Yes, You saw it here first. Thanks to a loyal follower I was informed about the mysterious alternate windows on the Pink DreamHouse. Everytime I think I know it all (about this anyway) I am humbled by sleeper cell intel. As you may or may not know, I am reluctant to even post about the Pink Totally 80's A Frame for reasons previously posted about but any color variation of the 1978 small house we are all so obsessed with at least deserves a post. There seems to be 4 different windows for the Pink A Frame. Hot pink, transparent pale pink, and clear windows with dark or light pink edges. Anyway, I thought it was interesting and worth a little chat. Please also see the post about the traditionally colored A Frame with orange floors. If I had to say, my favorite would be the lighter pink frames.
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| Light pink frames |
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| Soft translucent pink |
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| Soft translucent pink |
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| Darker pink frames |
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| Soft translucent pink |
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| Lighter pink trim |
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| Rosy outlook box-o-plenty. Pick ONE only! Lol. |
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| They could be alternate yellow windows with yellow panes, but alas they are not. Simply cooked and aged to 'perfection'. |
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Hot pink windows, probably the final version that came out. i am assuming it was firs the clear windows with light pink trim, dark pink trim, then the soft pink/rosy tinted ones, and then these. Kinda hot!
1978 Mattel A Frame Barbie Dream Doll House Red roof yellow floors mod groovy 1970s 1980s custom OOAK
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i just wanted to thank you for your wonderful blog. i just found it and read every post more than twice. i just love this house and recently bought 2. it was so funny how you had almost the same thoughts,questions and experiences about this house. i do hope you come back with another post in the near future. I need to know why the pink house has 2 different style windows and does the yellow house also have 2 different style of windows? thanks for all the info and fun :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful site. I have done the exact same thing as you, I have purchased banged-up Dream Houses and Krylon Fusion-ed my way to a pristine house for me, as well as a Dream Pool set. I only painted the white parts, which had faded to various shades of cream and brown. I've often wished there was some way to re-manufacture the post covers, by heat-forming thin plastic over a form to get the right shape. That would spruce up SO many Dream Houses, which often lack the post covers or have cracked ones. Theoretically new windows could be made of cut pieces of plexiglass, with painted or applied "frames". My own personal set had good windows and doors, thankfully.
ReplyDeleteHi Madfan31. As far as I know the original orange and yellow 1978/79 house only came with one version of windows and right now I dont know what years the Pink totally A Frame house came with pale pink versus hot pink color windows. But here are some good photos of the latter.
ReplyDeleteDear Siansonea, Isn't it fun rehabing these things? If I had a dollar for every can of white spray paint I have bought to restore A Frames, I could probably buy a real life A Frame. I have thought about how to reproduce replacement post covers since they were clearly not meant to last 30 years plus. Lucky for me some survive perfectly well (and thats what goes on MY house) and for re-sells I havent had to replace them yet, but have noticed ALOT online dont have hardly any left, or they are too shattered to use. For small blemishes, I glue and tape, THEN respray but they have to be in pretty good shape to begin with. For total replacement starting from scratch I would try the big white sheets of posterboard from the dollar store, use original covers as a template trace it on the posterboard, score the edges with an exacto knife and ruler (ensuring shiny side is facing out) and maybe have to finagle a bit during assembly to ensure tips of paper covers dont get smashed by floor grooves. See also my post about replacement parts using the same technique. You can make a closet, doors, balcony or even railings this way.
ReplyDeleteHi... my son has a 3D printer...and he can make new one's if anyone is interested?
DeleteJust email or text me
619-665-1138
Great suggestion! I am sure tons of people need replacement doors and windows.
DeleteThat's a good idea, I've thought about using posterboard. My only issue is that it wouldn't be "archival" enough, and the paper would be more prone to becoming misshapen over time from temperature and moisture fluctuations. :/ I still think there's got to be some way to bend thin sheets of plastic into the right shape. I think I'd still spray-paint such post covers though, for a nice, consistent finish.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I've recently been restoring a 1976 Star Traveler Motorhome. I've scanned and digitally restored all the labels, and I'm in the process of printing and applying the new labels to the vehicle. It's looking GREAT. And no Krylon! The set's original plastic colors are good, only the labels were trashed. That's the Achilles heel of that playset, the labels never remain pristine over the 30+ years since these were originally put together.
Also, great tips on using the grass mat and aquarium plants. I bought some grass mats. The grass mat makes my Dream House, Dream Pool and Star Traveler display look amazing! And I just bought some aquarium plants to start adding some extra foliage to the environment as well. :) Here's a photo of my Dream House in all its glory. :D
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff293/Siansonea/Barbie/DreamHousePix_2sm.jpg
here is a link to the windows i was talking about. i don't think ill ever find a complete set but i hope i will find some more some day. thanks for the post and pics of the super cool hot pink windows :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-Barbie-Dream-House-pink-clear-doors-/270805113662?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f0d3e1b3e
Thanks for the link Madfan31. I didn't know till now there were so many diffrent versions!
