If you want to live in a house that greets you with colourful happiness every time you arrive at the front gate then painting it a bright colour is arguably the best way to add a little sunshine to your life. And choosing one of the most eye-catching colours will surely make your home's facade stand out from the crowd, even on a road well-known for colourful homes.
But there's one street in Cardiff that has become synonymous with bright houses - and it has been adding rainbow shades to the street scene for over 20 years. Elm Street in Roath can not only boast colourful houses to make a stroll down the street a vibrant and visually stimulating experience, it can also claim to be one of the first roads in the Welsh capital, if not Wales as a whole, to embrace murals and street art.
Some of the homes even have props in the garden to support the theme of the house, such as a boat at the 'Caribbean house' to complement the palm tree, banana tree, and azure blue and sunny yellow facade. And now one of the street's colourful houses is up for sale.
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There is a long and exciting history to the development of Elm Street into one of the most colourful streets in Wales. It began with a small but dedicated team of neighbours in the 1990s who were desperate to bring some colour and life to the street, and you can find out more about the background of Elm Street and these intrepid, colourful trailblazers here.
Now, one of the most eye-catching of the homes on the street is up for sale and you don't have to worry about painting it to fit into the kaleidoscope of colourful shades - it is a bright pink palace.
This pretty in pink terrace house stands out as part of a mini row of five houses that caress the eyes with shades of pink with a mint house and a lemon house mixed into this section of the street too.
The pink might be in your face but it is tempered with white windows, a dark contemporary grey front door, gate and railings plus added foliage that means the house looks super smart and super stylish. And this classy interior design style continues inside with a pallet of peaceful colours that start in the front living room.
The soft lemon and rich berry red pay homage to the tones in the period fireplace. But this room also pays homage to the exterior decor with tones of pink to notice, including a hot pink chair in the corner. The colours are given a soft and warm base via a lime-washed wooden floor and the black accent accessories and carpentry increase the modern mood in the space.
Through to the rear room and it's an open-plan space that includes the stairs and no walls, maximising the size to create a light and airy space as well as ample room for dining. The continuation of the slate floor from the hall ensures visual flow and continuity between the two spaces, as there are no walls to separate them.
The use of dark navy brings one of the colours of the moment into this room, which looks fresh and timeless when mixed with white. The kitchen diner has been lavished with attention to detail, including the use of natural materials such as the solid wood worktops, farmhouse-style table, chimney breast mantle and the rattan floor mat that all work seamlessly together.
The classic Shaker-style units, oak stable door to the garden and range cooker nestled into the chimney breast all add a timeless feel to the room. But it's not just a nod to the past but also a recognition of current trends, with pattern tiles behind the cooker, statement glass and black metal lighting, and a metal wall unit adding an industrial touch to the space.
The lovely stable door opens out onto a surprise 100-foot garden. It can be a challenge to find so much outside space only a 10-minute walk from the centre of the capital.
The garden is a series of delightful and usable 'zones' that starts with a party patio right next to the house. There's decking, purple slate and stepping stones for extra colour and visual texture, and the use of fencing on either side and at the end of this seating area ensures the space feels private and secluded.
Through the gate in the fence at the end of the patio takes you into a long, lawned area perfect for people who want to practice their gardening skills. There's certainly enough space out here to create a mini kitchen garden too, with the reward of eating your own home-grown produce.
At the end of the garden is another surprise - a large storage shed that, with some work, could be a useful extra garden room or home office, as long as the WiFi can stretch that far.
Looking at this ample outside space and checking out the immediate neighbours' homes, it could be possible to extend the house into the garden to add another bedroom and reception room, subject to planning permission.
Up the period staircase to the first floor and on the landing there is a very handy extra space for a home office area or reading nook. And up here the modern colours continue, especially in the artwork, and they seem familiar - they have been informed by the colourful 'hero' piece on the hall floor - the vibrant rug.
There are classic design pieces up here too such as the wood, metal and plastic desk chair and the retro-inspired bed and bedside tables in the rear bedroom.
The soft grey walls in this rear slumber space are cleverly given a visual picture rail rather than a physical one with the use of white paint and it's a trick continued from the lounge. It nods to the age of the house but by using paint instead of a wooden rail, gives a modern, and cost-effective, take on a classic feature.
The artwork and bedding take centre stage in this peaceful bedroom, but the door painted blue keeps the link to the ground floor kitchen and hallway consistent.
Into the front bedroom and the pale walls continue, as does the blue door, feature artwork and classic shaped furniture design, from the tulip-style bedside table and retro-style lamp, to the mid-century occasional chair in the corner of the room.
Finally, into the bathroom and the decor seamlessly flows from the other spaces. Pale walls, wooden floor and natural materials are the calm and elegant backdrop for the statement accent colours and statement patterns. The additional black fixtures and fittings are very 'on-trend' and again connect the ground floor to this upper floor.
The house is a home that is ready to welcome a new owner with very little to do to it, except put their own interiors style inside. Hopefully any redecorating does not include changing the pink on the outside because it makes the property one of the standout homes on Elm Street and, indeed, in Cardiff.
But if you are worried about joining the tight-knit community, read Claire Raisin's story. She moved into the street and found that the best thing about the address is the people that live there and not actually the colourful houses that bring so much joy to any visitors to the road.
Even as recently as 2020, residents have been adding to the colour on the street with the addition of a stunning World War II mural. The poppies and Hurricane planes have a heartfelt significance to the owner of this particular house on Elm Street which he shared with Wales Online at the time the mural was created. But there's no pressure to go bright and colourful or add a mural or artwork to your house if you do move to Elm Street. There are still plenty of white and cream homes on the street.
The pretty in pink property is for sale with a guide price of £230,000 - £240,000 with estate agent Jeffrey Ross, call the Roath branch on 029 2049 9680 to find out more. And if you don't want to miss any dream homes, interiors and renovations, make sure you sign up to the Amazing Welsh Homes newsletter.
