The Dr. Pepper Treenet Treehouse Collaboration
Palos Verdes Estates, California
Weaving in Palos Verdes Estates
Every now and then, a project comes along where the connection with the client is instantaneous. While teaching a treenet weaving workshop in Upstate New York, we received a call from Shaun and Katy in Southern California. Warm, incredibly articulate, and full of life, Shaun and Katy weren’t just looking for a contractor—they were looking for an artist who could treat their Mexican Pepper tree like a canvas. As a passionate supporter of the arts and fellow entrepreneurs (co-founders of Sunnie’s Snacks, a healthy Whole Foods favorite we’d been eating on the road for years!), Shaun and Katy shared our appreciation for the grit, sacrifice, and vision it takes to build a business from the ground up.
Unlocking a Five-Year Dream
When Shaun and Katy purchased their Palos Verdes home during the pandemic, it was love at first sight—specifically because of a magnificent, mature Mexican Pepper tree that acted as the focal point of the entire property, perfectly framed by the living room's sliding glass doors. For five years, Shaun had envisioned converting this magical tree into an immersive nature escape for his children, but the canopy presented a beautiful yet frustrating puzzle.
Shaun Knew There Had To Be A Way To Enjoy The Tree Safely
Because the tree had sustained improper cuts in the past, its branches had grown inward, wrapping around one another in a dense, chaotic maze. While it offered incredible climbing potential, the sheer height made unprotected climbing a safety risk for his young children and their friends. Shaun knew there had to be a way to enjoy the tree safely, but finding the right team to execute his vision proved nearly impossible.
Shaun’s Ultimate Dream Was To Establish A "Base Camp"
Shaun’s ultimate dream was to establish a "Base Camp"—a circular floating deck with absolutely zero vertical supports to preserve the tree's health and aesthetics. He consulted multiple contractors, but no one could figure out how to engineer a completely suspended deck within such a complex canopy. After months of dead ends and endless internet searches, he finally found us, ready to turn his five-year vision into a reality.
Partnering with Good Nature Treehouse
In August 2025, the Treenet Collective van rolled into Palos Verdes for a design meeting, fresh off a massive cross-country drive from a playground build in Boston. Shaun greeted us warmly and we got straight to work. Shedding his corporate attire for shorts and flip-flops, Shaun scaled the ladder into the canopy right behind us to talk design. Because the branches were so intricately intertwined, standard hand-drawn sketches couldn't fully capture the complexity of the space. We explained that we needed to let the tree speak to us and design fluidly in real-time, and Shaun gave us his total trust—allowing our team the creative freedom to execute the project to our highest standards.
We Called In Our Talented Friend Chris Henkel
To solve the floating deck dilemma, we called in our talented friend Chris Henkel from Good Nature Treehouse an ISA-certified arborist and elite treehouse builder. It was the missing piece of the puzzle. While the combined timeline meant Shaun would have to wait eight months for installation, he embraced the process, knowing that thoughtful specialized work takes time. The tree was trimmed and prepped, and Chris installed a flawless, completely suspended floating deck to serve as our foundation.
Rigging and Weaving the Maze
Returning to Southern California with perfect 70-degree weather and coastal breeze, we began the intricate rigging and weaving process. The rigging for this tree was among our most complex to date. Kane spent the first day entirely in observation mode, staring at the canopy, mapping out the architecture, and visualizing every path before installing a single piece of hardware. We carefully anchored the base with mindful hardware placement, threading the static rope through the twisted branches to create our platforms and shapes.
Weaving Began Thread By Thread And Knot By Knot
From there, the weaving began thread by thread and knot by knot over the next 3 weeks. For color, we chose an all-black static rope to honor the tree's natural beauty rather than competing with it. Because the backyard was already a lush paradise of succulents, a bright color would have distracted from the natural architecture. The black rope blended seamlessly into the bark, making the net feel like an organic extension of the Mexican Pepper tree itself.
The Result: A Legacy Space for Family
Throughout the build, Shaun’s kids would anxiously wait for the school day to end, running out to hang out on the Base Camp deck and chat with us while we wove. Their pure excitement was a beautiful reminder of why we live our lives on the road for this craft.
The finished "Dr. Pepper" Treenet is a great example of organic design—a multi-tiered climbing net built right into the twisted branches above a floating deck. When you work with clients who say, "I trust your vision as artists and want this to be a positive experience for you, too," it inspires you to move mountains. Thank you to Shaun and his family for welcoming us into their home and letting us build a space where their children can safely explore, dream, and play for years to come.
