TV dandy Laurence left me in tears, says Scots mum-of-two
HE may have a reputation as a genial and flamboyant dandy.
But TV interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen left a Scots mother on his new show in tears after dishing out ‘harsh’ criticism of her artistic skills.
Barbara Romani, 35, from Glasgow, is one of ten contestants taking part in Interior Design Masters – billed as home decor’s answer to the Great British Bake Off.
The BBC Two reality show returns for a second series on February 2.
Mrs Romani finds herself on the rack in the first episode when she gives a £1 million showhome in Oxford a makeover and Llewelyn-Bowen compares her efforts to a badly constructed gallows.
The Scot, a former visual merchandiser for Space NK, said: ‘I was butchered by the judges. It was such an intense experience. The judging was really harsh. Every one of the designers had moments when they cried and I shed a few tears along the way.’
The show is presented by Chatty Man host Alan Carr, with series judge and former editor of Elle Decoration, Michelle Ogundehin, joined by guest judges each week.
Mrs Romani said: ‘Alan Carr brought some fun to the whole process but it was no joke.
‘The judges didn’t want to tell us the room we designed was lovely. They pushed us to see if we’d come out the other end or crumble. There was a lot of pressure to do well as judges weren’t going to be nice.’
In the first episode, viewers will see Mrs Romani given two days, £1,500 and two tradesmen to help transform a bland space. But she builds a partition that Llewelyn-Bowen likens to a badly built gallows.
The Scot, who now lives in Brighton with her husband and two young children, said: ‘We had tiny budgets, short timescales and I was only told I was going to be on the show the week before. We had one week to design, source and install.
‘What I did wasn’t Laurence’s style so I had to take the feedback with a pinch of salt, but he wasn’t very nice about it.’
But she added: ‘I hope the show will be inspiring for people stuck at home looking for inspiration for their homes.’