All original work © Jason W. Wong. Please ask for permission to reproduce any work.

All original work © Jason W. Wong. Please ask for permission to reproduce any work.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Life in plastic, it's fantastic!

I have no idea why, but a few weeks ago I got this catalog in the mail for designer Barbie merchandise. By "designer" I mean there's a limited-edition Jonathan Adler mirror made of 1959 Barbie dolls, a pink Louis Ghost chair by Philippe Starck emblazoned with an illustration of Barbie, and a special Barbie doll dress made by Comme des Garçons.

What caught my eye was the very last page of the catalog...a vintage, still-in-its-original-packaging 1978 Barbie Dream House.


Any kid who was born in the '70s (like me) can tell you how iconic this dollhouse was. Not only did I secretly want one as a child (I had to casually pretend not to care whenever I saw one at friends' homes), but looking at it now as both an adult and a designer, I have to admit it's still frickin' HOT.

What's not to love? The A-frame, the open plan, the windows, the Juliet balcony...it's the perfect house for a sun-loving couple living in Venice or Malibu. Even the vaguely McDonald's-like color scheme of red, white, and yellow have come around again and look crisp and fun.

I think that's the key word:  fun. As we think about our homes and the way we live, we need to keep some of that playfulness and childlike irreverence. For example, I busted out these white plastic lounge chairs after I sold the pair of 1967 "midcentury modest" chairs to one of my clients. Will these be a permanent addition to my living room? Who knows. Who cares? I think they're a riot.


Let your home be one big playhouse where you can dress up and play make-believe. Let your home be a place where anything is possible. Let it be your very own Dream House.

3 comments:

Tracy said...

Been following for a couple of months now, and just got up the nerve to comment...

I totally agree with you on the fun part of decorating and design (it's what makes me love the mentioned Jonathan Adler's stuff). Who wants to go through life all stuffy?

The Juliet balcony on the Barbie house was totally what made me want one. Never had one, either.

Jason said...

Thanks for commenting, Tracy! Yes, I *heart* Juliet balconies. The French have it down--so many old Parisian buildings have them. The balconies are a great way to open up a space and bring the outdoors in, without any extra square footage. It's like your whole room becomes a balcony. Love it.

Sugar said...

Just found your site, and I loved the Barbie Dream Home. And I love your use of fun rugs and color.