Sunday, August 7, 2005 THE POST PAGE 3 EE a PETE Alen is GE Auge # ~ The Davis family looks out of a second-floor window of the playhouse. Playhou a big hit or family ¥ i J Wi TAA se i 2 7. AT min fig : » i Ak Oh ih fi ¥ # 2 a TRE REI A “1, I cin ESE dp nt gs A A Rr ARH Pr OR Rr FA FR ha RA ab FSO SUR SN Fs oly A I HS & - Morgan Davis, 4, stands on the porch with her FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK he interior rooms of the playhouse are finished and there is electricity. The staircase leads to a finished second floor. brother, Colin. By CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Post Correspondent ALLAS — When Steven Davis first framed out the front wall of his children’s backyard playhouse, his wife Colleen was in awe of the amount of wood and materials, and the height of the structure. “I think we’re in trouble,” she said. That certainly isn’t the case now. “Today, we’ll find people wandering around in our backyard, even tak- ing pictures, of the playhouse,” says Davis, who lives with his family on Pinecrest Avenue. The impressive structure is approximately 20 feet high and includes electricity, insulation, siding, and a winding staircase. Davis and his wife began the three-year project by checking out the usual backyard pre-made playhouses at local retail outlets. “There were some nice Amish ones for around $7,000 or $8,000,” Da- vis said of the structures that were out of the family’s price range. In 2002, the Davis couple looked ahead to the day when their then 1-year-old daughter Morgan could play and have tea parties with Davis's mother “Grandma Meme,” who frequently visited the house. She away last summer. “My daughter loves to dress up, have tea parties, and sweep the floor,” said Davis. So Davis searched the Internet and found Web sites that sold some beautiful two-story children’s playhouses, all assembled. Some even had electricity, but were priced between $50,000 and $100,000. “That’s what people pay for their own houses,” said Davis. i ERR OSOS Ae STA Os hon nt va othe cat AL ¥ 4 Leesan mn oh TH Ral ata ini isp rR A yp Undaunted, Davis continued his search. He found a company that sold blueprints for a two-story shed/playhouse. The only problem was that Davis — who is a nurse — had little carpentry or construction ability. “I never built anything,” he said. “Well, I had put studs up for a wall. I remember calling the (playhouse) company and the guy started laughing. He said he thought if I could stud a wall, I could build this playhouse. But I might have some problems with the roof and the staircase.” The plans came in the mail with no dimensions or specifica- tions. So, Davis sought help from his brother, Matthew, and his wife’s uncle, Robert Davis — a contractor by “1 never trade — who finished the roof by working week- built d ends over a three-month period. uiit any “The roof was a little complicated with four thing.” peaks and dormers,” said Steven Davis. Mean- while he trenched the backyard for the electri- cal underground wiring, installed insulation, put on the siding, put in the windows, refur- bished old doors, and completely finished the inside of this fairytale playhouse. Today the two-story, 15-by-11-foot playhouse is a testament to Davis's persistence and frugality. He cut apart 14 sheets of damaged drywall and bought scrap material on sale. His Steven Davis See PLAYHOUSE, Page 6 FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Colin Davis walks through the front door of his family's playhouse in Dallas. A —————————————————
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