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What is wrong with John Lewis?

(233 Posts)
Whitewavemark2 Thu 29-Apr-21 07:50:18

Carrie Symonds was reportedly appalled at the “John Lewis nightmare” after Theresa May moved out. I have seen pictures of May in the flat and I think it looks absolutely fine. Very British in taste as you would expect.

I nearly always shop in John Lewis for stuff, so do I assume my taste is a nightmare?

Apparently John Betjamin that very British poet remarked that when the end of the world came, he hoped to be in a John Lewis store as nothing unpleasant can ever happen there.

Perhaps that it the point - it is all so bland and British that it becomes a nightmare of boredom?

suziewoozie Thu 29-Apr-21 07:53:46

There is nothing wrong with John Lewis. On the other hand, there is a great deal wrong with Carrie Antoinette as evidenced firstly by her taste in men.

Casdon Thu 29-Apr-21 07:56:37

Whitewavemark2 I don’t think it’s Teresa May’s or your taste that’s questionable.

TerriBull Thu 29-Apr-21 07:59:11

Exactly! I love John Lewis I can do bland, or 50 shades of various greys happily although having visited the store yesterday, there are plenty of bold colours in furnishings, that retro sixties look that's around at the moment or mid century as the younger generation are prone to describe it displayed some vividly coloured items of sofas and cushions etc.

I saw some mural type "gold" wallpaper that was allegedly to Carrie Symonds taste that wouldn't have looked out of place in Versailles. Horrible! imo. Each to their own.

Pantglas2 Thu 29-Apr-21 08:00:47

I’ve come here to avoid the dead cats someone’s whinging about...perhaps John Lewis have a posh wallpaper depicting them!

Shropshirelass Thu 29-Apr-21 08:01:11

I must admit that I have never shopped in John Lewis, am I the exception to the rule?

Grandma70s Thu 29-Apr-21 08:03:52

I agree that it is not John Lewis that is tasteless,

I suppose if you’re used to very expensive furniture John Lewis is thought of as cheap. To most of us, John Lewis is reasonably high up the social scale.

Froglady Thu 29-Apr-21 08:04:47

I started shopping at John Lewis after I won a competition with £5,500 of John Lewis furniture as my prize and I saw what good quality it was. Now I get most of my stuff from them. I find the after service is good and the service in stores is good as well.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 29-Apr-21 08:06:35

I always think that the Queen has John Lewis taste and you can’t get any posher than that can you?

M0nica Thu 29-Apr-21 08:09:03

I think the flat at No 10 should be treated like an army quarter. Marched in with an inventory check, marched out in the same way at the end of the tenancy.

The government department in charge of maintaining government buildings should paint it in neutral colours every 5 years, after that the incumbent can do what he/she likes, but it all has to be returned to standard neutral colours when it is vacated.

That would clip the wings of the current lady incumbent. She could learn the skills of any forces spouse of turning a bog standard quarter into an attractive personal home by just unpacking the box or so of home ffects that go everywhere with you.

merlotgran Thu 29-Apr-21 08:09:27

Grandma70s

I agree that it is not John Lewis that is tasteless,

I suppose if you’re used to very expensive furniture John Lewis is thought of as cheap. To most of us, John Lewis is reasonably high up the social scale.

Wish I could afford John Lewis. ??

MaizieD Thu 29-Apr-21 08:16:53

I think you've hit a nail on the head there suziewoozie ?

I think we should have a bitch discussion about her designer's taste.
I think it looks like really bad Laura Ashley..

Have a look at these..

quintessenceblog.com/at-home-in-london-with-lulu-lytle/

www.tatler.com/article/lulu-lytle-interior-designer-no-10-downing-street-carrie-symonds

Incidentally, the picture of sofa that's been doing the rounds isn't from no. 11 at all.

MaizieD Thu 29-Apr-21 08:18:01

suziewoozie

There is nothing wrong with John Lewis. On the other hand, there is a great deal wrong with Carrie Antoinette as evidenced firstly by her taste in men.

