Think Pink: This Eye-Popping ‘Deep Theme Decor’ Home Is a Viral Sensation—But Will It Sell?

If you thought you’d seen all the bubblegum hues possible after last year’s Barbie craze, take a gander at this pretty-in-pink Hamilton, NJ, house, listed for $500,000.

You’ll discover an actual rainbow of dazzling tints in this cheery home at 835 Hughes Drive. The 1,778-square-foot dwelling boasts primarily rose-colored living spaces, including three bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms. Realtor.com got the scoop from the house’s owner, illustrator, and handbag designer Kate Gabrielle, who said selling was a “tough but necessary decision.”

The listing says “good energy and good vibes abound” in this “uniquely charming home,” which was built in 1977.

One online commenter concurred, observing, “It’s a perfect vintage Barbie home, and I adore it.”

The home’s colorful backstory

Gabrielle bought the home for $340,000 in 2022 and seems to have designed every element with the utmost care.

So why is the pink fanatic selling? Her finances seem to be in the red.

“I’ve had some serious financial setbacks this year, and after months of trying to figure out some other solution, I realized selling my house was really my only option,” Gabrielle told Realtor.com.

Gabrielle designed a patent-pending cup-holder bag that went viral back in 2022 when she raised $237,136 via Kickstarter campaign for the product. But shortly thereafter, she posted on TikTok that she had seen the first knockoff of her bag for sale online.

In a recent interview with My Central Jersey, Gabrielle’s listing agent, Amy McGrath, of Keller Williams Premier Realty in Robbinsville, NJ, says her client was “ripped off” by other companies and has lost significant income as a result. This is the main reason the designer is selling her cotton candy-colored home.

“But even if you went back and told me that I’d only get to live here for a year and a half, I would still personalize it just as much as I did,” Gabrielle told us.

Is an all-pink house hard to sell?

While Gabrielle’s girly home has gone viral and gotten millions of views, bold colors aren’t always a big selling point.

“There may be a recent law grad, like Elle Woods, who’s into pink and looking for a starter home—but such buyers are few and far between,” says real estate agent Bruce Ailion, of Re/Max Town & Country in Atlanta, GA. (As many know, Elle Woods is the name of Reese Witherspoon‘s pink-powered character in the 2001 film, “Legally Blonde.”)

Ailion advises his clients to either decorate to their personal tastes or maximize value by decorating to appeal to the largest market segment.

“Most sellers can’t afford to wait for the perfect buyer seeking their unique or quirky tastes,” he says.

Real estate agent Denise Supplee of SparkRental in Doylestown, PA, says she recently listed a house with bright carpeting and boldly colored walls of orange, red, and yellow. It sat on the market for weeks with no offers.

After Supplee encouraged the owners to have the house repainted in a neutral color and remove the carpeting, she put it back on the market and increased the price by $25,000.

“The house ended up in a bidding war and got $5,000 over asking,” she recalls.

Gabrielle told us she might have to “normalize” her house a bit if it doesn’t get any offers as-is. But she adds, “I would much rather put in some time to paint and take down artwork now rather than live in a house that’s ready to be a walk-in showroom when it goes on the market.”

What is “Deep Theme Design”?

Although this bright, cheery house has elements of mod, maximalism, and dopamine decor, designer Justin M. Riordan, founder of Spade and Archer Design Agency in Seattle and Portland, OR, has a term to describe the combination.

“I would refer to this as ‘Deep Theme Design’—a concept where every single choice is based on a very small group of guiding principles,” says Riordan.

In Gabrielle’s case, Riordan says the “Deep Theme Design” guiding principles appear to be as follows:

• Is it pink?
• Does it involve daisies?
• Is it pop culture-driven?
• Does it make me happy?

“If two or more of the answers to these questions are affirmative, then the item passes the test and is allowed into the house,” Riordan explains.

Gabrielle adds, “You spend so much of your life in your house and it should feel like your own personal sanctuary. For me that means lots of pink, retro details, kitschy knick-knacks and flowers.”

“Deep Theme Design” is becoming more popular for vacation rentals, according to Riordan.

The blah before and amazing after

Gabrielle posted a video of her home transformation on Instagram, with before-and-after footage of the incredible “Deep Theme Design” makeover.

The designer also posted about her closet makeover, writing, “I built the walk-in closet of my dreams in this house. I wanted it to feel like the dressing room in ‘Desperately Seeking Susan’ or a little vintage shop filled with tulle and fringe and mannequins.”

In the end, a “dream house” is very specific to the person doing the dreaming. Gabrielle made her design dreams a reality under this roof, and the results are just as unique as she is.

“I get the sense that even if most people wouldn’t necessarily want to live in a house like mine, they appreciate how much I put my own stamp on it,” Gabrielle says. “You should fill your home with whatever makes you happy as long as you are living there.”