‘DON’T GO FOR GREY’

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen calls for maximalism – it’s all about colour, cushions, comfort and candles

- ELLIE KIRWIN-JONES

When it comes to all things interior, design and culture, we can’t help but think, “What would Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen do?”

Laurence, who shot to fame when he first appeared on 90s home-decorating show Changing Rooms, tells new his aims are to sway everyone from falling into the same trap with his new book, More More More – aka the interior design bible for 2022/3. “Suddenly, everybody’s looking at coordinating with the likes of Posh and Becks to get the ‘Stacey Solomon grey’ look. It’s incredibly cold,” he laughs.

The designer, 57, explains over a Zoom call, “I want people to know how to create a warm, loving space in which they can recharge as well as feel safe and looked after.”

But he openly admits he was “grumpy” and “unimpressed” when he was offered the Changing Rooms gig in 1996 – and insists he would never compete on Strictly Come Dancing or I’m A Celeb… even to help pay his bills. In fact, he credits his popularity to the fact viewers noticed he “wasn’t desperate about being on television”.

Here, Laurence shares the secret to his 38-year marriage and considers the prospect of saying goodbye to his House Of Gucci-style empire…

Hi Laurence. You have a new book out! Tell us about it…