This $500K New Jersey creator’s home is a life-sized Barbie dream house
Photos courtesy of Kyle Edwards
When artist and entrepreneur Kate Gabrielle purchased the 1,778-square-foot three-bedroom home at 835 Hughes Drive in Hamilton, New Jersey, its interiors were a jumble of dark carpeting and outdated finishes. According to a recent article in NJ.com, Gabrielle is a first-time homeowner who creates fun and useful accessories–like the why-didn’t-we-think-of-that cup-holder handbag–and sells them in her online shop. Her sparkly aesthetic (and attitude on life) inspired a total transformation of the compact home into a real-life version of the iconic Barbie dream house. Pink is her spirit color, clearly; nearly every shade of the rosy hue is in evidence, along with a treasure trove of cultural memorabilia that pops from every corner of the cupcake-tinted suburban cottage. Gabrielle is now looking to move on from her pink project; the house is on the market for $500,000.
Gabrielle bought the home in her hometown in 2022; the vintage property hadn’t seen much of an update since it was built in 1977. She added a screened-in porch, pink carpeting, tactile modern flooring, and colorful wallpaper, and decorated it with art inspired by the 1960s cinema classics she loves.
Beneath three skylights, the main floor offers an upbeat living room, a spacious galley kitchen, and a welcoming dining area. The bright, windowed kitchen features bubble-gum pink cabinetry and dazzling contemporary light fixtures. Sliding doors open from the kitchen to an outdoor patio.
A dowdy den became a stellar home theater. The playful entertainment zone is a riot of color and a celebration of cinema (home theater equipment may be included in the sale).
A well-organized crafting and studio space is a maker’s dream. There’s plenty of space for creating; the room is lined with shelving to keep and display materials and finished goods. A convenient washer/dryer and laundry space is located here as well.
The primary bedroom is Barbie-worthy, with plenty of room for all of her outfits. Wallpaper, paint and plush carpeting add up to a ’60s pop paradise.
A second chamber–a whimsical re-creation of the homeowner’s childhood bedroom–is a study in dreamy pastels. Bathrooms have new tile, toilets, and fixtures, surrounded by more of the home’s high-energy decor.
Framed by a frosting-pink front door and shutters, the house offers outdoor patio space for entertaining and gardening. There’s also an attached two-car garage.
Gabrielle explains that she needs to sell the home in order to keep ahead of rising costs and business setbacks. Though she has rented a new space–where she has already begun creative planning, her dream house chapter may not yet be closed: The artist’s many fans are working on ideas to help her to remain in this unique home base.
[Listing details: 835 Hughes Drive by Amy McGrath of Keller Williams Premier]
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