Oops, somehow missed quoting sw's post.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 29-Apr-21 08:18:12

John Lewis is our go to shop
I am in my sixties not my thirties as I believe Carrie Symonds is. There are many more interior shops with individual looks/styles available.

As far as I am aware there have been no actual photographs released of the new interior or No.11 so I am unable to comment on whether I like it or not. (I am curious though)

Loislovesstewie Thu 29-Apr-21 08:19:08

Having seen some examples of how Number 10 might look, I have to say that the wallpaper looked liked something from a tart's boudoir!
(P.S my spellcheck told me that the term I was going to use is offensive, so now it's judging me!)
Nothing wrong with John Lewis IMHO.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 29-Apr-21 08:21:58

maizie I think you could call that The Re-cycled Look as it looks just like stuff some of my more creative friends have in their house all recycled and painted in all lots of colours.

I quite like it (not my taste) and can appreciate their style.

But I wouldn’t pay £200000 for the same effect.

Lucca Thu 29-Apr-21 08:22:23

The comment and attitude are both snobbish and rather stupid. There isn’t a John Lewis style, surely John Lewis has a large enough stock that most styles can be created .
I’m inclined to agree with the suggestion that incoming PM should not need to totally refurbish when they may not be there that many years !

MaizieD Thu 29-Apr-21 08:22:45

Whitewavemark2

I always think that the Queen has John Lewis taste and you can’t get any posher than that can you?

Oh, come on, WwMk2, the Queen is in the class that doesn't have to buy its furniture. ? She has rooms stuffed with priceless antiques..inherited, of course.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 29-Apr-21 08:22:48

Loislovesstewie

Having seen some examples of how Number 10 might look, I have to say that the wallpaper looked liked something from a tart's boudoir!
(P.S my spellcheck told me that the term I was going to use is offensive, so now it's judging me!)
Nothing wrong with John Lewis IMHO.

?????threaten your iPad with the skip!

Loislovesstewie Thu 29-Apr-21 08:23:10

What I do find sick is that a fortune has been spent on doing up said flat, but they could be gone tomorrow if things go wrong; then the next incumbent does it all again at more cost.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 29-Apr-21 08:23:38

She did up her rooms at Windsor recently and it looked just like a cosy John Lewis.

Iam64 Thu 29-Apr-21 08:25:53

I’m another fan of John Lewis. I made my first post lockdown shopping trip this week, yes, to John Lewis.
The store looked great, the staff as always friendly and helpful.
I’ve bought furniture, rugs, bedding and this iPad (on line when my old one died during lockdown)
We are all obvs dead common because we prefer JL understated, good quality style to well, I’d be rude if I said what I think about Johnson and Carrie Antoinette-s taste

I’m with MOnica on treating the Downing Street apartments like any other temporary accommodation for public servants. I grew up in a series of houses owned by the police service dad worked for. I recall an allowance for carpets when we moved in. Mum scoured the markets and cheap stores as the allowance was low. The expectation was you maintained the house to a standard that the next inhabitant could move in and live there. Why is Downing Street any different. Ms Antoinette and her fiancé have other places they own

Pantglas2 Thu 29-Apr-21 08:31:55

Someone can correct me if I’m wrong but the best snobbish comment about furniture I ever read was in Alan Clarke’s diaries, when he rubbished Michael Heseltine as the sort of person who has to buy his own furniture!

MaizieD Thu 29-Apr-21 08:33:51

As far as I am aware there have been no actual photographs released of the new interior or No.11 so I am unable to comment on whether I like it or not. (I am curious though)

Have a look at the link I posted, GG13. That might give you some idea.

I see what you mean about The Recycled Look, WwMk2, but it somehow just manages to miss looking attractive.

And why pay £200k to look 'recycled' when you can do the real thing for a song? I thought she was meant to be an environmentalist. Nothing spells environmental concerns so much as conspicuous consumption..?

Nonogran Thu 29-Apr-21 08:34:07

I'm with M0nica at 0829 this morning
My thoughts exactly.