‘I actually think minimalism as a style is over,’ Michelle Ogundehin says in our Zoom call. Why? ‘Because it created places that you had to manage – they took a lot of work to keep, and I found that very constraining,’ she explains.
It takes a certain kind of expert to be able to declare an interior design style has had its day. Luckily, as the former editor-in-chief of Elle Decoration UK and the head judge on BBC’s Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr, Michelle is more than qualified.
When we speak, Michelle is at home, in the midst of a renovation. There’s ‘plastic everywhere’ and she’s been sleeping on the sofa. She describes the whole process as ‘brutal,’ adding, ‘I've had brilliant people working with me and they could not be nicer. They’re excellent – but I am about to lose it.’
Fans of Interior Design Masters will know Michelle has a clear sense of what she does and doesn’t like — from her dislike of plastic plants to a wider scepticism of trends. ‘Plastic plants have always been a long-running hatred of mine,' she says, when asked what item she would never have in her home. 'And I would like to underline that several times.'
We're talking with Michelle to discuss the new series of Interior Design Masters. The show follows 10 amateur designers as they compete for the chance to land a big homeware collaboration and launch their career as an interior designer.
Each week, the design hopefuls are tasked with transforming a different commercial space, including a naval station, football club, a castle and, in Michelle’s words, 'somewhere very, very posh'.
What to Read Next
Often, there's a steep learning curve for the contestants involved, but outside the show, are there any decorating mistakes Michelle thinks people often make?
‘Not using enough texture,’ she says. ‘You know, this idea that you just paint a room one colour. Or not using a deliberately inviting texture – whether it's on the walls, on your fabric, underfoot for mats.’
This latest series will be the seventh installment of Interior Design Masters, and viewers can expect a few surprises along the way. ‘We have one of our former winners coming back as the guest judge, but I'm not going to tell you who it is,’ Michelle says. An Olympian and returning guest judges will also be making appearances.
Over the years, the show has had its fair share of success stories, but is there a contestant Michelle is particularly proud of? ‘I love Banjo [Beale]. I really think he had something quite unique,’ she says. ‘And I loved his show about the hotel. I mean, he's bonkers – absolutely bonkers.’
Speaking of bonkers, what does Michelle think about host Alan Carr buying Ayton Castle in the Scottish borders?
‘I think that's hilarious,’ she says. ‘And how dare he? How dare he step on my interior design turf?’
It seems that Alan is coming for Michelle's crown.
‘It's unacceptable, completely unacceptable,’ Michelle says with a laugh. ‘And if he keeps calling me, asking me what to do, I'm not taking his calls anymore.’
Interior Design Masters is airing 21st April 2026 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
