From Suffolk to Southern Scotland, from West London to Wales, perfectly pink properties around the UK date back centuries. The famous “Suffolk Pink” originated in the 14th century, the fashionable pink pastel hues became prevalent in architecture and interior design across Europe during the 18th century and of course the much more recent rainbow roads of Notting Hill, Chelsea and North London tend to showcase at least one rosy residence.

Today these blushing buildings are undoubtedly an Instagrammer’s dream but they can be a source of contention. In 2013, Teignbridge District Council ordered the homeowners of a cottage in Lavenham to “tone down” their recently repainted bright pink exterior. Prior to this, another Lavenham local had been instructed to (part) actually restore the outside of her home to its original Suffolk pink shade by Babergh District Council on the basis it originally formed part of the adjoining pink cottage.

Be warned; if your house is listed or in a conservation area you may need to get permission for external decoration and there may be special controls on the palette available to you. It is also worth noting that though your property may not appear on the National Heritage List for England, if it originally formed part of an adjoining/neighbouring property (and the listing was in place prior to the properties being divided), it is likely that the listing still extends to the newly separated dwelling.

However, if the property is not listed/within a conservation area or subject to some other form of estate management rule which requires approval of plans for exterior decoration, as famously ruled in 2017 in R (Lisle-Mainwaring) v Isleworth Crown Court and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, one can be far more creative in their designs, including bright red candy stripes.

Ignoring the various case houses, motorhomes and townhouses Barbie was holidaying in through the 60s and 70s, the classic Dreamhouse (released in 1979) was in fact white with yellow window frames and a red roof. One can only assume a city break to Lancaster Row inspired her to reconsider her colour scheme. Whatever the reason, let’s hope Barbie obtained all the necessary consents for her decidedly pink Dreamhouse exterior currently in circulation and that Malibu’s planning authority/Historic California aren’t about to start enforcement proceedings…