Fun-loving owner, architect and serial career-woman Barbara Millicent Roberts agreed to show us around her latest Malibu dream house. As lovers of compact and personality-filled homes, we graciously accepted! This bold home is spread over three fun levels. "With an elevator, of course!"
With a large group of friends, seven siblings, a menagerie of pets and an on-again-off-again relationship, Barbara needed to create a house that was suitable for entertaining at a moment's notice.
And in spite of the compact (0.5 square metre) footprint, this home feels spacious and light thanks to a completely non-existent fourth wall. Lucky the weather's good in Malibu!
You can't miss this vibrant pink house. After ringing the working doorbell, you enter Dream House's light-filled entry foyer. To the left is a garage with operable door, to the right, a small, but functional kitchen complete with "pink appliances" (and a working oven light).
The garage is a flexible space that's big enough for Barbara's Glam Convertible but can easily transform into a spill out party zone when the girls swing by. A large round bay window in the garage is one of Barbara's favourite places to watch the stunning Malibu sunsets...
And it's also an ingenious fold down plunge pool that's always ready for an impromptu pool party!
A space-saving elevator off the kitchen provides access to the home's remaining two levels. Barbara insisted on an elevator as part of her dream house - she finds stairs difficult because she has no knees.
The middle level features a dining area with a "transforming table" that is constantly set with delicious plastic treats.
Just past the pet storage area is a luxurious bathroom with a "flushing" toilet. It's big enough for the owner and her friends, which is lucky because they love to get ready together before they "hit the town, fool around, let's go party". A generous egg-shaped free-standing bath is the perfect place to sit and smile at the end of an action-packed day.
The "thrilling third level" is Barbara's private sanctuary. It's where she likes to relax and/or prepare for a night out. A private lounge area features a television capable of "flipping" through channels. But as a famous fashionista, the Ultimate Closet™ is where Barbara spends a lot of her time.
As part of the Ultimate Closet™, Barbara has incorporated a Fashion Elevator™ down to the bathroom below. Perfect for when she requires a speedy costume change.
"Yes, that makes two elevators! Love it!" - Barbara Millicent Roberts
Further on is the glamourous bedroom with a private Juliette balcony. The luxurious canopy bed features "an extra bed, for sleepovers". Fun!
The home is unified by its consistent use of moulded plastic, but Barbara has ensured variety by working with a range of bold colours from blues and purples to her signature shades of pink. Experts warned off-gassing from the building materials could cause headaches or even brain damage, but Barbara hasn't seemed to notice, "Life in plastic, it's fantastic!", she says.
Ornate personalised touches throughout the home reflect Barbara's unique 'girly glam' style. Barbara proves you can never have too many 'B' monograms and self-profile motifs in a Malibu dream home...