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Is Australia ready for new House Rules judge Laurence?

By Amy Collins-Walker • 1 Comment

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Channel Seven’s House Rules returns to screens this Sunday with two new judges – Australian architect and builder Drew Heath and flamboyant British interior design star Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. I caught up with Laurence recently and he proved quite the entertaining interview subject. And while he won’t be everybody’s cup of earl grey, I cannot wait to watch him on the show!

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

“My style is very flamboyant and full-fat. I believe in expressing oneself as forcefully as you possibly can and I feel very strongly that it’s crazy that people don’t feel they can truly let their hair down at home. Besides, why would I inhabit a mealy-mouthed beige space as I’m not a mealy-mouthed beige kind of person,” says Laurence. Favouring a Baroque design aesthetic and personal style that is anything but subtle (you could say more is more), Laurence is sure to ruffle many of the contestants’ feathers which should make for entertaining viewing.

And while he speaks with a rarefied English accent, the designer is surprisingly egalitarian in his design approach – something that he wants to impress upon the contestants and the Australian public. “I feel very strongly in the 21st century that there’s no such thing as good or bad taste – it’s something posh people came up with so that they could show up and put everybody else down. It also fails to incorporate any sense of individuality and the more we break the rules, the more we express ourselves,” says Laurence who rails against what he terms ‘ghastly good taste.’ “It can be bought off the shelf by the bourgeoisie,” says Laurence.

“We’re all given this monumental boon to own a little bit of the planet, to have somewhere to live. A shrine to come back to after the world’s worst day – somewhere that protects you from the big scary world outside and that keeps Trumpageddon at the end of your garden path! You should love your walls, you should be licking them, having an affair with your home just so it knows how much you appreciate it!” says Laurence.

As for how Australia is likely to take the brash Brit, there has been quite a bit of debate about this during the making of the show. “Yes, I know I am rather over-dressed for Australia but it’s not my fault, it’s Australia’s fault. When I come out fighting, swirling my cane, twirling my moustache, getting cross with people and sprouting sparks from my nostrils it’s because I have a huge passion for what I’m doing. I have a huge passion for what the contestants are doing and I have an overwhelming desire to make them better at what they’re doing. There’s a life-changing amount of money in this so they’ve got to be as good as they possibly can,” says Laurence.

“Unfortunately, I have never, ever cared about what people think about me. I was born with this ridiculous disability which is that I do not give a shit what people think of me. I will never be that bloke on the telly that’s all smiley, orange faced and wants to be your best friend. I will only ever tell it as it is. That might be I love it to death or I hate it so much that I want to napalm it in the morning. That kind of honesty is always slightly at odds in Asia but it fits perfectly in Australia,” says Laurence.

House Rules 2017 commences on Channel Seven this Sunday April 30 and I cannot wait.

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April 28, 2017

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There's nothing like ticking off little jobs! We f There's nothing like ticking off little jobs! We finally knocked out our 60s brown tile back step and replaced it with a smaller grey one made from @trexcompany Island Mist decking to match our deck (that went in 4.5 years ago) and now painted brick exterior. Making the step smaller allowed us to add in an additional manhole under the back door too to allow easier access under the house at the back. And we made a cover for that too (final slide) using Trex. I say "we" but I really mean our handyman 😉 One plank was enough for both jobs. Why we didn't do this ages ago I do not know but it's done now! 😁 Installed with @trexrainescape to ensure it stays dry and lasts!

Disclosure: Plank of Trex decking was gifted. I paid for the handyman.

#backstep #doorstep #deck #decking #deckdesign #deckideas #compositedecking #trex #trexdecking #greydecking

Mat from @doormatau
Me and @fantasticfurniture go WAY back! When I fir Me and @fantasticfurniture go WAY back! When I first came to Australia in my 20s, it's where I headed to buy everything I needed for my first apartment at an incredible price! And I've loved watching the range get more and more impressive over the years as my knowledge of furniture has increased. I had no idea how extensive their Aussie Made sofa range was though. I'd love you to check out the options via link in bio as I think you'll be impressed! I think we have a renewed appreciation for Aussie Made and supporting local manufacturing and jobs and this is a great success story. We love a bit of high low decorating, and turns out Fantastic Furniture is a great place to find your family lounge, a special accent chair, an extra ottoman for occasional seating and so much more. 

#fantasticfurniture #aussiemade #australianfurniture #FindyourFantastic #FantasticFamily #affordablehomewares #affordablefurniture #custommadesofa #custommadelounges #australianhomes #interiorsblog #interiorsaccount #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsdaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Please don't show my boys this room or they'll wan Please don't show my boys this room or they'll want one like it!

How gorgeous is this Brisbane kids' bedroom?! 

