Woman 'sad and disappointed' after being forced to repaint pink front door or pay £20,000 fine

A Scottish woman says she’s ‘sad and disappointed’ after being ordered to paint over her custom pink front door or face a hefty fine.

Miranda Dickson is the proud owner of a delightfully quirky home in Edinburgh, which boasts a pink-coloured bathroom, retro-style kitchen and a plush pink carpet covering her stairs and hallway.

Talking to the BBC about her fabulous three-storey Georgian home, she said: "The idea for me was to create a dream world which was slightly surreal, with each room having a different vibe.

"It has taken a lot of work but I feel I have achieved that now. I love it and it feels like my space."

In keeping with the theme, Miranda also opted to paint her front door pink - no big deal, right?

Wrong. Because last year, City of Edinburgh Council received an anonymous complaint about Miranda’s door and the local authority ruled that the door was not ‘in keeping with the historic character’ of the listed building.

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The 49-year-old was told that she could be fined £20,000 if she did not change the colour - but says she doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about.

Speaking to the BBC last October, she said: "I don't understand why it has caused them to be so angry, I can't understand that emotion about the colour of a door.

"These homes were built as entertainment spaces. They are incredible spaces and I have leaned into the bones of the rooms to maximise their beauty.

"I have restored all the windows and kept the cornices and mouldings as well as the shutters. I have been much more sympathetic than more modern refits.

"And I saw a pink door on Eastenders last night, so it really isn't that weird."

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Despite launching an appeal against the decision, Miranda was told she had until 20 April to change the colour of her door.

She has since repainted it green, which set her back £500 - and has also left her feeling glum about the exterior of her gaff.

"When I started my vision about the house, I had my mood boards and for me the pink door was the wrapping to that creative vision," she added.

"The pink door was the external vision to what my internal house is.

"So to be forced to change it has left me feeling saddened and disappointed.

"I'm upset by all the energy and opinion it has caused and I now feel I am closing a chapter and putting it to bed, although I don't feel peaceful about it."

Topics: Home, Money

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at Tyla who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats.