It really does feel as if I should’ve been a living David Copperfield, but actually that wasn’t the truth at all,” says Llewelyn-Bowen. He recalls feeling guilt for not feeling sadder about his father’s death. Next year, he’ll be presenting the long-awaited new series of Changing Rooms for Channel 4, this time alongside Davina McCall. His aim for the show is simple: colour.

Llewelyn-Bowen appeared as a judge on the series of the reality show The Apartment from 2012 to 2019. Over the years, Laurence has continued to be a well-known face on popular shows, including BBC One's DIY SOS: The Big Build, Celebrity Painting Challenge, This Is My House, and Interior Design Masters. He will also be celebrating bold designs with his new Channel 4 show, Outrageous Homes with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, which is set to air later this year.Based on English artist and book illustrator Walter Crane, this is an indulgent and quite extravagant evocation of bird-and-bough pattern-making, with fantastical feathered friends, lending it a ‘boudoir’ feel.’

I want you to see this book as a safe place. A place where what John Betjeman called ‘ghastly good taste’ finds no succour. There's no judgement and no awkwardness about trends, fashions, or fads. Instead a gorgeous, glorious celebration of the known world's most magnificent, munificent design philosophy – maximalism."

More More More is overflowing with Laurence’s signature style, exuberance and a lifetime’s experience in lavish living and take-no-prisoners individuality. Part narrative treatise, part visual celebration of Maximalism through the ages, it is rich in history, anecdotes and quite a few rules, most of which are to be broken!. Having spent his entire career encouraging people to reject decorative modesty, he will not only inform the reader how to embrace Maximalism in their home, but promises to change how they live within it. But red had to get in there somewhere though it has apparently now been changed to tone it down (Image: Channel 4) As part of our interview series, My Happy Home, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen talks about showing off your bargains and wh y he thinks grey is actually a 'great' colour. Whether you love nosing around beautiful properties or always keep an eye open for your latest project, this group will bring you the best in Welsh homes, properties, renovations and more. Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen in the 'May Morris' suite at The Dial House, Bourton-on-the-Water (Image: Steve Thorp)

It was appalling that my father died at 42, but, on the other side, it meant that I had no route map for life. I didn’t have anything to follow. I had to forge that course myself. I suppose a lot of people would find that quite intimidating; I didn’t really have a problem with that.” They live as vampires,’ he says, ‘with film on the windows to not let the sunlight in; they’ve given up half their room to a fish tank which they then get into with the fish; they paint everything in their world only pink or yellow. There are 16 of them so far, and these people are absolutely extraordinary because the one thing they have in common is that they’re all happy. This is what’s really good about Britain; we’ve always really liked people who are a bit different. Why on earth would you want to smell of laundry? Why not smell like chocolate, indulgence, sex or romance," he teases.The flamboyant designer and host of Channel 4's Changing Rooms is keen to encourage people to embrace his interior philosophy of self-expression, individuality and the dense display of possessions that make you feel special. In November 2007 he and his family were depicted in the Living TV series To the Manor Bowen. Llewelyn-Bowen designed a line of wallpaper in collaboration with the British Home Decor Company Graham & Brown. Laurence's new book rides on the crest of a maximalism wave that is currently flooding the interiors world, creating unique homes across the land, some of which are likely to be featured in Laurence's new and up-coming Channel 4 show Outrageous Homes with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. You do need to curate what you got. Mark it out as being incredibly special and very particular to you," says LLB, who advises people to seek out and visually celebrate their personal treasures, heirlooms, family photos and souvenirs. I've always felt there's a tremendous strain of independence in the Irish home. I remember launching my wallpaper collection in Ireland about 1999. Whereas everywhere else was stopping wallpapering and painting their walls grey, Ireland loved it."