Dreams Happened without me

I completely missed going to Dreams Happen this year (my kids were thrilled I didn't torture them again by dragging them to the mall to look at roped off playhouses they can't play with). Below are more details from the event with my favorite houses. You can see my coverage of previous years of this event here.

Since 1993, Stanford Shopping Center has co-sponsored and produced the biennial Dreams Happen event benefiting Rebuilding Together Peninsula—a non-profit organization dedicated to rehabilitating the homes and community facilities of neighbors in need from Sunnyvale to Daly City. Playhouses have sold for amounts ranging from $13,000 to $101,000. Bidding typically begins at $5,000.

Backyard Beta Box

Arcanum Architecture

Peninsula Custom Homes


Lunar Explorer One

The Hayes Group

South Bay Construction


Galactic Guardian S3-15

Square Three Design Studios LLP

Pete Moffat Construction


Tours en l'Air

Gehry Partners, LLP

Level 10 Construction

Sponsored by Facebook


You can see more details and photos of all 12 playhouses here: www.rebuildingtogetherpeninsula.org/programs/dreams-happen/the-playhouses.

Dreams Happen, Again

Every two years I drag my kids to the Stanford Shopping Center to torture them with playhouses on display that A. they can't play on and B. we could never afford to buy. Rebuilding Together Peninsula is a local non-profit organization that provides free repair services to low-income homeowners and community facilities that serve those in need. Their biennial fundraising event pairs local architects with builders to create these amazing over-the-top children’s playhouses. Truly unique, these custom playhouses blow the lid off most playhouses on the market. Since 1993 the Dreams Happen event has raised over $2.8 million, with playhouses auctioning from $13,000 to $71,000. You can see my past posts from 2009 and 2011 here.


Clubhouse Loft
This was one of my favorites. I love the mid century modern butterfly roof and the mix of building materials. My kids loved it too. It sold for $60,000.

Architect, Arcanum Architecture.
Builder, Behrens-Curry Homes.
Photo Credit, Dean J. Birinyi Photography.


A Modern Point of View
My kids would have a hard time keeping me out of this playhouse if we owned it. I love the wrap around floor to ceiling glass window. It sold for $24,000.

Architect, Gary J. Ahern.
Builder, W.L. Butler Construction Inc.
Photo Credit, Dean J. Birinyi Photography.


Mod Pod Time Machine
Playhouse? No, sorry kids, this would be my office, find someplace else to play.

Architect and Builder, Inhabiture Design.
Photo Credit, Dean J. Birinyi Photography.


Safari Campout
Another playhouse too sophisticated for kids. I would be watering the plants and hanging out in the hammock. This beauty sold for $40,000.

Architect: Hayes Group Architects, Inc. & Morris Engineering.
Builder, South Bay Construction.
Photo Credit, Dean J. Birinyi Photography.


Box.O.Matic 3000
I was really bummed we didn't get to see this one. The playhouses were spread out all over the shopping center and my kids we getting tired so we missed out on seeing this one. It sold for $11,000.

Architect, Ana Williamson Architect, AIA.
Builder, Mediterraneo Design Build.
Photo Credits: 1. Dean J. Birinyi Photography and 2 & 3. Janet Paik © 2013 Houzz

Peninsula Creamery

This was the other one we didn't see in person, if we had I don't I could have kept my kids out. Just look at all of the fun stuff to play with in this ice cream shop. Too cool! It sold for $33,000.

Architect, Square Three Design.
Builder, Pete Moffat Construction.
Photo Credits: 1. Dean J. Birinyi Photography, 2, 3 & 4 Square Three Design website.


Home Is Where the Heart Is
This colorful and playful house brought in $13,000.

Architect and Builder, Barbara Butler Artists-Builder, Inc.
Photo Credit, Dean J. Birinyi Photography.


The Little Mountain Cabin
This adorable playhouse sold for $24,000.

Architect, Pacific Peninsula Architecture.
Builder, Pacific Peninsula Group.
Photo Credit, Dean J. Birinyi Photography.


Ohana Hale
This Hawaiian getaway sold for $16,000.

