Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, the TV host and interior designer known for his work on the BBC's 1990s show Changing Rooms, has said people find his family living arrangement "strange", despite his own enthusiasm for the setup.
The 61-year-old lives in a Cotswold mansion with his wife Jackie, their grown-up daughters Hermione and Cecile, the daughters' husbands and their children. He first revealed the unique setup in an interview with the Daily Mail, where he acknowledged the mixed reaction it has drawn.
A Marriage Spanning More Than Four Decades
Laurence and Jackie have been together for more than 40 years and married in 1989. They share two children and four grandchildren. In an interview with New Idea, Laurence said: "We are constantly aware of how lucky we are to be together for so long."
He added: "We have had tremendous highs and we have had tremendous lows. And we have worked very hard to build something together."
Jackie is the daughter of a British diplomat. After graduating from Manchester University, she worked for London party planners before starting her own business as one of the UK's first professional wedding organisers, according to IMDb. She has appeared on daytime television as a wedding expert and, in 1993, wrote Debrett's Wedding Guide. She also runs the commercial ventures she and Laurence are involved with, including a range of luxury wedding packages.
Why the Family Lives Together
Explaining the living arrangement, Laurence told the Daily Mail: "I still think a lot of people think it is a bit strange. But actually, it is a very kind of straightforward and instinctive way of a family being together."
He continued: "It's a very, very odd idea that came out of the 20th century, this idea of children leaving the home. Actually, traditionally, you stayed if you all worked on the farm together or you worked in the shop together, so in a funny sort of way, we just kind of reviving that, but it made great sense for us."
He added: "You know, we live in a big house. It was very much just me and Jackie. Why do we not then bring the children and their children in with us?"
Discussing the daily reality of sharing space, Laurence said: "There are moments where you've got to work quite hard. But I think that happens in any family."
Laurence is scheduled to appear as a guest on ITV's James Martin's Saturday Morning on November 7, where he will discuss his work with the Royal British Legion and his design and TV career.
