Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

A Tree House–Inspired Backyard Sanctuary Blends Tranquility and Whimsy

A Tree House–Inspired Backyard Sanctuary Blends Tranquility and Whimsy

Architectural designer Jerome Byron uses playful proportions and pops of color to spark creativity in a serene Los Angeles guesthouse.

When a Los Angeles–based entrepreneur and writer were seeking creative refuge, they didn’t have to travel far for inspiration. The duo simply looked to their backyard to erect a 245-square-foot guesthouse on their hillside property in the Los Feliz neighborhood. Nestled just behind their main residence, the tranquil space serves as a work/play sanctuary for the couple and their two children.



Local landscape design firm Terremoto imagined the Monon Guesthouse to be a wild and graphic garden rife with cacti and grass. When architectural designer Jerome Byron stepped in, he took the concept from imagination to reality, building a tree house–like structure that he describes as a "kind of garden folie."



The finished structure closely resembles the initial sketch of a compact dwelling that juxtaposes clean lines with unusual proportions. Throughout the space, primary geometries are accented by thoughtful pops of color that are intended to invite creative thought.



The backyard guesthouse features an angular roof, circular and rectangular windows, and quirky interior details. In one area, a rounded window is eclipsed by a Noguchi globe pendant.



Cedar decking forms a bridge between the existing home and guesthouse. A set of stairs leads up to the site and around an exterior hot tub. The wood winds around the structure in a vertically oriented cladding with an open-joint system. A warm palette continues inside the structure with plywood walls and minimal built-in furnishings.



"The project was inspired by tree houses, so it naturally feels very warm and muted," explains Byron. "However, I didn't want everything to feel one-note, so I used the fixtures and furniture as an opportunity to introduce pops of colors to compliment the overall warmth."



The guesthouse is all about balance in both form and function: An office nook overlooks the backyard, offering a serene place to work, while a living area features a built-in couch with olive-green mohair cushions, as well as the couple’s two vintage pinball machines. A major focal point is the large, detachable yellow ladder that climbs up to the loft, where a rust-red daybed offers views that open up across the garden and hot tub area.



"I decided on the yellow ladder for two reasons," says Byron. "I wanted to evoke an image of a fire station ladder with a playful obstacle to climb up and down. But with such a small space and a tall mezzanine level, I wanted to make sure that the ladder was also highly visible." The hue of the paint is even appropriately named Safety Yellow.



Come nightfall, the imaginative space takes on a more mysterious air. The circular Noguchi lamp mimics a full moon, while the exterior plants cast towering shadows against the tree house–inspired structure.


Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
×