Special Branch

Special Branch: Texas

If you've ever looked up at birds and critters scurrying along branches above your head and wished you could live among the trees, this unique home in the countryside between San Antonio and Austin can help bring that fantasy to life.

The home has been designed so that the main living quarters sit a storey off the ground and the huge windows look directly out to treetops. There's also a deck that runs around the house on which you can enjoy an alfresco dinner or even take a long soak in the outdoor bathtub. Back down at ground level, you can bask in the local tranquillity while lounging on the swinging daybed or getting toasty around the fire pit.

What's perhaps unexpectedly welcome about the property is the detail and attention that has gone into the interior design. This is no rustic treehouse – guests are treated to bold botanical prints, a supersleek kitchen and another elegant bathtub to match the one sitting outside. It could very easily slot right into an apartment building in one of the surrounding state's big cities.

Although you're more than welcome to stay put and bask in the tranquillity, there are distractions nearby, too. The town of Wimberley and its market takes all of five minutes to reach in the car, while there are several spots for wild swimming locally, including Blue Hole Regional Park ten minutes' drive away.

Home truths:
*Check-ins and check-outs are not permitted on Saturdays, so you'll have to plan to arrive or leave any other day of the week
*The main living quarters are on the first and second floor accessible only by stairs
*There's room to park two cars on the premises or possibly three at a tight squeeze
*The home isn't suitable for infants under the age of two
*It might be possible to use the home for filming, photography or corporate events – please discuss with the host beforehand