It was a subtle shade of blue, much in keeping with the historic nature of the house and village in which Sheila New lived.
That was the thinking of the 72-year-old homeowner when she paid for it to be painted, but councillors in Crewkerne, Somerset, disagreed and ordered her to re-paint the property yellow.
In the legal dispute that followed, Miss New found herself with a criminal conviction for breaching planning laws by decorating her 230-year-old Grade II-listed home.
Row: Sheila New, outside her house in Crewkerne, will have to pay for a new paint job after councillors took her to court
The pensioner tried in vain to appeal against the ruling and applied for retrospective planning permission in a bid to keep the tasteful blue colour.
But before magistrates, she admitted failing to comply with a council enforcement order and was handed a 12- month conditional discharge.
She has now agreed to switch back to the house's original 'horrible' shade of yellow in a bid to ward off any further legal action, having paid £500 for the original work.
Anne Chislett, prosecuting for South Somerset District Council, told South Somerset Magistrates that the defendant required planning consent for the work to go ahead.
She said: 'The defendant said she was unaware that consent was needed and submitted a retrospective planning application for the repainting but it was refused.'
She said the two appeals against the decision were dismissed before planners met with the defendant to discuss alternative colours, which but Miss New did not like.
When she appeared in court the pensioner told magistrates that she had now accepted what the council were telling her to do.
Before: Miss New described the previous colour - which complies with planning rules - as 'horrible'
She said: 'I personally and spiritually believe that this action has been wrong and have tried to oppose it.
'But now I see that whatever my beliefs, I have to comply with what the council want and am willing to set aside what I believe in.'
She has said previously: 'The old yellow colour was horrible.'
Miss New moved into the detached cottage in 2006 and two years later decided to replace the yellow frontage with the pastel blue to compliment her roses in her garden.
She paid a painter 500 pounds to do the work and was happy with the new-look facade.
Then six months later she was sent a letter by Crewkerne Parish Council which had received complaints from members of the public.
The authority told her she had carried out the work without listed building consent and
demanded she change it back to a choice of earthy yellows, creams or golds that were more in keeping with the Hamstone property.
Dispute: The newer, blue coat has to go
In a planning inspector's report drawn up in the wake of Miss New's failed application for retrospective permission, it was stated: 'I find the use of blue paint has caused considerable detriment to the house.'
She was then issued with an enforcement notice by South Somerset District Council and told to comply with it or face prosecution.
The saga rumbled on for another two years while Miss New launched two appeals.
Miss New was also ordered to pay 50 pounds towards the court costs.
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