A mother-of-five has hit back at critics at critics who have blasted her Barbie dreamhouse as, ‘disgusting’ and ‘totally ridiculous’.
At 42 years old, Jamie Lee Green expressed dismay that her neighbors in Chelmsford have labeled her residence as ‘horrible’ despite the significant care and affection she has invested in the home.
The property, which is under the ownership of a housing association, has gained widespread attention for its excessive use of pink décor, both internally and externally, after being shared on a well-known Facebook group for home exchanges.
Numerous individuals engaged in the online discussions, with many praising it as a ‘national treasure’, ‘fantastic’, and even expressing interest in making offers of their own to realize their childhood dreams inspired by Barbie.
And while several have told Ms Green how much they love her home and how their ‘children smile’ when they see the famed-local attraction – not everyone is on side.
The 42-year-old revealed to us that one local resident had complained her home – drowned in several shades of rose – brought down the value of nearby houses.
‘Upset’ by such comments, Jamie said: ‘When you buy the house the value is about what you have done to your home so for someone it’s a really silly thing to say.’
She added: ‘Pink is a happiness for me, its what I am into. I am not hurting anyone or doing anything bad that’s my love and my passion – why don’t you just get on with yours?’
Jamie Lee Green, 42, has hit back at critics at critics who have blasted her Barbie dreamhouse as, ‘disgusting’ and ‘totally ridiculous’
She has said it’s ‘upsetting’ that her neighbours in Chelmsford believe branded her home ‘horrible’ after the endless ‘love’ she has poured into the property
The house, which is housing association-owned, has gone viral for being drowned in pink – both inside and outside – after being posted on a popular home swap Facebook site
It comes shortly after neighbour Paul Crozier, 71, said he didn’t like Ms Green’s home at first but later ‘changed his mind’ even though he believes the mother ‘likes pink too much’.
He told The Sun: ‘Initially, when it was there – yuck! It’s pink. But I’ve rather got used to it now. She’s a nice lady.’
However, another resident had slightly stronger opinions, adding: ‘ Horrible. Disgusting. Horrible. Totally ridiculous.
‘It’s no harm, but I wouldn’t want to live next door to it. Only because if you wanted to sell you house – you wouldn’t be able to sell it.’
But Jamie doesn’t understand why her home is affecting the street when there is a blue, purple and grey properties lining the road, quipping: ‘So why is pink making any difference?’
‘Colours are just colours at the end of the day. I don’t say to people your house is all grey but people seem to have a problem with pink,’ she added.
The mother-of-five divulged that she has put a great deal of effort into transforming the once ‘loveless’ and ‘magnolia’ house into a home.
She revealed that the home looked ‘like an old person’s house’ before she decorated each room around four or five times, adding: ‘It was nice but it just needed a bit of love.’
‘Colours are just colours at the end of the day. I don’t say to people your house is all grey but people seem to have a problem with pink,’ she added
The mother-of-five divulged that she has put a great deal of effort into transforming the once ‘loveless’ and ‘magnolia’ house into a home
Explaining how she didn’t have a kitchen when she first moved in, Jamie said: ‘When I moved in there were no basic things like skirting boards or windowsills
She also spent a month tirelessly removing the artex in the front room with a heat gun and steamer, later replastering the whole room alone
Explaining how she didn’t have a kitchen when she first moved in, Jamie said: ‘When I moved in there were no basic things like skirting boards or windowsills.
‘They’re all things people take for granted. I built fences in the garden and put all the stones down. I have done quite a lot of things that people wouldn’t realise.’
She also spent a month tirelessly removing the artex in the front room with a heat gun and steamer, later replastering the whole room alone.
The mother-of-five has also stunningly revamped her home, even splitting her fingers for a month custom-making her mirror stairs – costing up to £250.
But her hard work doesn’t go unnoticed by those who visit her home in-person, with even her mother and children’s friends in awe at how she manages to get everything so pink.
‘Most people are still shocked every time they come around, she said.
‘Even my mum says ‘Oh my god you’ve got something else pink, how could you possibly get something else more pink!’
Despite her children – who all have their own personalised rooms – being big fans of the Barbie theme as children, Jamie confessed they sometimes become ‘a bit embarrassed’.
