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As a Toronto city dweller, the steady stream of traffic, noise pollution, and general chaos can definitely take its toll. Luckily, you don’t have to travel far to find a quiet place to unwind and relax. Located just two hours north of Toronto in the Haliburton Highlands (what Torontonians refer to as “cottage country”), sits The Baltic Treehouse, a modern, sustainable hideaway elevated in the trees, and designed to fit harmoniously into the natural landscape.
A lesson in skilled biophilic design, the epic home resurrects that sense of childhood wonder—and a nostalgia for the treehouses you used to play in. But what really sets the property apart is its regenerative design and the low-impact building techniques employed to preserve the natural surroundings. Two maple trees support the weight of the house, and much work goes into finding the right trees, assessing their health and strength, and ensuring they not only stay alive but continue to grow and thrive. Owners Lauren and Cam even enlisted the expertise of a consulting arborist to use sonic tomography to study the trees’ internal structure to make sure they’re healthy and strong.
As an eco-minded individual, I was fascinated by the specialized tree-safe hardware that was designed to be high load-bearing, while causing little to no damage to the trees. These systems allow the trees to continue to grow and move as they would naturally—and given trees grow from the tips, not the base, there are no concerns that the hardware will fall out of alignment.
Built with renewable materials and powered by solar energy, the Sustainable Tourism Certified–property allows you to indulge without guilt. It is impeccably appointed and offers all the amenities you’d hope for (like Wi-Fi, an outdoor shower, and complimentary toiletries), with the novelty of what the owners call a “nest-like experience of life in the sky.” Reminiscent of Scandinavian design, the living space is warmed by a Norwegian cast-iron fireplace, while earthen floors (made with a mixture of sand, straw, and clay) are designed to keep the treehouse warm through the winter, yet cool in the summer. You’ll hardly notice there’s no TV, with a robust collection of vinyl (we had Pink Floyd and Neil Young on heavy rotation), plenty of board games, and an aptly curated library of books. The kitchen is well-equipped with everything you could possibly need, from beautiful dishes and tableware to high-quality cookware and modern appliances. We also appreciated the locally brewed craft beer and maple-infused Sapsucker water stocked in the fridge, a nice homage to what Ontario has to offer.
In typical treehouse fashion, the second floor is accessed by a ladder, where you’ll find a spacious loft with views of the dense woods outside, and a king-size bed decked out in eco-friendly and organic linens. The near floor-to-ceiling window in the rain shower provides a zen-like experience with its view of the trees. The bathroom is well-appointed with body care products that are all-natural, safe for waterways, and refillable. Solar-powered in-floor heating is a nice touch to keep things toasty.
The outdoor space provided plenty of entertainment, with a woodburning hot tub (no chemicals or electricity required) and an outdoor shower. It takes some time for the fire to bring the hot tub up to temperature, but the slow ritual is well worth the effort. Most of our time was spent on the deck, which proved to be a perfect spot for bird-watching with our morning coffee, kicking back with a cold beer after hiking a nearby trail, and rolling out a yoga mat to enjoy some bodywork in the great outdoors.
And at the end of a long day, the firepit was a great place to usher in the evening. The owners thoughtfully provide fire starter bundles should your fire-making skills be less than stellar. We enjoyed sipping wine alongside the blaze and came well-equipped with the fixings to make s’mores. Be sure to check with Lauren and Cam about fire bans in effect in the county of Haliburton that prohibit open-air fires during wildfire season.
The Baltic Treehouse was the perfect place to recharge our batteries. An impeccably designed woodland oasis, each guest’s stay is a memorable one.
