Kevin McCloud talks grand designs in Sydney

Kevin McCloud, the star of the increasingly popular TV series Grand Designs, fronted the decor home show Grand Designs Australia Live in Sydney today.

Crowds hovered as the cult television star cashed in on his international acclaim.

"I'm just a whinging Pom," he suggested, then spoke on what made great, rather than grand designs.

Judging unusual housing projects, Grand Designs first screened in Britain in 1999, airing in Australia on the LifeStyle Channel six years later, then on ABC1 a year later.

Earlier this month its 11th season premiered in the UK. Naturally the couple involved in the transformation of a derelict mill cottage in Northumberland, Stefan Lepkowski and Annia Shabowska, who began work in 2006, had a £250,000 budget, which was completely inadequate.

The series reportedly rates better in Australia than on Channel 4 in Britain.

McCloud told an Australian audience earlier this week that the biggest mistake people made renovating or building a home was "not planning enough" and "failure to work with good professionals."

McCloud said technology was making the home simpler, not more complicated.

McCloud admits his own house is typicall messy and says the kitchen is the centre of the home.

The exhibition space is filled with stalls highlighting interiors and home decor ideas for non-televised home grand designs.

It follows recent exhibitions that take place annually in London and Birmingham.

Grand Designs Australia Live will take place in Melbourne in September 2012.

While in Australia McCloud will catch up with one of his two brothers, who lives in northern NSW.

The show continues until Sunday.