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.