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…
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1667302292/articles/iOsR6zrFi1667398150103/8636863626.jpg]
Hi Laurence. You have a new book out! Tell us about it…
I take you through the dark arts of maximalism. More More More is the book that allows you to hold your head up high, and say, “I know exactly how maximalism works”. It’s the opposite of what’s been going on, all that kind of wet, flat-pack, grey decorating that estate agents tell you is a good thing because it makes the rooms look bigger – which it doesn’t at all. It just makes the room look greyer.
What do you want to achieve with the book?
Imagine you’re going into Simon Cowell’s sitting room, and it’s all white and there’s nothing in there. Whereas you come into my room and there’s colour, it’s comfy and there are lots of sofas, cushions, a fireplace with candles lit. It looks warm before you even start.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1667302292/articles/iOsR6zrFi1667398150103/7731167267.jpg]
When you first presented Changing Rooms, how was it for you on TV?
I was horribly unimpressed with the whole idea of going to television. I’m actually quite grumpy about it. When the show started in 1996, I was desperate to finish it to get back to my clients. What I did enjoy was making the rooms. People noticed that there was someone on television that wasn’t desperate about being on television. That seems like such a weird thing these days. Our celebrity culture is full of people who are on television because they’re desperate to be your best mate when they’re on screen. I’ve always done me, been me, and worn my clothes.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1667302292/articles/iOsR6zrFi1667398150103/7637367671.jpg]
What happened when you did?
When I did the screen test, they rang me the next day, saying, “You look stupid. Who decorates wearing leather trousers and a frock coat, and you’re so naughty, you don’t listen to what people say or anything, we love it, can you start tomorrow?” Finding people who are not afraid to be who they are on television is rare. I’m not hanging around just hoping to be on tele...
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…
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1667302292/articles/iOsR6zrFi1667398150103/8636863626.jpg]
Hi Laurence. You have a new book out! Tell us about it…
I take you through the dark arts of maximalism. More More More is the book that allows you to hold your head up high, and say, “I know exactly how maximalism works”. It’s the opposite of what’s been going on, all that kind of wet, flat-pack, grey decorating that estate agents tell you is a good thing because it makes the rooms look bigger – which it doesn’t at all. It just makes the room look greyer.
What do you want to achieve with the book?
Imagine you’re going into Simon Cowell’s sitting room, and it’s all white and there’s nothing in there. Whereas you come into my room and there’s colour, it’s comfy and there are lots of sofas, cushions, a fireplace with candles lit. It looks warm before you even start.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1667302292/articles/iOsR6zrFi1667398150103/7731167267.jpg]
When you first presented Changing Rooms, how was it for you on TV?
I was horribly unimpressed with the whole idea of going to television. I’m actually quite grumpy about it. When the show started in 1996, I was desperate to finish it to get back to my clients. What I did enjoy was making the rooms. People noticed that there was someone on television that wasn’t desperate about being on television. That seems like such a weird thing these days. Our celebrity culture is full of people who are on television because they’re desperate to be your best mate when they’re on screen. I’ve always done me, been me, and worn my clothes.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1667302292/articles/iOsR6zrFi1667398150103/7637367671.jpg]
What happened when you did?
When I did the screen test, they rang me the next day, saying, “You look stupid. Who decorates wearing leather trousers and a frock coat, and you’re so naughty, you don’t listen to what people say or anything, we love it, can you start tomorrow?” Finding people who are not afraid to be who they are on television is rare. I’m not hanging around just hoping to be on tele...
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New UK (Digital) - 1 Issue, November 07, 2022