Barbie’s 1962 Dream House® — is back. I just found out. And I just ordered mine, via Amazon. Hey: It ALSO includes the Barbie! Note: Links in this story are Amazon affiliate links, meaning, if ya click and buy I earn a small commission (currently all going toward weebit’s law school fund — Mom so proud!)
I visited my longtime friend Pat Henry, publisher of Fashion Doll Quarterly, this past weekend, and she told me about this product revival — and, she also had one in hand for us to play with.
As longtime readers may know, Barbie was quite a figure in my life. I loved the dolls and played with Barbie, Skipper, Midge — and all their houses an cars — avidly ’til I was like… 13. Oh. Ken, too. But frankly: Ken was always … an afterthought.
- I’ve written lots of stories about Barbie.
Topping on the cake: I was born same year as Barbie — I am 17 days older — and we have marked every major birthday together since.
The 1962 Dream House is a cardboard marvel genius product. It is completely self-contained and portable…. It includes “Slim-line” midcentury modern furniture, also cardboard-engineered, that you put together … And you get a Barbie. But not just any Barbies: She’s also a 1960s design, including a 1960s dress.
On Mattel’s Barbie blog, Barbie® Signature Principal Designer Bill Greening provided some history on the House and on the project:
Barbie® debuted in 1959, but she didn’t move into her first Dream House until three years later, in 1962….
They were only able to find one sample in their archives with the furniture still unassembled, but that was enough. They scanned the “sheets” with the furniture and sent them out for development….
[The doll that comes with the house is] a vintage blonde ponytail Barbie, wearing a floral PAK sheath dress collectors know as ‘On the Go’ from that original Dream House era…. That makes the reproduction of the Dream House even more special, since the doll was sold separately back in the 1960s.
I am pretty darned excited to get my own 1962 Dream House.
- You can get yours, too, on Amazon here.
More Barbie love:
- Pat Henry on Barbie Turning 50 — and answers my question: Has Barbie Used Her Power for Good or Evil?
- Reader Sumac Sue shares: Judi and Joni: Rulers of their Barbie Universe.
- Maryann Roy designs midcentury modern miniature furniture for Barbie and her clan.
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Midcentury Modern at the Movies: Inside the Hitchcock house set design — 34 photos!
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Vladimir Kagan’s Annecy Collection — his final work — dares you to decide: Furniture designer — or sculptor?
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Schwinn’s 1968 Lemon Peeler Sting-Ray bike — limited reproduction now available 
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Susan Clay says
I had the original as a child! I played with it for many happy hours. It recently went to auction when we moved across country. I don’t remember what price it brought at auction.
Mary says
How come when I go to order on amazon it lists at 99.99?
Pam Kueber says
Doggonit, they seem to have reverted to the regular retail price. What was originally up when I first wrote this was discounted. Ugh.
Irene says
I was hoping to get it for the discounted price as soon as I had funds available, when I clicked on the link it’s back to the original price. Bummer. Still will order one, but I know I can get a “well-loved” with missing pieces for a lot less on ebay and etsy.
Karen says
I gave mine away on Freecycle about a year ago to a woman who was beside herself as she had always wanted one. And I had the Barbie that comes with it now. I not only made clothes but also a set of patio furniture out of colored electrical wire with barkcloth cushions.. I saved my allowance for quite a while to get the house. Eventually my sister swiped my Barbie as our mother had given her a Midge not really understanding they weren’t comparable. Good times.
Jeannie says
Love that dress! I have the later version of that house in vinyl:
https://tinyurl.com/y8qdxo88
I never had an actual Barbie; I had Francie, Midge, Skipper and my friend gave me her crewcut Ken with dark painted hair when she got the more modern combed-hair Allan.
I also had a Tammy doll (Ideal brand), who was slightly bigger than the Mattel dolls, and the only outfit I had for her was an aqua golf outfit, so she was always the maid, LOL.
In looking for photos of the metal kitchen that I have, I found this which I dedicate to you, Pam:
https://tinyurl.com/yc5vt9na
The one I have is this one:
https://tinyurl.com/yc5vt9na
Lyndasewsalot says
You brought a flood of memories with that house! I can still remember the smell of it! I loved it! To this day , whenever I smell new plastic smell my head zooms back to 484 9th st. Brooklyn NY. ( Motown music has the same effect!). That’s where I spent my childhood, me my sisters , and Barbie. We’re never far from each other!
PM says
I absolutely love this and I remember wishing I had so many more clothes for my Barbie. Myself and my other friends who were of limited means spent many happy hours creating clothes and furniture for our Barbies. My Mom would gather all the materials for us and get us started. Later when my own girls weren’t really interested all that much in dolls, my Mom and I bought a doll house kit we put together and made furniture for. We really enjoyed that special time together. Now that she’s gone I relish those memories. Wouldn’t it be great fun to make this with your children instead of buying it. Revving up their creativity can really have great rewards later in life when they are decorating their own home, maybe on a budget.
Dale says
Price now is $99.00 on Amazon, not the $76 shown in your article. Demand driving the price up?
However, DW wants one anyway. Go figure.
Pam Kueber says
Doggonit, seems so. I changed the widget.
Yvonne Culpepper says
Oh my! I never got a Dream House when i was a girl, although my Barbie is that same one! I know what I want for Christmas!
Carol says
My mom made clothes for my Barbie. They had patterns you could buy. Many of my friends had much more than I did, but I had wigs! and you could change her hair which made her many different dolls! I never had the house but I am thrilled to see it brought back.
Diane Vallere says
Thank you for letting us know about this. So cool!
Ellie C says
Ah, I had a Barbie Dream House. Many hours were spent playing with my Barbie doll there. Like many other commenters, I made clothes for my doll. Also tiny books, record albums, rugs, etc etc. Good times!