ReplyDeleteIt took me three reads of this blog to realize that I have this house. I've had the house since May of this year, and didn't really pay attention thatit was different! D'oh! I was just too happy to finally own it! I got this for about $260 on eBay. The colors are bright white and a lovely lush hot pink/fuschia. It was only missing the box, instructions and catalog. Even the post covers were intact!
ReplyDeleteTotally forgot ... it's missing the closet rod!
ReplyDeleteBobby G
Thank you so much for posting these photos! This was my childhood barbie dream home and man did I love it!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool. I always wanted this dream house growing up, but all I got was the 3 story townhouse & yellow RV. I bought a yellow A frame and I an to restore it for my 2 granddaughters.
DeleteCurrently I am process of changing the RV from yellow to blue and gray. It's been fun. My son has av3D printer and has made missing parts for it
Very cool, I would love to know the process for telling the 3D printer to make these and how would you get a clear window with a yellow trim? And the cost?
DeleteI used to own this one version, it is the last version of the Dream House and it came out in 1991
ReplyDeletein response to There are quite a few versions of the Dream House, the first one came with the mirrored closet doors, furnished version came with the patio triangles while unfurnished version did not...later version of the house did not included the mirrored closet doors and the furniture also was missing the mirrored finish (the coffee and end table) Then they changed the furniture color to the pink, same Dream Furniture but in a different color scheme (pink & white) The house was updated in 1986 in a light pink color,the light pink color version is the hardest to find today it was produced for a year and then Mattel used a more raspberry colored roof instead of the soft pink. Also the windows changed from the clear with the light pink trim to darker pink trim to and all light pink window and the last version came with the all hot pink windows and an almost hot pink roof to match!! The last Dream House was manufactured in 1991. Quite a long running production..the house first appeared in 1979.
ReplyDeleteI have a house now it's pink with light pink clear windows. I am in search of replacement parts. If anyone had any please let me know! Brittany.stocker@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI found the best way is to just scour ebay for awhile looking for a reasonable deal. In the past I have bought a lot of homes and upgraded my small parts over time.
Deletewhat is the best pain to use on these frames?
ReplyDeleteI usually use Krylon brand, but any spray paint will work so long as its meant for plastic. Don't mix paints, or bother with priming (unless you are changing colors), and don't spray clear coat. It will crackle. When painting I: ensure parts are super clean, spray outside or in the garage (make sure your car isn't in there), usually 2 coats, wait a day or 2, polish with a soft cloth like an old tee shirt or sock, Enjoy the after results.
Delete****HI MOM OF A 6 YEAR OLF LITTLE GIRL WHOM IS ASKING ONLY FOR BARBIE DREAMHOUSE FROM THE 1970S FURNISHED FOR CHRISTMAS****HELP PLEASE****WE HAVE A VERY BAD SHAPE YELLOW/ORANGE HOUSE, BUT SHE REALLY WANTS THE PINK ONE....WE'D SETTLE FOR EVEN JUST FURNITURE PLEASE PLEASE AND THANK YOU*****
ReplyDeleteHello, you may already know that the red and yellow A Frame was issued from 1978-1983, the pink one was 1985-1987. So, if she is wanting the pink one, it is a 1980's house. To get a pink one, they are on ebay, they are more expensive than the older ones of a different color, but they are there. They are also on Craigslist. I am in southern California, and many pop up in the San Diego area. You could clean up and repaint your red and yellow house to make it a pink one. The furniture sets are on Ebay and Easy for about $30 a room. Let me know if you would like to sell your yellow/orange one. Thanks!
DeleteHi..I live in the San Diego area too. Did you ever find one?
DeleteI did. I am now down to 1 A Frame, a conglomeration of all the 8 that I bought, using only the best parts. If I found another one, I wouldn't know what to do with it, the last 2 ebay sales weren't really worth the trouble it takes to properly restore these gems and postage has gotten cost prohibitive on large items.
DeleteHi... I recently picked up the yellow A frame house to redo for my 2 granddaughters. I always wanted this when I was growing up. I'm looking for replacement parts or the dementions of the parts because my son can make them with his 3D printer.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I found you..now I know there are different versions.
If it won't be too much trouble, I'd like to keep in touch with you during the reconstruction? Also, I'm currently in the process of making over the original RV.
Thank you for the info and hope to hear back from you soon
-Becci
Mine is in storage or I would measure for you. You may just have to measure the openings to get an idea, print a test part and make adjustments as necessary. I think the tricky part may be the hinge holes and pegs.
ReplyDelete