# Life-Sized Barbie Mansions Jonathan Adler Designs Real Malibu Dream House By John Charles | Published 2009-03-08 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barbie-celebrates-half-century-with-real-life-malibu-mansion-and-new-store References: [news.yahoo](http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Barbie-Dream-House-comes-life/ss/events/lf/030709barbiedreamhou#photoViewer=/090306/482/fd55948452f94b9fb7ea40ceba714b00) & [barbiestyle.barbie](http://barbiestyle.barbie.com/index.html) Barbie, the queen of doll land, turns the big five-oh this year, and to celebrate, she’s making dreams come true. Her dreams. Some years ago, [Toys"R"Us](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/veefriends) in Times Square NY built a life-sized [Dream House](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dream-ella) in their store, but the inside was just filled with merchandise for sale and lacked in décor. To really get the job done right, [Mattel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bedroom-for-ken) has taken a real-life 3,500 square foot Malibu mansion and hired Jonathan Adler, the decorator who has served as head judge on Bravo’s hit show "Top Design." Mattel gave Adler access to their archives--including a look at all of Barbie’s various dream homes over the years, and let him go crazy. The result? A dream come true for anyone who's ever played with the iconic doll’s house. Wall-to-wall pink carpet is emblazoned with giant B symbols. There's a closet filled with 50 pairs of pink peep-toe heels. There's even a new Volkswagen Beetle (pink, naturally) with a motorized pop-up vanity in the trunk, perfect for Barbie’s busy lifestyle. To further celebrate her half-century mark, a new Barbie Store has opened in Shanghai. With an opening hosted by Jet Li, the store, modeled after a Barbie Town House, features a glowing pink façade, a Barbie lined spiral staircase, a collection of vintage Barbies, and amazing Barbie-inspired pop art. Ken, Barbie's longtime companion, could not be reached for comment. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.1/10 - Popularity: 96% | Activity: 80% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 10% men, 90% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/toys) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Interactive Branding Experiences:** Companies can develop immersive experiences to showcase their brand and generate buzz around their products or services. - **Nostalgia Marketing:** Brands can tap into consumer nostalgia by bringing back products, designs, or experiences from the past to create an emotional connection with their audience. - **Collaborative Marketing:** Partnering with influencers or celebrities can help brands reach new audiences and create unique marketing campaigns. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Toy and Game Industry:** Toy makers can create life-sized versions of their products to generate excitement and engagement among consumers. - **Home Decor Industry:** Home decor companies can offer specialized design services to create custom interiors inspired by their clients' favorite brands or themes. - **Retail Industry:** Retailers can create interactive and immersive store experiences to attract more customers and increase brand loyalty. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Life-Sized Doll Dreamhouses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barbies-dreamhouse.md) - [Film-Inspired Bright Doll Houses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mini-mojo-dojo-casa-house.md) - [Doll-Inspired Bedrooms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bedroom-for-ken.md) - [Barbie-Themed Luxury Suites](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beyond-limits-barbie-dream-suite.md) - [Architectural Toy Publications](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barbie-dreamhouse-an-architectural-survey.md) - [Iconic Pink Doll Trucks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dreamhouse-living-tour.md) - [Dollhouse-Inspired Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barbie-x-joybird.md) - [Iconic Doll-Inspired Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barbie-the-exhibition.md) - [Virtual Doll-Inspired Tycoons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gamefam.md)