If you’ve always dreamed of living high up amongst the leaves, it seems you’re not alone. Tens of thousands of people just voted on their favourite house of 2017 – and the winner was a beautiful waterside treehouse in the US.

The five-storey house on Bainbridge Island, just outside of Seattle in Washington, is built from reclaimed wood and boasts three bedrooms and four bathrooms. It’s just been named 2017 House of the Year in an annual poll by online real estate marketplace Zillow, and we can see why.

For a start, there are those reclaimed wooden floorboards, ceilings and window frames. The architect who built the treehouse in 1978 salvaged four huge wooden posts to support the building’s airy living space, and is also thought to have used old-growth Douglas fir trees (dating back more than 100 years) as ceiling beams. 

Then there are the huge windows, showcasing the lush greenery of the 200ft cedar trees outside. Because the treehouse is near the ocean, you can also see passing ships and ferries sailing by from every floor of the building.

In a nod to the area’s maritime connections, the builders rescued objects from an old ship to use as accents throughout the house. Some of the windows are old ship portholes, while the doorknobs are actually repurposed brass handles salvaged from an old sailing vessel. 

Head out of the doors on the ground floor’s main living space and you’ll find an outdoor pond filled with Koi carp, while doors on the first floor open onto a patio offering views of the water and surrounding greenery (if you’re lucky, you might spot local wildlife including deer, raccoons, pheasant, heron, kingfishers and eagles.)

On the next floor up is the master bedroom and a private “sun room. 

The treehouse was owned until recently by architect and environmentalist Jason McLennan, best known for designing Leonardo DiCaprio’s eco-friendly resort on an island in Belize. He sold the treehouse earlier this year for $875,000 (around £654,000), but spoke to Zillow about his love for the building.

“It really spoke to me. It’s really connected to the environment around it,” he said. “It has great views, great light and it has all these different levels. You can really find a space that fits your mood.”

He continued: “It’s just nature’s paradise. Everything is nestled in the trees, so the trees are intact and the ecosystem is intact. You do feel like you’re in a special place when you’re there.”

Fancy booking yourself into your own treehouse retreat? Check out our round-up of the world’s best rental treehouse escapes.

Images: Erik Hecht / Zillow