subject: What Would Your Dream House Look Like? [print this page] Home interiors designer and style guru, Jonathan Adler, has a manifesto on his Web site. It begins, "We believe that your home should make you happy." It goes on to call minimalism "a bummer," describe tassels as "the earrings" of the home and declare that "colors can't clash."
Design Improvement: Barbie's New Home
It's no surprise that Jonathan Adler was chosen to create a real-life replica of Barbie's Dream Home in Malibu in honor of the shapely doll's 50th birthday. The project, commissioned by toy maker Mattel, involved outfitting a rented mansion with wall-to-wall pink carpeting, filling a closet with 50 pairs of pink peep-toe heels, and stocking her kitchen with cupcake-making ingredients. Instead of Barbie's classic Corvette, Adler chose to park in the garage a new, pink Volkswagen Beetle, complete with a motorized pop-up vanity in the trunk. How fun!
The exhibit is moving to the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, where it will furnish a special pink-tinted Barbie Suite, soon to be available for bachelorette parties, birthdays, or anyone who wants to live like Barbie.
Your Dream Home: Interiors and Improvements
The project begs the question: why can't we all create our own dream houses? Sure you might not have Barbie's budget or the assistance of a star designer to help you create your fantasy home. Still, that shouldn't stop you from following Adler's No. 1 design rule: your home should make you happy.
Use the colors you love. Fill your home interiors with the things that bring you joy. Hang artwork. Choose accent pieces that express your personality.
Barbie's Dream House was adorned with a portrait of herself done by Andy Warhol, a chandelier made with 30 blond wigs, and a mirror framed with 64 dolls. Sure, those items might be a bit over the top for everyday life, but why not ask yourself: what would your dream home look like? Keep your answers handy when you look at your next home improvement project. Pink may not be your color, but adding flair to your home's interior doesn't have to be a dream.
