Inside Gok Wan’s swanky Georgian house: Fashion guru shows off his quirky property in a London hotspot after overcoming childhood struggles

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By POPPY ATKINSON GIBSON[1]

Published: 19:04, 30 November 2024 | Updated: 19:28, 30 November 2024

Gok Wan, famous for his Channel 4[2] fashion series, How to Look Good Naked burst onto TV screens across the nation in 2006.

Since then he has turned his hand to DJing, presenting on TV and radio, writing and has featured on ITV[3]'s This Morning, BBC[4] Breakfast, The One Show and Loose Women[5].

But while the star may lead a glitzy life now, it's a far cry from his humble beginnings.

Gok, 50, told The Telegraph[6] that far from a lush lifestyle, he was born in a static caravan in Leicester while his parents waited for permanent accommodation.

He explained that he was 11 before they moved into their first family-owned place - a flat above the restaurant where his father worked as a chef and his mother was front of house.

It was because of this combination of family and work that has shaped Gok's sense of home.

Gok Wan, famous for his Channel 4 fashion series, How to Look Good Naked burst onto TV screens across the nation in 2006 and since then his career has flourished

The star recently gave an insight into his very flashy home in the centre of London in Covent Garden

But it hasn't always been mahogany tables and vintage artwork, the star was born in a static caravan while his parents waited for permanent accommodation in Leicester

He told the publication: 'Home was always really important for its sense of community, safety and belonging. And because of the business, we were surrounded by our family the whole time: they'd be downstairs working and we'd be downstairs with them or in the flat above.

'We were all hands on deck in the business.

Being above the restaurant in its heyday when it was busy, we'd hear the customers and the music, the clatter, chatter and the laughter and it was amazing. For me, home has never been about objects.'

And the TV presenter has come a long way sine then.

The Gok's Chinese Takeaway presenter now lives in a grand Georgian town house in the heart of London.

The star said he was first attracted to it because of the light and the location - the centre of London's Covent Garden.

Although the bones of the DJ's house may be Georgian, the interior is from from historical.

He revealed: 'My home is like walking into what I think of as an old Georgian movie. It's got all of its original features.

But with the interior design I didn't go for a very Georgian look as there's lots of stuff going on, although people probably think I live in a white box with smoked glass.'

The fashionista added that his home is so important because it's where his loved ones gather from family meals to flashy parties with his friends.

He explained that because of his upbringing, 'Home was always really important for its sense of community, safety and belonging'

Although the bones of the DJ's house may be Georgian, the interior is from from historical, revealing: 'My home is like walking into what I think of as an old Georgian movie. It's got all of its original features.

But with the interior design I didn't go for a very Georgian look as there's lots of stuff going on'

And he has a room for everything although he confessed his favourite spaces in the house are the kitchen and his lounge because it's where he spends time with his dog Dolly

And he has a room for everything although he confessed his favourite spaces in the house are the kitchen and his lounge because it's where he spends time with his dog Dolly.

He told the publication that friends only rarely come into his lounge although he does like to host there, throwing open the windows in summer and closing them in the winter to feel tucked away form the bustle of the city.

He added that his kitchen is a 'large party space' and was one of the main reasons he fell in love with the house.

He said: 'I often have parties and the kitchen is where my DJ decks are. It's enough room to fit 35 people comfortably. The kitchen is almost a separate building to the house: it's an extension on the back.

'So it feels self-contained and fun, almost den-like and it's painted a rich red, not a pillar-box red.

It's quite overwhelming when you walk in. I always say it's like going back into the womb.'

Despite the space, Gok admitted that he does occasionally find himself rattling around the mansion with his beloved French bulldog Dolly Albertine Dishcloth Wan.

Despite the space, Gok admitted that he does occasionally find himself rattling around the mansion with his beloved French bulldog Dolly Albertine Dishcloth Wan (pictured in March 2024)

And this is not Gok's first rodeo on the property ladder having moved at least 15 times in and around London and Leicester over the years.

The star's first place was a loft conversion duplex in Bermondsey which he snapped up in the early 1990s.

The TV presenter added that he still owns it and now rents it out having outgrown it after his first few years living in London.

After moving out of his starter home he bought a home in Hampstead in the Heath Extension before finally moving into his Georgian town house.

Although Gok is a master of design and revealed he loved decorating his home, be conceded that one thing he hasn't been able to master is gardening.

Despite trying, he confessed he has managed to kill off all the plants on his roof terrace and now has to get people in to manage them.

And while gardening may not be his strong point, one of Gok's proudest changes to his house is his 'cave'.

He revealed: 'I often have parties and the kitchen is where my DJ decks are.

It's enough room to fit 35 people comfortably. The kitchen is almost a separate building to the house: it's an extension on the back'

Gok started out on his Channel 4 fashion series, How to Look Good Naked (pictured)

The star has turned his hand to DJing, presenting on TV and radio, writing and has featured on ITV 's This Morning, BBC Breakfast, The One Show and Loose Women (pictured on Magic Radio)

He explained he converted an empty courtyard space into an 'inside/outside living space'.

He revealed: 'It has a roof on it and I've covered it in plants and it's gorgeous. I call it my Gok Cave, because in the summer it's where I go and watch TV.'

The star has also filled his home with lots of sentimental ornaments including gifts from family and friends as well as a shoeshine kit that belonged to his great-grandfather, an old abacus, an old crockery trolley and even a mirror h found in a motorway service station in Poland.

He added of the mirror that 'it's the most beautiful wood' but transporting back to London as more difficult than he'd anticipated.

He said: 'Motorway service stations there are like big log cabins where they serve incredible food and neighbours bring stuff along.

But trying to get it back from Poland was a f***ing nightmare.'

References

1. ^ POPPY ATKINSON GIBSON (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ Channel 4 (www.dailymail.co.uk)
3. ^ ITV (www.dailymail.co.uk)
4. ^ BBC (www.dailymail.co.uk)
5. ^ Loose Women (www.dailymail.co.uk)
6. ^ The Telegraph (www.telegraph.co.uk)