A Leicester couple whose four-storey Georgian home was painted jet black and put on the market for £650,000 said they were surprised by an online backlash that described the property as "truly horrible," "horrifying" and "gothic." The owners, Drew Harriman and his partner, said the overhaul was intended to conserve the house's classical features and to reflect period influences rather than provoke their neighbours.
Harriman said he and his partner first bought the house in 2015 and spent about four months and roughly £150,000 renovating both the interior and exterior, with further hundreds of thousands invested in extensions, conservation work and re-roofing. The renovation reinstated sash windows, added a kitchen extension and reconfigured the first floor, a project that was featured on a renovation television programme presented by George Clarke.
Photographs of the finished exterior went viral after the listing appeared online, with commentators focusing on the sharp contrast between the homeowners' black facade and the neighbouring white property. Some social media users praised the interior detailing and compared the property favourably to London period houses, while others urged the owners to remove the dark paint.
"Taste like art is subjective. It's amazing when you get keyboard warriors making assumptions about the house. But we love it," Harriman told the Daily Mail. He said he had been "shocked" by the strength of reaction because many locals in Leicester had treated the house as an "iconic" part of the neighbourhood and complimented it in person.
Harriman said the design drew inspiration from Georgian terraces in parts of London where darker brickwork and finishes are used. "A lot of people think the black paint is not in keeping with the Georgian facade but I'm like 'have you been to Bloomsbury?'" he said. He also defended the property's central location, saying it was a key attraction: "It's so easy, if you literally walk around the corner you're in the city centre, and it's a seven minute walk from the station."
Online critics referenced the building's history, noting it was once occupied by clockmaker Edward Loseby, and suggested the look was at odds with local character. Comments ranged from calling the house an "evil twin" of its white neighbour to implying concerns about the area's desirability. Harriman rejected the negative suggestions about the location and said some of the anonymous remarks were "tasteless."
Other responses were more positive, with some users commending the detailed interior renovation and the bold exterior choice. A number of commenters drew comparisons to London property values, and several said they admired the design despite reservations about the postcode.
The couple said they were putting the house on the market because they plan to move to a slightly more rural area with a larger garden, not because of the online reaction. The home was listed at £650,000.
Harriman said he hoped the renovation would encourage other owners to appreciate and preserve the historic features of Leicester's houses. He described the property as "a sanctuary in the city" and said the aim had been to sympathetically restore and adapt the building rather than to court controversy.
Estate agents and local residents were not immediately available for comment. The listing and images have highlighted wider conversations about conservation, period restoration and personal taste in urban neighbourhoods, where redevelopment and preservation often prompt debate among residents and on social media.