It's been dubbed the "Inman Park treehouse," and the nickname fits rather well. The multilevel house, covered completely in galvanized aluminum, sits in the crook of a neighborhood road and is accessed by crossing a bridge over the sharply sloping lot.

It's also the new home of Kristi Bowers and Rachel Hovington, who moved into the 9-year-old house a few weeks ago. The quarter-acre lot, wedged between a ravine and kudzu-covered hillside, is just big enough to hold the narrow house.

Frank Niemeir / fniemeir@ajc.com (ENLARGE)

Kristi Bowers and Rachel Hovington just moved into the 'treehouse' in Inman Park. They bought the home because they liked its unusual design.

Photos of the treehouse RELATED: Urban design excellence is rewarded  Designers find common cause with global artists  Latest design ideas jostle for attention at ICFF  • Dream big with our luxury home channel • Get more home stories, galleries

"We found the architect [who designed the house] through a Google search, and he said the idea was to build a house that floats," Bowers said.

From the many oversized windows that crank open to let in the fresh air, there is the sense of hovering high in the trees. In the combined living and dining room, two walls of glass look into the branches of a giant magnolia outside. In the opposite corner, an angled island divides the cooking area with its Corian counters and pantry.

From the front door, the metal stairs lead to the master bedroom, where more tall windows let in the natural light. The room was completed with a double closet with built-in shelving and custom-made wood blinds for privacy, if needed. The sleeping level includes a guest room with two corner windows and a full bath.

Above the bedrooms, stairs head to a loft area with bookcases and a nook with a suede sofa and flat-screen TV. "We're still tweaking things, but I think this will be our den," Bowers said.

A nearby door leads to a wide deck with modular teak flooring. A fire pit and a grill are surrounded by a wrought-iron table with a shade umbrella and settee, ideal for entertaining as well as taking in the views of the surrounding greenery.

"It's amazing that we can be up here and it's still so quiet, even though we're right in the city," Bowers said.

The lower level of the house has a utility room and an exit to a carport, accessed by a steep driveway along one side of the house. The small backyard is split by a ravine that has been landscaped with hydrangeas, hybrid roses and native greens. There's even a bit of a swale that would make an ideal pond, Bowers said.

The unusual design, along with its easy-care exterior and a completely wired sound system, made the house attractive to its latest occupants.

"We talked to the architect before we bought it and learned how great it is," Bowers said. "He's even given us advice on how we could turn the carport into a third bedroom."

Have a cottage, condo, loft or mansion you want to brag about? Call MetroHome at 404-514-6162 or e-mail hm_cauley@yahoo.com.