I spent almost 40 years turning my cottage into a 'real life dolls house' - but my quirky interior design choices means it's 'unsellable'

An artist who has spent almost 40 years transforming her countryside cottage into a 'real life dolls house' has been told that the property is now 'unsellable'.

Mary Rose Young and her husband Phil Butcher purchased their home, which also doubles up as a pottery studio, in Lydney, Gloucestershire, in 1987.

At the time, the couple were able to buy the property for £30,000 and have decorated every room in their unique style.

The kitchen features a checkerboard splashback and yellow walls with flowers painted on. 

Meanwhile, Mary's pottery studio - where she makes her Alice in Wonderland-inspired designs - has a multicoloured striped ceiling featuring various floral patterns.  

Pictured: Artist Mary Rose Young sipping a cup of tea in her at-home pottery studio, which features a multicoloured ceiling

The couple's living room features features bright blue walls and a yellow ceiling while their dining area has a black-and-white floor offset magenta wallpaper. 

Mary has also installed various statement light fittings around the property - including multicoloured chandelier in her work area and a miniature version in their kitchen. 

Ten years ago, Mary and Phil decided they wanted to open a boutique hotel and put their home up for sale.

At the time, estate agents were confident the house was worth £500,000. However, buyers were said to have been put off by the quirky interior choices.

Speaking in 2021, Mary explained: 'I made this house around my own life and I wasn't thinking about it being sellable. 

'We're living like two children in a doll's house and in retrospect why would anybody else want to buy it? It's like a playhouse for adults.

'I just thought it might go to a mad collector of my work who might want to buy it, but no one was interested. 

'Only one person came and looked at it in the year it was on the market and they weren't here long. 

Mary's pottery studio - where she makes her Alice in Wonderland-inspired designs - has a multicoloured striped ceiling featuring various floral patterns

Pictured: Mary's multicoloured kitchen also features a black-and-white checked splashback and yellow walls

Mary Rose Young and her husband Phil Butcher around the time they bought their home in Gloucestershire 

'I think they had just come out of curiosity to see the decoration and were never interested. The estate agents despaired. 

'I could have painted over all my work, but I didn't want to. I love my house and the house really works for me. 

'I'm a colourful person and I even have pink hair. I like it more and more as I get older.'

Mary appears to still be living in the property and last posted about the house in October 2023.

Sharing a photo of a rainbow perfectly framing the house, Mary wrote on Instagram: 'Somewhere under the Rainbow! This is the home and studio and Gallery of Mary Rose Young taken yesterday....and yes it's been raining in The Forest.'

The couple's living room features features bright blue walls and a yellow ceiling as well as some vibrant furniture 

Their dining area has a black-and-white floor offset magenta wallpaper. Mary also has a miniature version of her workshop chandelier in here

In 1987, the couple were able to buy the property for £30,000 and have decorated every room in their unique style

What's more, Mary says that she doesn't see anything out of the ordinary with her design choices. 

She explained: 'I've stopped noticing how colourful it is because I've lived here for so long. 

'Lots of people are self-conscious and don't say much when they see the decoration, but the right reaction is to laugh and go 'oh wow.' 

'It should make you feel like a child walking into a sweet shop. I want people to feel like adults can have lots of fun too.'

Mary Rose Young sells her pottery on her website and her Easter-inspired collection starts from £95 for an egg cup.