enjoying a particularly lovely stretch of warm, sunny weather. Our condolences to the East Coast, where winter storms are still dumping tons of snow on a daily basis.

A blue play structure for a green space

I was looking through old boxes of photos the other day and came across this lovely image. Designed and built in 2004, this play structure looks vibrant and inviting in the far corner of this elegant, tranquil garden. Barbara likes to work with Landscape Design professionals to find fun ways to invite children into the garden spaces.