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: 

They always picked the smallest child they could find to model this home, but the house sure always photographs nicely enough on its own. It is a good marriage of crisp, geometric architectural lines paired with bright, whimsical colors which is why I cannot understand the desire to coat these in black, brown and gray. 

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.



Gray roof, purple floors, double deep lower level:

The only other house fit to compare with our beloved, Barbie's Magic Mansion from 1990, here it is repainted/modernized: (I'm generally on board except for black columns, nice work on the window foliage, though). 

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: 

Similar Houses: Others Dare to Compare

HO scale model house. Most likely Pleasantville.

Custom house perhaps? Back when dads would tool around in the woodshop  rather than facebook. 

Fisher Price castle

Random internet image. 

1985 Sylvanian Families House by Epoch. MDF material with plastic resin and wood furniture. 

1950's tin litho house in the cape cod style. 

early 1960' train model house. 

Contemporary Ranch by RGT (Real Good Toys). Wood dollhouse kit YOU assemble. Having built a farmhouse before I can tell you these things suck up a surprising amount of glue, paint and TIME not to mention decor, wall and floor coverings, fixtures and accessories! 

I'm in love...

German looking kit or home made house?? Definitely Mondrian inspired.

Paper dollhouse kit?  Meh...

HO scale train house from Europe in the modern style. 

roof shot of Sylvanian family home. 

Cloverleaf Corners house circa 2012

Very cool, love the fire pit, I would own this. =-) 

Similar to Lundby, this German A Frame style house looks like the "Ikea Design House 1974". Enjoying the color scheme, it's nearly entirely orange, yellow and white, sans the club chairs and bathroom. 

The original 1960s Plasticville Cntemporary Home, issued in several different scales, one as a kit, and one prebuilt, I feel as though the inspiration behind our 1978 Mattel home was based on this:

Looks like in Germany and other places, the midmod A Frame style home was also very popular. Here are some cool examples from the 70s thorugh now:

I beleive this is a smaller 4" size doll line from Kenner that was 'Disco' oriented (40 years before hootchie cootchie Bratz dolls came out, but notice the open window placement and overall similar aesthetic to our white walls on Mattel's mamoth structure:

Glamour Gals:

 

 

I think the reason why this toy home is so popular is its versatility (and quality). Kind of like LEGO. Here is a vintage letter attesting to that and toy gender versatility. Imagination, exploration, open minds, enjoyment and opportunity all go hand it hand: