As the world waits with bated breath for the premiere of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie, the design community has thrusted the spotlight on the dreamhouse. (HGTV has even aired its own renovation show about the artificial abode.) After over 60 years of plastic bliss, we’re finally seeing a real-life Barbie spend time in a real dreamhouse—making it feel like it is possible to bring a little bit of Mattel magic into our grownup spaces.
With its multi-story waterslide—the longest in Barbie history, according to Mattel—it’s easy to write off the 2023 Dreamhouse as pure fantasy. However, when you look a little closer, you’ll notice this property is decked out with amenities that speak to what the modern-day homeowner wants.
Between the wheelchair-accessible elevator and integrated light and sounds, this Dreamhouse is equal parts inclusive and innovative. There’s also a spare room on the top floor, which can be reimagined into a home office, gym, slumber party room for Barbie’s friends, or even an in-law apartment for Ken’s parents. (Plus, a pet slide and elevator makes this place suitable for those furry friends.) And, on the design front, the open-air structure and slanted pink roofs look a lot like Airbnb’s real-life Dreamhouse…