Even her mother and children’s friends in awe at how she manages to get everything so pink
Despite her children – who all have their own personalised rooms – being big fans of the Barbie theme as children, Jamie confessed they sometimes become ‘a bit embarrassed’
‘I say what my mum used to say to me, ‘This is my house I pay the bills I decorate it’,’ she said
‘When they were younger they used to love it but as they have gotten older they don’t hate it but they don’t life pink,’ she said adding that one of her daughter’s is still a fan.
‘I say what my mum used to say to me, ‘This is my house I pay the bills I decorate it’,’ she said.
‘Your room is your room. The rest of the house is mine. When you get your own you can decorate it how you want’.’
Although Jamie has often been judged for her décor and obsession with Barbie, she will not let it deter her – as she even revealed she may one day change her surname to Pinky.
‘They think I am stupid or think I believe I am Barbie because I live in a pink house. I don’t. I like Barbie because of what she stands for and what she used to mean to me,’ she said.
‘When you watch her she is always happy and smiling. She can do anything. She has a thousand million jobs – and she just gets on with it.
‘She always has that you can-do anything or be anything attitude – as long as you put your mind to it.’
Sharing how some of her relatives have the surname Brown, White – and her own being Green, she said: ‘I do want to change my name Pink.
Although Jamie has often been judged for her décor and obsession with Barbie, she will not let it deter her – as she even revealed she may one day change her surname to Pinky
‘They think I am stupid or think I believe I am Barbie because I live in a pink house. I don’t. I like Barbie because of what she stands for and what she used to mean to me,’ she said
She always has that you can-do anything or be anything attitude – as long as you put your mind to it.’
Sharing how some of her relatives have the surname Brown, White – and her own being Green, she said: ‘I do want to change my name Pink
‘I think it would be better I hate Green. I’d be going from one colour to another. Being called Pinky or Barbie would be a lot nicer.
‘I have just loved pink and the girliness of it all ever since I was young – I have dressed and liked what I wanted,’ she added.
‘How many people have enjoyed something since they were four-years-old and still like it now?’
Comparing Barbie to ‘many mums’, Jamie said that most women who don’t get the ‘credit’ for caring for their children and doing what they want in the face of adversity.
But the varying shades of fuschia are rooted in something much deeper than simply a colour for Jamie – it takes her black to a happier time.
‘Pink reminds me of a time when I was younger, when everything was happy. For me it represents happiness, of being a kid when everything was fine,’ she said.
‘When I get stressed I decorate, when I see something plain I think thats not a home lets make it one.
She added; ‘Everyday I wake up happy because I see my house and how cute it is. When I close my door it’s my perfect little bubble.’
‘I have just loved pink and the girliness of it all ever since I was young – I have dressed and liked what I wanted,’ she added
Comparing Barbie to ‘many mums’, Jamie said that most women who don’t get the ‘credit’ for caring for their children and doing what they want in the face of adversity
‘Pink reminds me of a time when I was younger, when everything was happy. For me it represents happiness, of being a kid when everything was fine,’ she said
Every home Jamie has lived in since her very first flat at the age of 18 has been pink, from her five-bedroom Cornish home to her most recent viral dorma bungalow.
Previously tourist would pose on her pink car in her old Cornish home and even pose up pretending to have a cup of tea on her garden furniture.
‘People often say they miss my pink house [there]. They do get mixed emotions a lot do say it takes them back to their childhood,’ she said.
The mother even purchased a seven-foot pink festive fern and Christmas decorations whilst she was at the women’s domestic refuge to help bring her family joy during a difficult time.
More recently, the 42-year-old experienced a traumatic birth with now 15-month old son where both were diagnosed with sepsis – and her Barbie throws helped her feel those home comforts.
‘I’ve never been a big clubbing person I have always been a home person that’s why I have always put so much effort into my home – not having my home comforts is quite distressing,’ she said.
Now, Jamie is planning to move somewhere new and to ‘do it all again’ as she gears up for a fresh new challenge with her all-pink DIY tools
Now, Jamie is planning to move somewhere new and to ‘do it all again’ as she gears up for a fresh new challenge with her all-pink DIY tools.
Preparing to paint her current home cream in preparation for the potential move, Jamie gave us a glimpse into her future project.
‘I don’t think it can be as pink because of the brick on the possible house, but its a bigger house so there is a lot more to paint,’ she said.
She has also urged other women to give DIY a go after many have reached out asking her to decorate their houses, quipping: ‘You just might surprise yourself.’
Sharing her final thoughts on her years-long project, she said: This is my home not your home. This isn’t for attention I have had homes like this my entire life.
