Inside A Place In The Sun Jean Johanssons castle-like Scottish home – complete with an iconic staircase

TV star Jean Johansson is known for showcasing luxurious properties on the hit show A Place In The Sun – the show she’s hosted for over five years – and her very own stunning, five-bedroom sandstone building is no different.

The home in Ayrshire, that the 41-year-old shares with her husband of 15 years, former professional footballer Jonatan Johansson, 48, and their 12-year-old son Junior, is a glorious 19th-century mansion. And it really is Jean's sanctuary.

"Of all the decisions I’ve ever made, this house is by far one of the best. We’ve now lived here for almost 14 years," she told OK!.

With a huge entrance equipped with a cosy fireplace and a grand red-carpet staircase, Jean's guests are bound to receive a warm welcome when they visit.

"This is the room that made me fall in love with the house," Jean explained about the hallway. "Of course I love the red carpet.

"I wanted it to be an area where you could put a fire on, have friends over and just lounge together. Although it is a hallway, it's a place we hang out too."

Jean also showcased the living room area – a place that she calls her African room as it pays a beautiful nod to her heritage in Kenya.

"My mum is from Uganda and I really wanted to have that inspiration in this room. There's African artwork and artefacts that I picked up when I was in Uganda.

"I'm not a big art collector but I bought the main painting in the room from someone at the side of a road. I loved it because it shows what African women are all about – working, babies on their back and getting it done. It's really beautiful."

Moving onto her beautifully lit kitchen, the TV presenter admitted it is the place she spends most of her time and it really is the heart of the home.

"I love cooking for my boys. Since I travel so much, whenever I'm home I like to be by the stove rustling up dinner. I love to bake too," she said.

Jean also revealed there's only room for one cookbook on her shelves – John Partridge's There's No Taste Like Home. And rightly so, the EastEnders actor bagged the trophy when they both did a stint on Celebrity MasterChef.

Without a doubt, the kitchen is the most modern room in the house and Jean picked out the pink tiles herself, alongside the bold wallpaper from a Finnish designer called Marimekko.

Making people feel at home is what Jean does best – both abroad on the property show and at her home in Ayrshire.

As she takes OK! on a tour of her spacious guest bedroom, she admitted this is her 'fanciest' room as it boasts Versace wallpaper.

But one person in particular that really inspired the star when decorating the room was Josephine Baker. Josephine was the first African American woman to star in a motion picture, and Jean visited her former house in the summer.

"When people come to stay with me, I want them to feel really comfortable," she explained. "This room is about relaxation but also being spoiled."

One other thing Jean lets slip during the house tour is that she's a massive fan of Kylie Minogue – and she even won Celebrity Mastermind by selecting the singer has her chosen topic.

"Kylie is my specialist subject and I've been a fan since the 80s," Jean laughed. "Not that I'm a stalker or anything, but years ago I went to a celebrity auction and bought a pair of her shoes."

Agency: Victoria Halliday Consultancy, Stylist: Amanda Blackwood, Hair: Tony Seisay, Make-up: Ainslie Currie Videographer: David Talbot, Interior styling: Jordana Events & Iced by Leah

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