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What is wrong with John Lewis?

(234 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?

Susie42 Fri 30-Apr-21 12:19:09

I found the comments made by Ms. Symonds very patronising and rude showing a lack of respect to the previous occupants. I cannot see Boris Johnson as a man who is interested in interior design and he was more concerned about other problems at the time.

M0nica Fri 30-Apr-21 13:37:43

Callistemon Is she upcycling the John Lewis furniture by lettng her expensive decorator re-cover and repaint the furniture and an exorbitant price?smile

lemongrove Fri 30-Apr-21 13:58:05

Callistemon

^As with any married quarter new occupants could decorate the place how they wanted to if they were daft enough.^

Well, with a married quarter you could re-decorate but you would have to put it back to exactly as it was when you moved in, ie magnolia, scratched and shabby.

Ah yes, I remember it well ?

Callistemon Fri 30-Apr-21 14:25:19

On leaving:
"My word, you've kept the paintwork clean"

We obviously didn't mess it up enough after we'd repainted - the previous occupants must have been smokers, it was shades of yellow when we moved in.

Redhead56 Fri 30-Apr-21 14:33:33

What’s wrong with John Lewis we were upset when ours closed. What’s right about Carrie Symonds and who even cares what she thinks.

ElaineI Fri 30-Apr-21 18:44:00

Haven't been to John Lewis for couple of years - mainly due to it's location in Edinburgh then Covid. It's a bit old fashioned, cafe nice, items good quality but expensive. Their towels are the best I've ever had. Good deals on lego. Sometimes don't have the stuff online in the store and I've taken a bus trip into Edinburgh to look at what I wanted to buy as a gift but they didn't have it in store which was annoying. Can click and collect at Waitrose but there are not many of these stores around. Last thing I bought was an artificial Christmas tree for DD2 which I collected from Waitrose Morningside.
Thanks for the links MaizieD as I hadn't a clue what the look was. Be nice to see the flat now though. Everyone to their own. I would find that a bit overwhelming though.

crossgranny Sat 01-May-21 10:34:33

I love John Lewis and am bereft that John Lewis in York is closing

spabbygirl Sat 01-May-21 10:45:14

I think this couple are a disgrace, they treat the whole treasury as a personal spending account and give huge sums to their mates and companies they own then worry when they get found out. Carrie antoinette is just one example. Green credentials? they don't have any I tried to take advantage of their green credentials scheme, it was so unworkable they scrapped it in the end, the moral of this story is don't vote tory unless you want to give your taxes to rich business people

Babsbada Sat 01-May-21 10:45:49

Typical old Etonian snobbery. Contemptible.

Happygirl79 Sat 01-May-21 10:48:03

Inverted snobbery by Carrie

Aepgirl Sat 01-May-21 10:50:22

I’m a great fan of John Lewis, however at the moment their stocks are very low. My daughter wants some cushions stocked by JL, but they only have one in our local store, and none online, and won’t reserve it for her to collect as it is less than 3 items - who made up that rule?

Quizzer Sat 01-May-21 10:51:01

Only one thing to say about Carrie Symonds tastes - she chose Boris !

Frankie51 Sat 01-May-21 10:52:14

Our "flagship" John Lewis store has just closed down, throwing all the employees out of work. So much for "partners". So I think there's a lot wrong with John Lewis right now.

jaylucy Sat 01-May-21 10:57:28

Nowt wrong with John Lewis imo. Never had a problem with anything I have purchased from there and in fact was the only company that kept me fully up to date with an online order I made before Christmas.
Quite frankly, being linked with someone that has multiple children with multiple women like BJ would be more of a concern to me than what was on the walls!
I just feel sorry for the following incumbent of Number 10 , having to follow after someone with questionable taste in more than one area!
Imagine what they have done to the decor at Chequers!

dorabelle100 Sat 01-May-21 11:00:41

what i cant understand is that they have a baby/ toddler - think of all the crayon scribbling and scuff marks from wheel barrows/ peddle cars etc.

Ellet Sat 01-May-21 11:02:32

I think there are more pressing problems to sort and really couldn’t care less what is done to the flat, or who pays for it for that matter.
I wouldn’t expect my son and DiL to keep anything of mine if they moved into my house, just as I wouldn’t want to live in a house decorated by my in laws.
It’s simply a generational thing and people wanting to assert their own taste.

Ellet Sat 01-May-21 11:04:16

Sorry, should have also stated that there aren’t any JL shops anywhere near me, ergo, I can’t really comment on their quality personally but know several (well off) friends who swear by JL.

Treacletoffee Sat 01-May-21 11:05:12

Am l right in thinking there is an allowance for redecoration every year? If so wouldn’t it have been great to forget this year and give the money to Marcus Rashfords appeal

GoldenAge Sat 01-May-21 11:08:49

Seriously? Offended by Carried Symonds? Let's not waste our energy here on someone whose taste in everything can be questioned but basically if she can come out and insult Teresa May (and I'm no Tory) so publicly in that way does this woman even deserve a second thought? John Lewis has always been my go to not just for the variety but because the shop assistants have manners - something Miss Symonds seems to be short of.

Nannashirlz Sat 01-May-21 11:09:05

Well how many times have you moved into a property and thought. Wow I love that paper etc you don’t you wanna put your stamp on it. Wouldn’t be a boring world if we all liked the same. If we had the money we would all have designer stuff. But when we in military we could have their stuff and postage stamp carpets as we would call them as they never fitted but we also bought our own stuff.

Pedwards Sat 01-May-21 11:11:59

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!

Gwenisgreat1 Sat 01-May-21 11:15:44

There is nothing wrong with John Lewis furniture - it may be bland to some, but what I'd like to know, how long does Carrie thing she is going to be there? Has she created an expensive nightmare for any successors?

icanhandthemback Sat 01-May-21 11:20:00

What a boring world it would be if we all went to John Lewis. I like bold styles but not sure about Carrie's tastes!

Nannan2 Sat 01-May-21 11:22:34

I think the Queen probably has Harvey Nichols and Harrods taste but there you go.....?Why is Boris et al spending so much on 'the flat' (not even a whole house!) when he'll most likely be out before too long anyway the way he is going....?

Nannan2 Sat 01-May-21 11:26:43

I like to buy the odd thing or two at John Lewis online, salt & pepper grinders, huge bath sheets, cereal containers, 4-in-1 coat hangers, all practical stuff.They seem good quality & last longer.Not sure about wallpapers/furnishings though..?