Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, renowned designer and former Changing Rooms star, recently made a heartfelt and “morbid” admission after deciding to give up full ownership of his grand Elizabethan manor in the Cotswolds. At 60, Laurence and his wife Jackie have taken the significant step of sharing their beloved family home with their two daughters, Hermione, 26, and Cecile, 30, along with their husbands and children.
In a lighthearted moment, Laurence joked that he is “no longer the lord of the manor,” having signed over two-thirds of the property to his daughters, who now live there with their families. Cecile and her husband Dan, both 30, reside in a converted garage block across the gravel driveway with their children Albion, eight, and Demelza, three. Meanwhile, Hermione and her husband Drew, 28, occupy the main house with their daughters Romilly, nearly three, and Eleanora, 18 months.
Beforehand, the garage block had already been transformed into a comfortable three-bedroom home. To accommodate the growing families, Laurence and Jackie created a partition within the main building, effectively splitting it into two separate homes. Each side now boasts its own kitchen, bathrooms, guest rooms, and staircases.
READ MORE: Grade II Listed 17th Century Cotswolds Pub on Sale for £800,000
READ MORE: Mastering ‘Allotment Chic’: How to Garden in Style This Summer
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Laurence revealed the renovation is approximately 90% complete and was thoughtfully designed with their future in mind. “The staircase has been specifically designed with power points top and bottom, so we can get in a stairlift,” he explained. Acknowledging the health struggles in his family—both Jackie and his mother suffered from MS—he emphasized how the design eases potential future difficulties.
Adding a dash of humor, Laurence joked about equipping the stairlift with a mini-bar to stay “gin-drated” if ever stuck, calling his planning “a little morbid.” “I think, let’s be morbid in our sixties, when we’re still quite bouncy. And then let’s never talk about it again,” he quipped.
One of the most significant renovations was a new kitchen, created by adding a small extension to the orangery roof. While Hermione’s half of the home has been fully completed, Laurence and Jackie had to temporarily halt their part of the project due to running out of “space, time, and money” earlier in 2024. The work resumed later that year, with Laurence humorously admitting they had “bitten off more than they can chew.”
With renovations nearly finished, Laurence reflected on their motivations: “I didn’t want us to be an unhappy old couple who own a lot of stuff but don’t reap the benefits.” Embracing change, Laurence and Jackie’s decision to pass on their home ensures the family remains close, comfortable, and prepared for whatever the future holds.
Fans can catch Laurence returning to TV screens this evening on Tipping Point Lucky Stars, competing alongside Bobby Seagull and Penny Lancaster at 4.30pm on ITV One.