My New Flame

Dear faithful reader, I am pleased to inform you that I have inducted a new member into my hall of fame. Which hall of fame, you might ask. Why, the one with all the deliciously yummy men, of course! Is there any other? This most recent addiction is, surprisingly, not an actor. He is, however, predictably British. His name is Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, and he's a famous British designer. Although he isn't an actor, he is on TV, and I've been watching him on the reruns of BBC America's Changing Rooms (which is just like Trading Spaces, only it's not drawn-out, all the people have accents, and the designs are infinitely more fascinating). He was a designer on the show for seven years, and then he hosted it until the show ended in 2004. As of this year he is 42, which makes him positively juvenile compared to the other members of my hall of fame. Now I must relate how Laurence initially captivated me: it was his hair. If he was on screen, my eyes would be glued to his gorgeous hair just like a raccoon and something shiny, and with a sister longing to get my hands on it. When he was the designer, his hair was to his shoulders, very dark - almost, but not quite - black, very wavy, very free, luminously shiny, and full of volume. I especially loved it when he had to steam wallpaper because his hair would become so alive and untameable yet sleek and erotically handsome. His gorgeous coiffure combined with his taste for (in his words) foppish attire...black leather pants, white ruffled shirts, an obvious taste for flair and dramatics...led me to the conclusion...I admit it ... I thought he was gay. But I am delighted to report that that is not the case! He is married, has two daughters, and has assured all his interviewers and fans that he is indeed heterosexual. Even if his borderline attire and his simply divine hair make him a questionable addition to my hall of fame, his personality and delight in eccentricity must surely back-up my decision. His personality is a wild and as fetching as his hair, and that's saying something. Unfortunately, he has since cut his beautiful locks into a more manageable and contemporary style. I still prefer the long tresses...they made him look like he could have stepped out of some sweeping eighteenth-century Gothic romance, maybe a young Mr. Rochester or a softer Heathcliff...but he's not in the least any less stunning than he was with his Byronic tresses. The picture I have posted doesn't do the least bit of justice to him, but it's a start. So, to Mr. Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, I say, "Welcome!"

See clips of Laurence on the British show 24 Hours here: Part: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6