What is wrong with John Lewis?

No 11 is a publicly owned building and should be treated as such. A basic standard of decor maintained from public funds. Any alterations should need to be approved by "landlord" and at tenants expense. Considering the lease can be very short term why would anyone spend a fortune on decor. Sure both Boris and Carrie have other properties they can use their expensive decorating talents on.

Pedwards

Issues about breaking rules etc aside, the incumbent gets £30k to furnish the flat which should be enough for anyone - my issue is also with the waste!

They get £30k a year ?

It's all about New Brooms Sweep Clean. And Just Because She (thinks) She Can. Some people can be very generous with other people's money.

Like others, I cannot understand why they are allowed to do a total refurbishment. It's an apartment that comes with the job so should be kept fairly neutral and maintained, but then each occupant can bring in their own curtains, furniture, etc (and take it with them when they go 4 years later). They shouldn't be allowed to change the decor at all. All very well to be blaming Carrie (who obviously has very poor taste in men, not to mention decor) but it's Bojo that's given the go-ahead (as well as those around them who have facilitated this). Time to review the whole arrangement.

It’s the marks and Spencer’s of furnishing ...though perhaps even more on the employee ownership, good quality sensibly priced. ‘Never knowingly undersold’ was their tag line. In that respect it’s boring but if you are in temporary accommodation and you want to represent the values of the country you are leading it is the brand to have. They have shown a very adolescent attitude we all roll our eyes. I think John Lewis could be Carrie-Antoinettes ‘ cake’ . Chip chop.
Also read that theresa may didn’t refurbish. That was done by Cameron’s.. who had a young family, SamCam had it painted white and got in some family friendly John Lewis furniture. Like a grown up

I honestly think the remark was a two finger salute to his old pal George Osborne whose family business stock their wallpaper/fabrics in John Lewis but maybe I've been over thinking again....

This is all hearsay and Daily Mail gossip. If you believe anything that paper writes, well I’ll say no more.

I've never lived near a John Lewis store but next time I'm in Leeds or Newcastle or even High Wycombe (DS lives near) I shall be there. As someone else said, Carrie's taste in men shows her tastes, definitely not mine.

Could not agree more heartedly

I moved into a new unfurnished flat 5 years ago, and I was lucky moving at the new year as I was able to take full advantage of the John Lewis New Years sale and fully furnished my flat with well made good quality furniture most of which was acquired at under half price! The majority of visitors I have had have been quick to comment at how pleasant and comfortable my flat is!

So I am totally satisfied with John Lewis and have regularly recommended them to other people.

Think it's just an age thing- my daughter would hate to live with (in her view) my bland John Lewis home, which to me looks perfect.

As Ian Hislop said last night: "Who do they think votes for him?"

I absolutely agree with Monica.

The question should be...what’s wrong with Carrie Symonds!
Bearing in mind they won’t be there long....(?).....what a waste of money...who ever paid.....I doubt the next encumbrant will share her taste....so more cash will be spent!

There's nothing wrong with John Lewis! I'm a big fan of theirs. I have shopped with them for years and have never bought anything there that wasn't good quality and value for money, and their delivery and customer service is second to none. I'm just sorry that so many of their stores are closing now. Obviously everyone's taste is different and we all shop with whoever stocks the styles we like.

Everyone has different tastes but I think the `allowed` £30.000 a year for updating take the biscuit! John Lewis, Ikea, whatever but £30,000 while people are living in awful conditions or in doorways shameful.

The woman has no taste. As evidenced by her choice of father for her child.

Nothing wrong with John Lewis. Carrie on the other hand...

I'd like to see the £30,000 allowance per year to refurbish prime minister's flat to be abolished. Why should tax payers' money be wasted on such ludicrous luxuries when so many ordinary people have to struggle to make the ends meet?! As someone suggested, the army accommodation code should apply to public servants too! How could they be busy with curtains and decorations in the middle of a pandemic and economic downturn worse than the Great Depression of the 1920's. Until recently, I had no idea that there was such a large amount of allowance for PMs flat refurbishments and wonder how many more of these gimmicks I'm unaware of!

Nothing wrong with John Lewis except it is rather boring. Can’t fault the quality or the service though.
I like that bright clashing look that Lulu what’s her name uses but as someone else said you can achieve a similar effect with upcycled, painted, recovered stuff. Don’t suppose Carries got time to do it slowly though. My thought is, what happens when we eventually get another PM? They’ll walk into the flat and have a fit. More expense to change it again.

I think Boris and Carrie will find that you sneer at John Lewis at your peril...

Wish we could all afford John Lewis furniture.
I don’t mind what style they choose providing they promote British companies.
I’m not sure PM and his child’s mother, understand their role. I’m wondering how his next girlfriend will decorate their (humble) flat.
Sadly our PM seems a weak confused man.

Their £30.000 allowance for refurbishment would almost pay off my mortgage! Many people couldn't raise the amount they have spent, as a mortgage to buy their own home. I'm disgusted that anyone would spend that sort of money on what is, after all, a temporary home. I don't begrudge them getting an allowance to decorate to their taste, but £30,000?!
As for John Lewis, that is where I browse, but rarely buy as I can usually find cheaper elsewhere. My son and DiL had their wedding list there and everything is perfectly tasteful IMHO!

Taking the title question at its face value, obviously quite a lot! The following stores have just closed:
Ashford, Basingstoke, Chester, Tunbridge Wells, Aberdeen, Peterborough, Sheffield, York, Birmingham, Croydon, Watford, Newbury, Swindon, Tamworth, St Pancras, Heathrow
when at least one of these had just agreed a very favourable deal with local council to keep the store open. My own latest experience of John Lewis has been the result of cost-cutting, ie appalling customer service and after-care. The upshot of the "after-care" was, as the Helpline had no solution to offer, a recommendation to take a broken essential item 'back to the store' - at the beginning of lockdown! JL legendary customer service has gone - you can't even phone the store to speak to an assistant. JL has lost sight of what its customers value.

Carrie has no taste in her men or her decorating ideas!
I would love to be able to afford to shop at John Lewis in a regular basis but I have to save up for that treat !!!