A Big Kid's Tree House

Shopping for a Home with Ernie Graham
A Big Kid's Tree House

That emergency-table revelation may have been the other reason for Graham’s undertaking the Treehouse project.

Though Graham conceived the project of building a house that would fill an unmet niche in the market, he approached the project with an intention of working with problems, not against them.

"We looked at a lot of practical issues when designing this house," Graham said. "Everything that would have otherwise been cumbersome and difficult – we made it right."

A bridge to the garage became a spacious mud room. Extra height in a downstairs closet became… well, read on.

"People want to buy something that moves them," he said, describing a trend he has noticed in the post-9/11 world. "They can afford something really, really nice because they have been working hard." But instead of a 10,000 square foot house with a cavernous great room, Graham saw a need for a more modestly sized home.

Indeed, the house, constructed by Greg Hanshaw of Vogon Construction Management, works. The entry is roomy, but does not echo. The great room is more cozy than colossal. And the reasonably sized kitchen, as Graham said, is "not ridiculous."

Throughout the house the thoughtful consideration given to the layout, as well as to each detail, is apparent. From the tucked away powder room and shower, easily accessed from the hot tub placed on the side of the house (so guests don’t have to traipse through the living room after leaving the tub) to the glass walls in the master bath (that allow the bather to take in the surrounding views), Graham and Wright lavished attention on this house.

Graham began the tour in the open-floorplan- style living and dining area. In the yet-to-befurnished living area, one can imagine a comfy sofa and several armchairs snuggled around the stone hearth. The living area is big enough for a party, but the sofa and chairs will be close enough that two can have an intimate conversation.

From the dining area double doors open onto the "sky deck," a cantilevered, wood-planked deck with metal railing constructed by Chuck Choate of Southwest Valhalla Steel. The deck affords sweeping views of the San Sophia Ridge, of Emma and Dallas, and Iron and Campbell Mountains.

Wrapping around the house from north to east, the deck on east side, called the "sundeck" is easily accessed from the kitchen.

"This deck is drenched with sun from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.," he said. "The whole hot tub thing, for instance. It is usually situated in front of the great room," leading to the outcome of a blocked view and a lessthan- private hot tub.

For the Treehouse, Graham situated the hot tub on the sundeck. The hot tub gets sun during the day, and has a great view to the north. For privacy it is snuggled up against a retaining wall.

From the deck, the kitchen is easily accessible (what cook would not want to duck out from his or her chores and step into a hot, achy-muscle-relieving soak?). Designed by Jade Graham, Graham’s wife, the kitchen, with its terra-cotta tiled floor, red, black and gray flecked granite counter tops, and maple butcher block on the island, is warm and welcoming.

"This is the kind that is meant to be cut on," Graham said of the butcher block. "It should have grooves from cutting after several years."

Downstairs on the ground floor the house has two bedrooms (one could be a children’s bunk room, Graham points out) and two baths separated by a room that could easily hold a pool table and which is wired for highdefinition TV.