Ohana Hale. Architect, Cara Kuroda Design.
Builder, Peninsula Custom Homes.
Photo Credit, Dean J. Birinyi Photography.


The Red Barn
This little barn sold for $7,5000.

Architect, John Onken Architects.
Builder, Thor Construction.
Photo Credit, Dean J. Birinyi Photography.


Home Base
My 6 year old is a huge SF Giants fan, so this was his favorite. The baseball bat ladder and all of the paraphernalia knocked this one out of the ball park. It was the home run of the auction breaking all previous records with a whopping $101,000 winning bid.

Architect, SDG Architects
Builder, Chesler Construction, Inc.
Photo Credits: 1. Dean J. Birinyi Photography and 2. Janet Paik © 2013 Houzz


Chateau Chien Doghouse
This was the first year I saw a mini playhouse. My kids thought it was so cute and couldn't understand why it was for a dog and not them.

Architect, Winges Architects, Inc.
Builder, Hooper Construction & Remodeling Inc.
Photo Credit, Dean J. Birinyi Photography.



Photo Credits: all photos without white chain by Dean J. Birinyi Photography, except when noted by Janet Paik © 2013 Houzz and Square Three Design website. The rest are from my cell phone, I forgot my camera at home :( D'oh!

Dreams Happen... amazing playhouses

Two years ago, I accidentally deleted my photos of this event, so this time I ditched the kids with the babysitter so I could enjoy seeing the houses and taking some photos to share. Modern MC linked to this event today, which reminded me I should finally post these.

Dreams Happen is a biennial event benefiting Rebuilding Together Peninsula. The fundraiser teams up architects and builders to design some pretty amazing children’s playhouses. This year I was glad to see more modern designs. The playhouses were on display at the open air Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, CA for the month of May and then auctioned off at the fundraiser with opening bids of $5,000. The playhouses have sold for $13,000 - $71,000!

This year's highest bid was $60,000 for "Backyard Outpost" designed by Arcanum Architects and built by Behrens-Curry Homes. The event raised $500,000 for Rebuilding Together Peninsula, a national organization that organizes volunteers to help repair/restore homes for low-income, seniors and disabled homeowners.


There were some fun ideas this year including this "Science Lab" by Hayes Group Architects, Inc., S.E.A. Construction, Inc. and Cody|Brock, Inc. Plus the wild and colorful "Oblique House" by Barbara Butler Artist-Builder, Inc.


I loved "(f)un.box" by Ana Williamson Architect, AIA and Mediterraneo Design. I know its designed for kids, but I can just picture kicking back with a summer drink on the roof under that umbrella.


My favorite was "GyMAZEium" by Peterson Architects and PlaceMakers, Inc. One side had a rope ladder and the other a fireman's pole, to drop down into the rooms, along with hidden exit doors. Both sides were connected by a crawl space under the stairs and slide that divide the rooms. I really liked the rope lighting on the roof panel connecting the two sides. I hope the kids that get this love it more than I do.



I was disappointed in the Dwell playhouse this year. I mean, its a box in a box with no lid. "The Dwell® little 'D'" by Davis Studio Architecture + Design and Dwell® Magazine has pretty cool white walls that fold up from the side walls to roof panels, but there is no roof over the black box so you can't leave anything in the "play" house that won't get ruined in the rain. I have a hard time picturing kids playing in it. Visions of sinister children of the corn'ish kids are all I can imagine lurking inside the black box. At the last event the Dwell playhouse was my favorite, so I guess I was hoping for something a little more playful this year.


I was completely blown away by "E-I-E-I-O" by Square Three Design Studios LLP and Benchmark Builders. I swear the designer must read MiniModern.blogspot.com, Modern MC has been dreaming of converting a barn into a modern home and well ta da! Complete with mini Eames Lounger and S Chairs and giant sock monkeys. The interior even looks like one of the kids rooms on Modern MC's blog! Too cute.

Now if only we can sway these architects even smaller. One can dream.

(top three images and last event's Dwell image are from Rebuilding Together Peninsula website, the others, well, I apologize for my lack of photography skills)