The $30 million maximalist makeover

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, one of Britain's most trusted interior designers, has launched a scathing critique of contemporary gardening trends, calling for a return to a more romantic, maximalist approach to outdoor spaces.

According to Llewelyn-Bowen,the current state of Britain's gardens is a 'weird time horticulturally,' with a clear divide between those who embrace a wild, nature-dominated approach and those who strive to transform their plots into seamless extensions of their indoor living areas.

Rejecting both extremes,Llewelyn-Bowen advocates for a contemporary, stylish middle ground that reconnects homeowners with the genuine joy and potential of their gardens .

A maximalist's guide to garden design

For Llewelyn-Bowen, the key to a maximalist garden is to 'romanticise' the outdoor environment , accepting that a garden is not a controlled drawing room but a dynamic space where a certain degree of beautiful chaos is not only acceptable but desirable.

He suggests moving away from the trend of importing indoor fixtures like large barbecues and hot tubs,which he sees as an attempt to 'reconfigure' the garden.

Instead, he promotes the use of natural materials and soft furnishings to create an oasis of whimsy and calm.

His guidance includes seven specific swaps to upgrade a garden with a maximalist flair but minimal complication, such as replacing synthetic AstroTurf with patterned outdoor rugs, favouring fire pits over barbecues, and ditching the popular 'greige' colour palette for bold hues like Provence Blue or Japanese lacquer red.

Who is the maximalist designer for the modern age?

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, 60, is a renowned interior designer and former Changing Rooms star, known for his bold, maximalist aesthetic.

He has been a vocal critic of contemporary gardening trends, calling for a return to a more romantic, maximalist approach to outdoor spaces.

His maximalist design philosophy centers on 'romanticising' the outdoor environment, accepting that a garden is not a controlled drawing room but a dynamic space where a certain degree of beautiful chaos is not only acceptable but desirable.

What auditors flagged in the maximalist design guide?

Llewelyn-Bowen's guidance includes several key swaps to upgrade a garden with a maximalist flair but minimal complication, such as replacing synthetic AstroTurf with patterned outdoor rugs, favouring fire pits over barbecues, and ditching the popular 'greige' colour palette for bold hues like Provence Blue or Japanese lacquer red.

He also suggests moving away from the trend of importing indoor fixtures like large barbecues and hot tubs, which he sees as an attempt to 'reconfigure' the garden.

His philosophy centers on 'romanticising' the outdoor environment ,accepting that a garden is not a controlled drawing room but a dynamic space where a certain degree of beautiful chaos is not only acceptable but desirable.

An echo of Sydney's 2024 institutional buy-up

Llewelyn-Bowen's maximalist design philosophy has echoes of Sydney's 2024 institutional buy-up, where a group of investors purchased a large portfolio of properties in a bid to redevelop the area.

Similarly, Llewelyn-Bowen is calling for a return to a more romantic, maximalist approach to outdoor spaces, rejecting the trend of importing indoor fixtures and instead promoting the use of natural materials and soft furnishings.

His guidance includes several key swaps to upgrade a garden with a maximalist flair but minimal complication , such as replacing synthetic AstroTurf with patterned outdoor rugs, favouring fire pits over barbecues, and ditching the popular 'greige' colour palette for bold hues like Provence Blue or Japanese lacquer red.