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Barbie's Real-Life Malibu Dream House

She doesn't look 50! Barbie hits the half-century mark this year, and to celebrate, designer Jonathan Adler teamed up with Mattel to give the original blond bombshell's space a makeover. Adler designed a human-sized--but Barbie-worthy--bedroom, living room, and closet in an actual Malibu beach house to host her star-studded birthday festivities. See Adler's design and Barbie's previous apartment, cottage, and townhouse here. The woman's got it all, doesn't she?

Barbies Evolving Dream House

She doesn't look 50! Barbie hits the half-century mark this year, and to celebrate, designer Jonathan Adler teamed up with Mattel to give the original blond bombshell's space a makeover. Adler designed a human-sized--but Barbie-worthy--bedroom, living room, and closet in an actual Malibu beach house to host her star-studded birthday festivities on March 9. This fall, look out for his "Jonathan Adler Loves Barbie" collection, set to include pottery, pillows, a collectible doll, and more. The woman's got it all, doesn't she?

Mattel

At left, designer Jonathan Adler's sketch of his vision for Barbie's bedroom. Surprise - it's pink!

Mattel

And the bedroom in real-life. Doll or no doll, she's lucky to have that velvet headboard.

Mattel

Check out that chandelier made from Barbie's famous blond locks.

Mattel

The living room Adler designed for Barbie is just like the doll herself--young, fresh, and full of surprises.

Mattel

A girl who's had one billion pairs of shoes in her lifetime definitely needs a shoe closet.

Mattel

Jonathan Adler, the designer of Barbie's real-life Malibu Dream House, poses on a chair covered with Barbie doll art inside the house in Malibu.

Chris Pizzello, AP

Here's Adler pictured inside a mirror framed by 1950s-era dolls in the Malibu house he designed for Barbie's 50th birthday celebration.

Chris Pizzello, AP

In 1960, a new doll named Barbie was just starting out, as if you couldn't tell by her apartment, a one-room cardboard fixer-upper. Keep clicking to see where Barbie lives now, 48 years and 108 careers later!

Mattel

In 1974, the blonde bombshell was hosting parties in her very own groovy townhouse, complete with elevator and hot tub.

Mattel

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23 comments

katiefrankiework 08:50:48 PM Mar 11 2009

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I wish they had featured the Barbie Ice Cream Parlor from the late 80s - my grandpa gave me that for Christmas and he was my hero ever after! (He was my hero before, too, but that really just blew me away.) I loved the spoons that also functioned as seats, and the pink and teal "tiles" on the floor. I never actually used the ice cream parlor set to make real ice cream, and I regret that. Next time I visit home.... My grandfather made Barbie furniture and even a Barbie dressing room for my mom when she was my age, complete with carpet, a mirror, and separate dressing rooms with curtains. Beat that, Mattel!

FairyGirl2003 02:51:38 AM Mar 10 2009

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i saw a t-shirt, bummer sticker, button, or something that said "If Barbie's so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?" i thought that was killer. course i 've been to Malibu, she can have a beach house there, i want Santa Monica. i had the townhouse with the elevator and the Fold N Fun house (not picutred here, circa 96). Happy Birthday Barbie!

Dirockson 01:46:12 AM Mar 10 2009

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I was not allowed Barbie always wanted the 1970's Maxi with the blue fashion suit she had brown hair... Barbie was a blond....and I was not a blonde...wanted the Town house and her frist dream house of the seventies but nevergot BARBIE's and that really stunk... I had the Dawn dolls instead.... but no one had them. I was the ood gril on the block....

TiaTart 11:26:18 PM Mar 09 2009

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I don't like the rooms.

POWITCH 11:01:36 PM Mar 09 2009

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When I was a kid, my Barbie dumped Ken for the more macho GI JOE. www. Cellulitequeen. com

SwtHoniGram46 10:33:20 PM Mar 09 2009

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we always knew my brother was gay.he made barbie clothes from old clothing and our great grandmother's raccoon wrap became boots and a coat for barbie.lolmy daughter had a barbie room.wallpaper,canopy,pretty much anything and everything barbie sold. even her own pool.damn that thing got water all over the house!!!!but the girls in the neighborhood came over every day to play barbies til they were about 12. gave so much of it to goodwill. might have gotten some cash if i had saved the stuff.

PriderockT 10:05:49 PM Mar 09 2009

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Who cares? I disowned Barbie when Mattel showed just how petty they were when they not only sued the Bratz franchise, but eliminated them from the open market as well. Does Barbie own the open market now? I thought this was a free country, where people had choices onwhat they can buy, and from whom.Mattel was the one who turned down the idea of the Bratz, so the creator -- not Mattel -- went elsewhere with His/Her idea.

lauralsweet@mac.com 03:20:42 PM Feb 24 2009

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If you love Barbie and you love Jonathan Adler, you must check these dioramas out!http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2009/02/michael-loves-jonathan-adler-and-they.html

Expertbooks 10:00:35 AM Feb 21 2009

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I had one they didn't show - came out around 1965. Cardboard foldout furniture and cupboards, like the first one, but it also had a kitchen and patio. The patio had cool cardboard chaise lounges. It's still my favorite.