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Photography courtesy of Kaci and Waylon Richardet
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Photography courtesy of Kaci and Waylon Richardet
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Photography courtesy of Kaci and Waylon Richardet
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Photography courtesy of Kaci and Waylon Richardet
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Photography courtesy of Kaci and Waylon Richardet
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Photography courtesy of Kaci and Waylon Richardet
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Photography courtesy of Kaci and Waylon Richardet
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Photography courtesy of Kaci and Waylon Richardet
Remember when you were a kid and dreamed about living in your very own treehouse, like a modern-day Swiss Family Robinson? Well, tucked away on Kaci and Waylon Richardets’ 120-acre family farm, the TreeLoft in Perryville is a private oasis in nature that’s both luxurious and off-grid.
Inspired by Bolt Farm Treehouses and tiny homes in general, the Richardets began construction with local contractors on their custom tree house in summer 2019 and opened it for guest use in August 2020.
The Richardets, who are the parents of four children and expecting another, know how important it can be to find time to relax and take a break from everyday life. “This space is geared toward a couples retreat, a place to get away, a place to disconnect, and we've found that a lot of people really need that,” Waylon explains. Beyond couples, the treehouse has hosted mother-daughter pairs, siblings, and best friends. It's even served as a honeymoon destination for some, as well as the site of new engagements.
“As our guests have been there throughout this last year, we've been blessed to say we've been booked every single day besides one that we blocked [for] ourselves,” says Kaci.
Beyond it’s modern, rustic charm, the TreeLoft’s popularity may be partially attributed to people longing for a safe, nature-based retreat during the pandemic. According to the Richardets, the seclusion in nature is the appeal. As Waylon says, “I think people really appreciate the slowdown.”
The space itself is simple and elegant. The wood floor, ceiling, and furniture are tied together with white walls, kitchen tile, and forest-green accents. The minimalist style was intentional, so “the guests could feel like it's their own place, that there's no preconceived feelings of other people's style,” says Kaci.
The wall behind the bed has been turned into a forest of sorts, with wallpaper mirroring the view outside. The kitchen is equipped with small appliances for cooking and a coffee bar with seating for two, and the bathroom consists of an elegant rain shower and a soaking tub.
Large, intentional windows reveal the surrounding trees and allow natural light to pour into the space. Near the gas fireplace, there’s a cozy setup for guests to sit and view nature. A skylight situated directly above the king-size bed allows for late-night stargazing and early morning sunlight (that is, if guests don’t decide to use the sunshade to keep snoozing). Outside, on the lofted deck, there’s plenty of seating, a hot tub, and space for grilling. Down below, there’s thoughtful lighting and a fire pit with benches for seating.
“Guests really just love being immersed in nature,” says Kaci. "We have a bird feeder out there—some people say they 'watch bird TV.'"
Though there is limited cell service and no television or wifi—a decision that was intentional— the TreeLoft has everything that guests need to enjoy their stay offline: games, books, magazines, puzzles, binoculars, a record player, a Bluetooth speaker for music... Most guests opt for a two-night stay—what Waylon refers to as the “sweet spot” for allowing enough time to disconnect—and tend to stick around the TreeLoft the whole time, though there are hiking trails and wineries nearby.
The hosts want to ensure that guests have the chance to truly disconnect during their stay. “That's what we're really wanting to provide," Waylon says. "A good experience.”
