what a fun project! It’d be cool to snap some closeups of the graffiti, if it has sentimental value–maybe you frame the pics and hang them in the clubhouse? Or, leave those parts unpainted and create a frame around them as if they are pictures?

Cool clubhouse and fun ideas! I love the US Army feel to it and can’t wait to see the final pics.

I’d really love to see windows and a door installed in the clubhouse. Maybe you could find some second hand ones that would work? Or maybe you could see if Lowes or Home Depot want to sponsor you on the project! Otherwise it appears mice proof and then you would be able to leave the beds in all year. Making a spontaneous Christmas sleeping in the club house possible.
I’m not sure about the floor plan, but by adding a dresser (if there is room) would allow for additional blanket storage (then you could even put the blankets and pillows away after use. I guess totes under the beds would work too.

affiliate links disclosure?

I totally like this idea for the graffiti ’cause I was thinking it’d be a shame to cover it up with the white paint. But this would be a fun solution. Even if it doesn’t have much sentimental value, if I was your kids I’d love seeing it (and adding to it)…. something about thinking, “wow my mom/aunt/uncle was my age once and this was their cool place and now it’s mine!”

What a fun project! It must make your Dad proud to see the clubhouse still going strong all these years, and now being enjoyed by the next generation. Just curious….are you concerned that the white paint is going to get gross looking seeing that it’s partially exposed to the elements? That was my first thought….

Probably a silly question – are you considering putting screens in the window sills? Or would that be more likely to trap bugs in than keep them out? I’m from Utah, mosquitos aren’t too bad here unless you’re in the mountains.

I am so excited for this!

If anything, my dad might put in new windows in the future (the old ones rusted out) but we won’t be putting in screens now.

Nah…it’s a clubhouse so I don’t expect it to stay pristine. We just want to lighten it up. We can always repaint in the future if necessary.

Like I mentioned, I am working with Wayfair for this project HOWEVER there are no affiliate links within this post.

We haven’t had a mouse in the clubhouse in all its 20+ years! I think it’s too high off the ground? We have had the occasional bird and wasps but that’s it.

The clubhouse had windows once but they rusted out. Maybe adding windows and / or a door could be a future project?

Such great ideas! I would like to honor some of the graffiti and encourage more – that’s one of the surprises!

With no food source and no bedding material it makes since that no mouse would venture up. But with an added cooler, possible wrapper left in an open trash can and bedding material, I could see where mice might be intrigued to lodge there in the future. The cooler was the main reason I thought about mice.

Oh, I live the naturally aged walls like they are. It truely looks like a fort. My son’s fort has natural wood walls, except for one wall, which has three fun sections — dry erase board, chalkboard, and a section of galvanized metal where artwork hangs with magnets. Even with the dry erase and chalkboards, writing still ends up on the walls. I don’t mind, as long as it’s the inside walls. My husband used deck coating with Elastomerik on the floor. He thru in texture (sand), so it’s nonslip… no splinters. Forts are fun! My son wishes his was on stilts like yours. I’m very excited to see the end result with the surprises!

*Squeal!* I can totally see it. It is going to be amazing. And hammock chairs are the best! I like the open windows for the sticking out of telescopes or whatnot, but I think hand built functional (colorful?!) interior shutters could be cool in case of a sudden storm or to somewhat protect your work in the winter.

Btw, do you know how many trips I had to make to ikea trying for that pillow cover? Four. Four twenty-five minute drives for one pillow cover. Geesh. But finally success and it’s currently one of my favorite things in the house.

Ooooh, good thinking. That probably is why we’ve never seen mice. The cooler will only be in the clubhouse when the kids pack a lunch and take it up to eat. I’ll let them know the cooler is to come down with them when they leave…along with any trash. I’ll have the beds “made” for the reveal but I’ll probably only make them up for sleepovers and keep the bedding in a bag at my dad’s house when not in use. Thanks for mentioning the mice thing…I wouldn’t have thought of it since it hasn’t been an issue before!

I love this! We found an old army cot that collapses and folds up at a yard sale for $10. It’s my pride and joy and I’ve always wanted to outfit it with a green army blanket like that!

I love the army blankets idea! Can’t wait to see the reveal.

HOW FUN!

I’m hoping someday that when our girls are older that my husband will build them a play house in our backyard!

[…] been over two months since I shared my childhood clubhouse and my plans for perking it up for my kids and their cousins. It took several sporadic weekends, a lot of elbow grease and […]