Monday, August 24, 2009
Barbie Madness
After another weekend spent unpacking, I'm still in escapist mode so I thought I'd share pictures from the Malibu Barbie Dream Showhouse that Jonathan Adler designed in honor of the iconic doll's 50th birthday. When I first read back in March about Adler's send-up to my favorite childhood toy, I was so excited to see what Adler would come up with. After all, Adler's bright, energetic and none-too-serious style seems like a perfect fit for the archetypal girly-girl. Fortunately, pictures of the project are finally available in Adler's portfolio and it's exactly as you'd expect the brainchild of Adler and Mattel to look: it's very pink, very bold, a little bit mod and a little bit trashy. In short, it's perfectly Barbie. My 8-year old self would have given her right arm to get to live in something half as fabulous.
There are also great tongue-in-cheek moments here from Adler, with chandeliers made from blond Barbie hair, accent chairs bedecked in ballerina tutus and a sunburst mirror made of vintage Barbies. My favorite moment though has to be the giant pink poodles flanking either side of the fireplace -- such a fantastic riff on the white greyhounds that have become all but omnipresent the past few years.
If you'd like to capture a little bit of Barbie's magic in your own home, Mattel is selling some special limited edition items commerating the collaboration with Adler, a selection of which are below:
My personal favorites are the black and white (and pink!) canisters with the hilarious labels like "eyelashes" and "peroxide", but the hot pink lacquerware is great fun, too. All items are available for sale HERE beginning September 20.
Image credits: Jonathan Adler, Mattel.
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16 comments:
I was on the lookout for pics of the Barbie house! Thanks! Frankly, the phrase "life-size" plus "barbie" strike fear into my heart - NO ONE could have pulled this off but Adler. It simultaneously is not a caricature, and also looks larger (or is it smaller?) thank life. I might even consider buying that awesome pink and white throw... (shock!).
I'm feeling a strange mixture of awe & horror. :)
Fun!
Admitedly, I played with Barbies until I was 13. Yes, 13, but not in the way that many young children do -- I created sprawling dream homes, complete with handmade (and often hilarious) pillows, a plush doggie bed, seating areas and even a two car garage. I love dressing them, brushing their hair, and imagining what life might look like if they truly existed. Packing them up made me so sad, so I turned to drawing floor plans and fashion ideas instead...
I'm so glad you shared this life-sized Barbie home - that is, perhaps a bit over-the-top but so perfect in its way! I actually really like it, and some of the details, such as the lucite, plush cushions, shoe closet (wouldn't you love to visit?) and makeup vanity. I would love to purchase the limited edition tray ~
{hope the unpacking/arranging/re-arranging/settling in, is going well, Averill!}
I love the hot pink poodles.... So fabulous!!!!! x
I am so glad you cleared this one up for me. I ran across those pic.'s before but did not know who designed those rooms. I should of 'read the writing on the wall' so to speak. I seriously would love to spend a week there, after that I might have to make a visit to the dentist. Adler was spot on with representing my favorite gal pal, Ms. Barbie.
Glad you've gotten moved in Averill. You both must be exhausted?!
Hilarious - but also tres fab! I might have to investigate that fringed throw, or maybe even the lacquer tray come Sept. 20!
Holy crap, this is fantastic!! I'm a bit horrified by the hair extension chandeliers, but the Venetian mirror above the vanity is great and I love the silver poufs in the living room. Barbie's silver Corvette with pink interior (yes I had one!) would look fab in the driveway. :-)
I love the Barbie mirror over the fireplace. It's really kinda cool!
I never really played with Barbies growing up, but Jonathan's take on this is so fun. I love those metallic moroccan puffs the best!
Averill: Let's time travel back to the late 70s so we can play together! I love the corseted chairs!
I love this post!
I hope this isn't a duplicate comment on my part! I love this post and his barbie house. So freaking cool, for my eight year old self too! What fun.
Can't wait to see and hear more about your house! Hope you're getting some relaxation in there!
ps thank you so much for your encouraging remark re my training. It means a lot to me!
Wow! :-)
Wow, that is incredibly creepy! It's like the twilight zone! I LOOOVE IT.
too fun!!!!!!
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