You’d think if you owned a stunning Cotswolds manor house, you’d want to hold onto every inch of it.
But not Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. The 60-year-old interior design icon has surprised fans by revealing he no longer technically owns most of his home — and he’s absolutely fine with that.
Giving the Manor to the Sons-in-Law
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Laurence shared that he and his wife Jackie have signed away two-thirds of their family estate — not to their daughters, but to their sons-in-law.
That’s right. While Laurence and Jackie still live in the grand home, the legal ownership has already shifted to the younger generation.
“I’m no longer lord of the manor,” Laurence admitted, half-laughing.
The couple lives in the main house with their daughter Hermione, her husband Drew, and their two young children.
Meanwhile, their other daughter Cecile lives just across the gravel drive in a converted garage with her husband Dan and their kids.
Hermione even joked, “Cecile and I aren’t on the deeds, because we inherit it anyway — it’s actually the husbands.”
It’s an unconventional set-up that Laurence describes as a choice made for happiness, not just tradition.
No Coercion, Just a Lot of Trust
Laurence admitted that when they were finalizing the property handover, a solicitor had to make sure he and Jackie weren’t being pressured into anything by their “bullying” sons-in-law. “Our friends just can’t believe it,” he said.
“They ask, ‘What happens if you all fall out?’”
But as Hermione put it, while they bicker all the time, “we just get over it.”
The key, according to the family, is learning to let the little things go and focus on the big picture — a home full of life and laughter.
Not Waiting to Be Miserable and Rich
Laurence, who is reportedly worth around £8 million, says the decision is part of a larger life philosophy:
“We’re not going to be those old people sitting on a great big pile of cash. Terribly unhappy, terribly lonely.
Owning a lot of stuff but not actually having the benefit of it.”
Instead, they’ve “manifested” a new kind of lifestyle — one where wealth is shared, time is spent with loved ones, and the manor is filled with both antiques and Peppa Pig toys.
A Near-Death Wake-Up Call
This shift in perspective comes after a terrifying brush with death.
In 2024, Laurence took part in the Netflix reality show Bear Hunt, which sent celebrities off to wild locations like Costa Rica.
During a water-based stunt, Laurence became tangled in a bungee rope and got trapped under a boat — dragged underwater for minutes before finally being rescued. He even lost consciousness.
“It was genuinely frightening,” he recalled. Afterward, Jackie told him he was having a midlife crisis.
But Laurence corrected her with a grin: “I’m too old for a midlife crisis. This is an end-of-life crisis.”
Jackie Wants in on the Action
Jackie wasn’t just worried — she was envious.
According to Laurence, she’s always been ready for adventure, even keeping an SAS Survival Guide in her handbag “just in case.”
She’s long hoped someone would cast her on a survival show.
“She’s always been mildly irritated that no one’s ever asked her,” he added.
Why Multi-Generational Living Works for Them
Laurence has spoken before about the joy of living under one roof (or at least across one estate) with his entire family.
Speaking on the My Dirty Laundry podcast, he explained that once their daughters moved out, the house felt too big and empty.
“We were rattling around the house like dried peas in a luxury tin,” he said.
Inviting the family back in brought the manor back to life — even if it’s now overflowing with toys and noisy toddlers.
Peppa Pig Meets Velvet Drapes
You’d expect the home of a flamboyant interior designer to be sleek and refined — but Laurence has embraced the chaos.
“We have our big manor house filled with children and pieces of brightly coloured plastic and Peppa Pig again,” he said, smiling.
And he’s not mad about it at all. “We certainly aren’t sliding into our sixtieth year with boredom calling. We want to use our time wisely and valuably.
The way you design your world helps the way you feel.”
Boomers Doing It Differently
Laurence thinks it’s time more people, especially Baby Boomers, rethink what later life should look like.
“I think everyone thought we would live fast and die young,” he reflected.
“But we’ve all ended up living very, very slowly and dying really quite old.”
Rather than isolating themselves or hoarding wealth, Laurence and Jackie have chosen to share their life, their home, and their happiness now — not later.