@brittwhitestudio worked closely with the boys (aged 7 and 9) to understand their needs with a bespoke bunk bed solution crafted by BRC Cabinets, featuring ample storage as well as an under-stair hidey-hole, a useful reading nook for books and a built-in charger for electronics. Local craftsmen Emmett’s Ropes designed and hand-tied the ropework on the top bunk and the supporting pillar beneath.

Head over to the blog via link in bio to see and read more!

#bunkroom #bunkbed #bunkbedsforkids #bunkbeds #bespokebunkbeds #custommadebunkbeds #sharedbedroom #sharedbedroomforkids #boysroominspo #boysroomdecor #junglebedroom #kidsroomstyle #kidsroomstyling #childrensrooms #theinteriorsaddict #interiorsblog #interiorsaccount #interiorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #brittwhitestudio #highriseliving #apartmentlifestyle #penthouses #apartmentlivingwithkids #newsteadbrisbane 

Pix by @joebrosnan.photo
Comment your fave: 1, 2 or 3? Just 3 of the kitch Comment your fave: 1, 2 or 3?

Just 3 of the kitchens in the @duluxaus Colour Awards 2023 shortlist which will give you some serious inspiration!

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We're a bit obsessed with Cara Standen's balcony m We're a bit obsessed with Cara Standen's balcony makeover using @kmartaus stone tiles!

Nineties townhouse in Lennox Head or villa in Greece? You decide! All up it cost $2000 including all materials and she did the work herself.

Read all about it via link in bio now.

Love your work @twin_palms_lennox

#kmartaustralia #kmartdiy #kmarthack #kmarthome #modernmediterranean #balconymakeover #balconyideas #diybalcony #budgetdiy #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Wallpaper in every single room! What do you recko Wallpaper in every single room!

What do you reckon? You'd think it would be overkill but it isn't because so many of the designs are subtle yet still impactful.

Head over to the blog to see how @grafico_walls transformed this blank canvas Melbourne townhouse with their products, which you've probably seen on The Block over the years. And read how Damian Corney has grown this Melbourne business with wife Adele and a growing team. There's also a look inside the very cool Motley Hotel which has used a whopping 4km of their wallpaper throughout!

You can also watch a video tour with Bec Douros as the house featured on Open Homes Australia over the weekend.

Via link in bio now.

#wallpapergoals #wallpaperdesign #australianwallart #australianwallpaper #wallmurals #wallpapermural #wallpapermurals #wallpapereddoor #digitalwallpaper #digitallyprintedwallpaper #customwallpaper #wallpaperaesthetic #wallpapertrends #wallpaperaustralia #grafico #graficowallcoverings #melbournebusiness #melbournesmallbusiness #openhomesaustralia #theblock #becdouros
Kids and fluffy chickens. Does it get any cuter?! Kids and fluffy chickens. Does it get any cuter?! 

Braved the rain second morning in a row to feed the animals at @edenfarmescape because life's too short to worry about a bit of mud and drizzle!

Feeling relaxed 🥰
Did you see this cracking little transformation on Did you see this cracking little transformation on @sellinghousesaus last night?

We have all the finer details on the blog today via link in bio. Particularly love the kitchen refresh using the existing blue cupboards which really weren't doing anything for me before 😂

#sellinghouses #sellinghousesaustralia #beforeandafterkitchen #beforeandafterrenovation #beforeandafterlivingroom #renoshow #realreno #interiorsblog #interiorsaccount #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #bluekitchen #budgetkitchenmakeover #budgetdiy #budgetmakeover
How's this for a compact back yard TRANSFORMATION? How's this for a compact back yard TRANSFORMATION?!

Our friends at @mintdesignau have done it again!

Homeowner Briony Marsh says: It’s totally changed our home lifestyle now we can sit outside on the lounge in the sun or shade, be in the pool, spa, sauna or cooking pizzas and hanging out with friends. It sounds cliched but it really feels like we are on holiday at home!”

Head over to the blog to see the finer details, including a sauna and a seriously good looking copper pizza oven. There's a lot packed into this space!

#backyards #smallpools #smallpool #homesauna #pizzaovens #outdoorpizzaoven #landscapedesigner #mintdesign #holidayathome #resortstylehomes #landscapeartist #backyard #exteriorinspiration #exteriormakeover #exteriordesigns #pergoladesign #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
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Amy Collins-Walker

About Amy Collins-Walker

Amy is our regular feature writer, an experienced journalist and interior stylist living in Perth, Western Australia. Find out more about her styling work at http://www.amycollinswalker.com/

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Comments

  1. AvatarGlenda says

    April 30, 2017 at 6:46 pm

    Love Lawrence, if only the world had more Lawrence and less beige!

    Reply

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