A London couple have been forced to repaint their multi-million-pound home after “furious” neighbours complained about their all-black “makeover”.
Solicitor Edmond Curtin, who lives with his wife in a £2.6million-valued Georgian townhouse on leafy Gibson Square, was served an enforcement notice urging him to restore his home’s traditional white facade.
Mr Curtin had covered his Grade II-listed residence with dark grey and black paint without proper permission.
The property’s transformation sparked complaints from conservation officials who deemed the makeover inappropriate for the historic neighbourhood.
Following an unsuccessful planning appeal, the homeowner has now complied with orders to return the building to its original appearance.
The home has now been brought back to its roots – and is rendered in the same white stucco finish as its neighbours.
Mr Curtin’s unauthorised renovation saw him coat virtually every surface in dark paint – including window frames, cornices, architraves, entrance steps and a basement lightwell.
Planning inspector Ahsan Ghafoor determined the alterations created “a visually discordant and jarring effect” that conflicted with the property’s listed status.
BEFORE AND AFTER: Edmond Curtin’s £2.6million-valued Georgian townhouse on leafy Gibson Square
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His ruling said the changes left the house with “an aesthetic that is at odds with the special architectural interest of the listed building”.
The inspector noted the dark paintwork “draws the naked eye” and contrasted sharply with adjacent properties that “remain uniform.”
Mr Curtin was told to apply “three coats of wash” to return the entire frontage to its “characteristic white paint scheme” within two months – to the glee of some locals.
One woman who has lived in the square for six decades told the Mail: “It was obvious to anyone that they’d have to change it back.”
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Mr Curtin was told to apply ‘three coats of wash’ to return the entire frontage to its ‘characteristic white paint scheme’ – seen here
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She added: “Their plea at the time was we haven’t damaged the building – well firstly how would they know and secondly you have damaged the area. I don’t know, I remember we were furious at the time.”
Another neighbour described the situation as “vaguely hilarious” but said the couple had always been “good residents.”
A source close to the family indicated they were aware of the listing restrictions but pointed to how other properties nearby had grey facades without enforcement action.
Gibson Square sits within Islington’s Barnsbury Conservation Area and ranks among the borough’s most exclusive locations.
Properties on the square command hefty fees – Rightmove data shows an average of £2,650,000 over the past year, nearly 10 times the UK average of £272,000.
Planning officials said Mr Curtin’s home holds “group value” as part of a listed terrace contributing to the square’s character.