Homes For Sale: Current Housing Market (Summer 2014)

The vibe has definitely changed since I started following, collecting, restoring and blogging about this house in 2009. It used to be that I (or anyone) could easily snag a 'pre-renovated' house for $25-$65 plus shipping (generally $25-$40). Of course they were disassembled, seller packing ranged from no packing material (or care) whatsoever to each and ever piece being labelled and wrapped in styrofoam wrapping (not cheap). Nowadays (6 years later) I noticed more and more, number one: you definitely cannot obtain a house for less than $100 total, regardless of completeness or condition, secondly: people are throwing away (or 'I'll try to look for them') the post covers due to their condition (which I have blogged several times about how to restore brown, shattered ones) and three: sellers are too lazy to disassemble these for the prices they expect (not to mention their poor grammar and syntax). It seems that they often are not Barbie collectors, are ignorant of keeping all the parts together (and just how much is missing) and perhaps picked these up at yard sales or thrift shops for $20-$30 and are trying to make a quick buck. Sometimes they hose them off (which rusts the screws) and that does not properly remove 35 years of dust and bug crust. Its a very unfortunate situation; if I was wealthy I would purchase some of these and restore, but often they are thousands of miles away and there's just no way to get them since even if I got them to agree to ship, I would not trust a complete stranger to actually send a house if I sent them a check, and have them pack it in a way to prevent damage in shipping. Today there are SEVEN houses, all unrestored and incomplete and the owners refuse to ship them!!   Sigh..............

Box: 1982 Cottage : Closer Look

Recently, a never opened Cottage went for sale on Ebay. It was a few hundred dollars, which may seem high but it did have an interesting history of not only being a foreign issue box but also having belonged to original retail buyers. Also, the box was especially crisp and minty, an unusual trait since most boxes are faded, torn, dented and wrapped in tape by now.

Somehow, this one escaped color fading. Often the 4 post covers have yellowed but that's an easy fix with a $4 can of white pray paint AFTER cleaning them really good. 

Period decor: the remolded pink version 82-87? 

Perhaps the precursor to the inspiration behind the 82 Cottage. 

keywords 1978 Mattel A Frame Barbie Dream Doll House Red roof yellow floors mod groovy 1970s 1980s custom OOAK 1982 cottage 

Restoration: Restoring Faded, Discolored Old Windows: From Yellow to Clear Again

Maguiar's does not turn yellow panes to clear again, but they will make them very shiny and eliminate the small scratches and any scuff marks. 

1978 Mattel A Frame Barbie Dream Doll House Red roof yellow floors mod groovy 1970s 1980s custom OOAK window cleaning

Furniture: 1978 A Frame Dream House European Boxed Furniture Sets

Someone asked awhile back about whether or not the furniture ever came as a complete set. Though it did not I did find this bedroom box set online, perhaps it is a foreign issue. It would have been great if they at least did a special box set of all the living room furniture (with lamps) and kitchen and dining room together. Maybe someone good at graphics can cook up some cool images so I can post here.

Notice the different TV and a lamp. 

European issue. 

2nd version

Custom Repaints: June 2014

2013 Beach House (nay A Frame). 

1978 Mattel A Frame Barbie Dream Doll House Red roof yellow floors mod groovy 1970s 1980s custom OOAK 

Vintage Ads: 1984 Wishbook

This lower ad features a rare house circa 1985. It shares many similarities to the 1970's Barbie Dream House such as having a red roof with white balcony railing and gables, 6 total rooms, double front doors and large scale. It's essentially a house version of the townhouse style construction. It would also make a great Starlight house for Jem and her girls.

Here's more of the Cottage, circa 1982-1983: 

keyword terms: barbie doll house dollhouse vintage 1970s 1978 1979 a frame malibu chalet orange yellow red white pink hot free for sale ebay pinterest etsy new old renovated dolls fashion clothes clothing lot estate parts wall walls door doors window windows part balcony closet flower flowers planters planter plant plants box boxes accessory accessories small pieces info information instructions how to put together where to find buy purchase locate available collector collectible gold silver platinum label individual post posts covers sides custom 3 three section sections patio triangles floor floors dark light build scres pictures club group rare custom ook htf oop in mint clean complete 1980 1981 cottage 1982 1983 1980s color colors anniversary 1984 1985 1986 large bog 3 ft 4 feet long high tall huge large open moveable arrangeable craigslist online forum question questions 40th 50th 45th 55th 60th 35th reproduction remade retro nostalgia nostalgic memories childhood play display mini miniature set up sections  mid mod mid century modern 60s kitsch fun playful open new design designer interior decorator decor designer  

architect architects idea ideas goal aesthetic eames eichler palm springs by the sea malibu granola earth tones earthy autumn wexler wood slats open playful fun 1960s 60s open playful play timeless heirloom 

Customs: 3-story 1970's Dollhouse

To make this house you will have to snap off wall posts to make everything fit, which I do not recommend. The better option is to make a custom first level out of any material you wish, or the 1982 Cottage and then stack them up for multiple levels. Some may like the original yellow and '80's pink together. Its fun and colorful, but just not for me.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctinnMRmmKM

Furniture: Foreign Issue 1978 Dream Furniture for the Barbie California Dream House

German issue. Very rarely you'll see these on US Ebay, otherwise you can go to the German site of Ebay, though international shipping and exchange rate will make the price pretty high.

It's hard to imagine this very American style house and play set in a foreign country, but with moonier changes they made it work. I just wish we had the color variations in every country to further customize our collections. 

I wish these were available for us, I like the floor lamp and the red TV and accessories are quite fetching. 

Vintage Print Ad: Rare 1978 Tri Pic

Rare, original ad from '78. 

Another rare one courtesy of Pinterest: