Barbie Compact Dream House completed design motion gif

1962 Barbie Dream House

March 2024 - The final version of this Barbie house started with a simple spiral table

Spiral table in motion

That quickly led to a frame of steel angle brackets and wood (Bill suggested the rigid frame)

Attaching the wood body to the frame with 350 brass bolts and washers

Making sure the corners fit right

An opening in the rear for adjustments and storage

Bag of raw materials

Sawing more panels

Stain and seal the wood

Planning assembly

The body was put together and taken apart many times

Installing the first scene, the bedroom

Gotta get the fit just right

Adding handles for the gallery rail

Testing the closet door servos and magnetic catch

Making the bedding

Testing Barbie's fit

This was my Barbie template to make sure things were sized right. Print at 100% scale for an 11.5" doll cutout.

Actually, I made a few Barbie doll cutouts to get Everly started playing.

Going to the basement with spray adhesive and clear coat

Laying out the scenes

Binding the scenes with fabric hinges

Testing a stairstep support for the scenes, this would eventually be replaced with an angled panel for better flexibility and support

Testing the front-most scene

Making sure all the scenes fit

Assembling some of the fiddly parts

Cuckoo clock

Kids playing with the spiral table

Playing

Watching the "big screen TV"

Bob Mackie Barbie is the teacher in the classroom

They do love the TV