Amanda's home in Barmouth, Gwynedd, has been described as Wales' most colourful house, leaving visitors speechless with its bold use of colour and pattern. The property, which appeared on BBC Cymru Wales' show Wales' Home of the Year, is a testament to Amanda's love for vibrant hues and her ability to create a space that fills her with joy.
A Home That Sparks Joy
Even on wet, drab days, Amanda's spirits remain high thanks to her home's symphony of colour. She says, "It's great fun seeing people's reaction to the house. I have a Tesco online shopping delivery and every time I open the door I just love watching their reaction because they're struggling for words – there's always a: 'Wow!'" No one has ever said it's too much; Amanda insists she did it for herself, not for others.
From Holiday Let to Colourful Haven
When Amanda and her late husband Richard moved in, the house was a holiday let with predictable coastal decor of white, cream, and blue. With a limited budget, Amanda transformed it room by room. Richard, who initially preferred magnolia, was won over after she photoshopped an acid yellow and black hallway. She says, "He said: 'Actually the acid lemon is really good.'"
Advice from the Queen of Colour
Amanda's top tip for using colour is to incorporate more black. "If you have an old house like mine, where perhaps you've got old plaster or walls which are just not perfect, if you put black on one wall, it makes the colours you add pop. But if you choose the wall which is in the most wretched condition and paint that black you simply don't see its imperfections."
A Personal Creation: The Four-Poster Bed
Amanda built her own four-poster bed using wood, a saw, and a manual screwdriver. It took several weeks of planning and four weeks to build. The bed was originally designed to keep her warm when she couldn't afford heating. She explains, "I built it for exactly the same reason that people centuries ago used to have a four-poster bed – it was to keep me warm."
Autism as a Superpower
Amanda, who is autistic, sees her condition as a superpower that fuels her art career. "It's what has allowed me to have a successful art career because of the sheer focus that I put into things. Once I get into something nothing else matters." She wrote her first book of 80,000 words in just four weeks.
Remembering Richard
The decision to appear on the show came after Richard's death. Friends encouraged her to apply, and she felt compelled to honour his memory. "Richard would have been thrilled to have seen it on the television in this show. Now I like to think that he's just watching it from a cloud."
Tips for Adding Colour
Amanda suggests starting with one room, looking at colours in your wardrobe, or painting one wall. Artwork is a non-permanent way to introduce colour. She says, "My art is very bright and some people can be quite nasty about it but you learn to develop a thick skin as an artist. I know my house is overwhelming for some people, but I make no apologies for it."
Episode three of Wales' Home of the Year is available on BBC iPlayer, with the final airing on July 16 on BBC Cymru Wales.
