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LEGO Ideas Tree House – Medieval Version

(Written by Geneva – gid617)

After enjoying the beautiful #21318 LEGO Ideas Tree House for a while (see LEGO Ideas Tree House Review & Nature Photos), I got ready to take it back in time and build a medieval version. Inspired by the old LEGO Castle Forestmen theme from the late 1980s, I made some modifications that would make my LEGO Castle minifigures feel at home.

The first change I wanted to make was from static stairs to a rope ladder. Although the original stairs in the set are very nice, a proper tree house just isn’t complete without a rope ladder that you can pull up to keep yourself safe from the sheriff’s men.

I also tweaked the base a little, adding some more leaves and green slopes. The trunk got a makeover as well – just a bit of varnish to make it even better.

A more drastic change was cutting the third cabin in half. I felt it made good sense to have an open storage room, and it’s a little more playable that the original circular cabins. And of course, what would a forestmen’s hideout be without lots of treasure!

I decided to make the roofs straw-colored – the change I’m sure everyone noticed first! This felt much more appropriate for a medieval era tree house than the original dark-blue.

Of course the roofs can be removed, just like in the original set. The first cabin boasts a table and a couple benches built into the wall, as well as a chest under the round window. The new second cabin features two bunk beds, modeled after the cleverly designed bunk bed in the third cabin of the original set.

You may remember from m my previous review that the tree house photographed very well outdoors. So, I took the opportunity to take this medieval version outside too.

One of my favorite things about customizing official LEGO sets is that the LEGO designers have done all the hard work coming up with play-features and making them work. In the case of this set, I didn’t have to think about how to build removable roofs or how to keep the winch working.

Essentially, what I did to the original LEGO Ideas Tree House set was changing the skin. With the pattern in front of me, turning the dark-blue roofs into tan ones was easy and it only took a few other minor changes to bring the set into the middle ages.

Now we’ve finally gotten to the picture you’ve all been waiting for – the sheriff tied up while dinner is cooking.

LEGO isn’t just about building; it’s also about rebuilding. So if LEGO gives me a 21st century tree house when the 16th century is more my thing, no problem!  A handful of tan bricks and a few tweaks later, and we’ve gone back in time.  You could easily turn this same set into a Native American encampment or a fantasy fairyland.

Some sets are definitely easier to rework into other themes or time periods than others. The LEGO Ideas Tree House is definitely one that’s easy to adapt, but there are other sets as well. What do you think? Did you ever rebuild official LEGO sets in to other themes or times? Is there anything you would have done differently if you were building a medieval tree house? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below!

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{ 22 comments… add one }
  • Garmadon the Great March 10, 2020, 10:53 AM

    This is a great idea! I especially like the interiors, but you need to add more forestmen.

    • gid617 March 12, 2020, 9:14 PM

      Thank you! Yeah, if I had more forestmen I would definitely have used them. Something for the next person, I guess!

  • Undercover Afol March 10, 2020, 11:06 AM

    I like how you used Lloyd’s hood for one of the forestmen. I would like to see Lego update the forestment with modern accessories like that.

    • gid617 March 12, 2020, 9:17 PM

      I agree, it would be great to have a new modern forestman line. At least we’ve gotten a CMF or two in that kind of style!

  • yoladiel March 10, 2020, 11:13 AM

    I think I would add some dark green pieces to the roofs to make them look more worn down and hidden. Right now they stand out too much, so they are not as much of a hideout. I like the other modifications though, especially the oval table on the inside.

    • Peter March 10, 2020, 11:40 AM

      Some netting, cobwebs, and vines should also work to hide the huts better. And I would also post a lookout tower at the top. And yes, the scene needs more forestmen!

      • gid617 March 12, 2020, 9:24 PM

        You guys have some good ideas! I especially like the idea of including some cobwebs.
        I did consider dark green for the roofs but didn’t have the right wedge pieces. But that would definitely add some camouflage!

  • Legostuff14 March 10, 2020, 1:43 PM

    Now that is so cool! I’m maybe thinking not completely change the outside of the treehouse but the inside definitely. I could add maybe some rocks and maybe a cave for hidden treasure or even a prison. I still have an old medieval village people pack set with the Robin Hood characters in it. All I did was up graded their facial expressions and weapons. Oh, even better an elves Fortress and maybe add some walls with green foliage on it.😀.

    • gid617 March 12, 2020, 9:25 PM

      Thank you! The original inside did a great job of using the space effectively, and the cool thing is that it’s not hard to build on that and tweak the furniture and so forth to suit your style!

  • alan first March 10, 2020, 3:54 PM

    Some more leaves might hide the cabins better. I like everything else. Great mod!

  • j.j. March 10, 2020, 4:59 PM

    A random family from the city is not enough for an awesome tree like this. Adding the forestmen is a great idea. Even greater would be something like the city of the wood elves from Lord of the Rings.

    • gid617 March 12, 2020, 9:28 PM

      That was exactly my thought, and it would be great to see some more takes on giving this set a theme!

  • Legostuff14 March 10, 2020, 5:44 PM

    Mmm, ….yeah , j.j. It doesn’t have to be Lord of the Rings . I like to try to make it more original and unique then trying to get it from the store that’s already been made. In fact I believe from the first or second theme of the mystery minifigures you get a woodland elf and of course later on a female elf. Instead of a city family that lives in the treehouse. It could be an Elven family that lives in the treehouse.

  • Legostuff14 March 10, 2020, 6:45 PM

    …..come to think of it. Why can’t the family that’s already leaving there be magical or mythical people. The mom is a sorceress or someone that knows how to do magic like a witch and can do spells and potions. The father is a Warrior and know how to make weapons and knows sword fighting skills. The daughter can speak to animals and other magical creatures. The son can read and understand runes and other ancient writing. As well as discovering traps and ambushes before they happen. It’s an idea that I’ve been toying with ever since I built the set. I think the Tree House itself is very magical.

    • Thita (admin) March 10, 2020, 10:23 PM

      I like your ideas. And you could also add a portal to have the modern and magical worlds interact. 🙂

  • Håkan March 10, 2020, 6:56 PM

    Pretty sweet customization. But yeah, needs more population.

    I have a bunch of the old Forestmen lying around in several minifig boxes. Maybe I should build something similar if I get around to make me a building space…

    • Thita (admin) March 10, 2020, 10:24 PM

      Forestmen are sweet! They do deserve their own hideout, even if it’s not too big. So yeah, build them something! 🙂

      • gid617 March 12, 2020, 9:27 PM

        I agree, gotta give those forestmen a home when you get a chance! 😉

  • Legostuff14 March 10, 2020, 11:13 PM

    It’s funny, I’m reading magus chase ( and the gods of asgard . The sword of summer). And I’m thinking using the treehouse to build something from this story. Maybe, use the tree just like in the book. If you’re not familiar with what I’m talking about read the book. Because you (thita( admin) mentioned portals and magical and modern worlds it just clicked about the book I’m reading.🤔

  • Renata March 22, 2022, 11:44 AM

    Hello, I love it!! How did you adapted the Doors?

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