And Laurence thinks Welsh homes are the perfect canvas to paint your own individual take on maximalism thanks to our wonderful climate. He said: "We are faced in Wales with some of the most unfriendly grey weather on the planet, so Welsh houses always tend to be quite cocooning and that's a real positive. LLB spent two decades railing against all shades of beige, especially magnolia, and has now turned his guns on grey.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen in the 'May Morris' suite at The Dial House, Bourton-on-the-Water (Image: Steve Thorp)Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen visits Plas Llanmihangel manor house, near Cowbridge (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne) In 2004 Llewelyn-Bowen designed the interior of the Inc Bar in Greenwich, England in a former 1830s music hall. The design features Larry's Bar, named after Llewelyn-Bowen and "the Divan", a dimly lit nook, a sort of make-out room. [20] With this book, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen will not only explain how to adopt maximalism in the home, but promises to change your outlook on living happily in it. Structured within a complete timeline of maximalism, there's something for everyone to love! Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen: Recent Paintings runs from May 19 at Cotswold Contemporary Gallery, Market Place, Cirencester, cotswoldcontemporary.co.uk and llb.co.uk People are now suddenly going: Actually, I want it raspberry, I want it velvet, I want William Morris, I want wallpaper.’ Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

Yes, it was all terribly sad; and yes, I remember it being quite dark and I remember things not being happy. But you know, it actually got on with itself, and we all carried on,” he says. “I can remember being semi-accused, certainly by my siblings, of being a bit heartless.” Congratulations!!! So happy for you all," posted one, while a second added: " Congratulations Granddaddy LLB!" 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. The idea was to revivify the Arts and Crafts movement, as it existed from 1880 to 1930, but for a completely new millennia. ‘It’s such an indelible part of the British aesthetic psyche,’ he says, ‘I think it can and should be used to lead into a completely new way of decorating.’ Lifestyle Changing Rooms' Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen says everyone should showcase their tat rather than hiding it awayLaurence Llewelyn-Bowen shows his maximalism design style for Changing Rooms on Channel 4 (Image: Jon Cottam) And you have to know the difference between maximalism and becoming that cat lady person where absolutely everything is left out The point of maximalism is that it needs to be curated.