What is wrong with John Lewis?

As I said yesterday, I could live in John Lewis and I hope BJ and Carrie and their baby (is he called Kevin?) can live in the middle section of B&M home stores, they'll survive as there are pot noodles in aisle 1 and kettles in aisle 3.

I haven`t either Shropshirelass.
It`s never really appealed to me tbh.

so why the fuss,

Why isn't this sinking in? Anyone who has worked in the public sector, particularly in a position of any influence, will know that public servants are not allowed to accept gifts over a certain value. This is rigorously observed. Had it been a local council employee who had been given £58,000 to pay for refurbishing their home there would be universal condemnation and the employee would be sacked.

The purpose of this rule, which has been in existence for decades, is to ensure that public officials cannot be influenced to favour, say, a dubious planning application. It applies to all public servants, from highest to lowest They cannot be 'bought'. They are supposedly incorruptible.

Johnson's decor was initially paid for by roundabout ways, and certainly not by him. It was paid for by a 'donation' to the tory party specifically earmarked to pay for the refurb. The donor has since, surprise surprise, landed some nice lucrative government contracts. This is text book corruption! The 'gift' was not declared. This is against the rules, too.

Bozo only paid up when the story started to emerge. One might infer that he'd actually had no intention of paying for the refurb but got caught breaking the rules, so dug in his pocket (or, for all we know, into someone else's pocket).

The Electoral Commission is going to investigate him for breaking electoral law in respect of donations. They would not be doing that had they received an answer to their initial enquiry which proved beyond doubt that he had not broken electoral law.

This issue is not just one of bad taste, it is one of potential corruption.

I've looked around John Lewis stores and think it all looks lovely, but it's outside my bracket, pricewise, to be honest.

It does seem that Carrie Antoinette is living up to her namesake...

Couldn't Premier Inn build them a complex to live in? After all they are British company that actually pay their taxes

I actually think it's an example of how out of touch they are with ordinary people. John Lewis is seen as affluent really, I certainly can't afford to buy branded stuff there and tend to go home sense instead. I remember having a conversation with someone better off than me about rented furniture and white goods, she had absolutely no idea people had to do this and I imagine this lot in power don't either. She was horrified btw (thankfully)

The company that did the flat decor employ traditional upholsterers and I don't know why anyone would buy a traditionally upholstered sofa as a temporary measure for a short term let. Isn't that a bit bonkers? or will they take all the upholstered furniture with them?

I don't mind the look btw. I really love Vanessa Arbuthnott fabrics and curtains which looks quite similar. The prints at Soane who did the decor are a bit William Morris or Charles Voysey too, who I am quite partial to in all honesty but this is hardly the point of the thread

Loislovesstewie

I'd go further and buy a cheap hotel(cheap for London that is) and tell them all that if they don't live within computing distance then they can stay overnight at the hotel. I wonder how many would want to be MPs without the generous allowances.

My point exactly. See above. Perhaps it wasn't expressed as succinctly.

Another who agrees with MOnica. Though I’m not planning to move, my new abode has been decorated and carpeted in what some would call bland. It will be enlivened and personalised by soft furnishings and my personal possessions. I’m an army daughter so I know it can be done. It’s a scandalous waste of money and resources to spend so much on a temporary residence. And yes, I too thought she was supposed to be an environmentalist.
The next person already hoping to be the next resident must be eyeing it up with horror, the decor looks to be a rather acquired taste if the photos I’ve seen are correct.

JenniferEccles

I do like John Lewis and have bought quite a lot from them over the years. I’ve found the customer service to be very good as well as the after sales service which is not always the case.

However it is just a department store with a huge range of styles and tastes, some of which I like, some I don’t, just like any other large store.

Anyway who on earth cares about what Carrie Symons thinks?

No one.

But I care that as a result of the vast amount of money the refurbishment cost the Prime Minister has apparently broken the ministerial code which when things are normal it would mean a resignation.

Nothing is normal though is it?n

Our nearest John Lewis was 35 miles away but now it’s closed down so I’ve never shopped there except when we bought a computer on line for our granddaughter’s 18th birthday because there was an extra year’s guarantee. I used to meet a friend in Milton Keynes occasionally and we would walk around the John Lewis there, I bought some shampoo that I couldn’t get locally but that's the sum total of my John Lewis experience. It seemed very pleasant if a little on the expensive side.

Every woman has her own style, but it you are living in a service flat, which is effectively what it is, you make compromises. If and when they get a place of their own she can furnish it according to her style and budget, I always think JL is middle of the road and reasonable quality.
BJ is not exactly a pauper and adapting interior decor for his partner should not have been beyond his means - so why the fuss, it can’t have been that horrible. Or was Carrie just given Carte Blanche.

I do like John Lewis and have bought quite a lot from them over the years. I’ve found the customer service to be very good as well as the after sales service which is not always the case.

However it is just a department store with a huge range of styles and tastes, some of which I like, some I don’t, just like any other large store.

Anyway who on earth cares about what Carrie Symons thinks?

Carrie Antoinette is a frightful snob who likes to sneer at the common people. There is nothing wrong with John Lewis.

I agree with those who suggest Ms Symonds' taste in men is awful.
As for good old Jonelle:
I worked for them. It was my first Saturday job back in the 1960s and I was thrilled to be in a Partnership. It seemed forward looking in its ethos but unfortunately very middle aged/middle class in its merchandise.

It was a school outfitter. Nuff said. But they are usually savvy about their clientele and remain trusted if not knowingly undersold

I was alarmed when they lost haberdashery and fabrics at the Edinburgh store in favour of a more "modern image" But eventually they saw sense and sacked that chairman and now have wool and fabric again.

Maybe it's just that CS doesn't want to feel middle aged? There could even be Life after Boris?

I gather that in America the incoming 'First Lady' redecorates the White House. Who pays for that? I hate to think how it might have been 'Trumped up'.

Shouldn’t they be concentrating on running the country instead of this sort of garbage?

I could not give a fig re. their taste, not the point is it ?

I agree that John Lewis is pedestrian.
I also agree that Ms Symonds taste is questionable!
The best interiors evolve over time, going out and buying everything to match and painting the walls accordingly always looks contrived.
I love to see an interior that reflects someone’s journey through life.
It doesn’t have to coordinate it needs to be things that matter and spark some joy.

MaizieD

^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..?

I am aware of the designers style.

No images of the No.11 flat have been released, I will my reserve my judgement until then.

If they want to spend a load of their own money, that’s up to them

Oh dear, Sara1954. Has the point of all the fuss completely passed you by?

They didn't want to spend a load of their money. They wanted a tory donor to pay it. They wanted it free, like their holiday in Mustique. Bozo only paid up when he realised he was going to get caught.

It is commonly said that the refurb cost £200,000. We now know that £88,000 has been accounted for, but who paid the other £112,000?

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..?

Great comment MaizieD. She obviously doesn’t put her money where her mouth is.

I suppose the best one could say is that she is supporting a UK designer. But the style is so eclectic most of us couldn’t live in it (I think it would induce a migraine in me!).

Fair enough if they had the money to do it up (and then restore it to shipshape for the next incumbent or leave a wedge of money under the teapot for it to be done after they high tail it - next month? In 5 years? Who knows). But the sad fact is, she, like me seems to have champagne tastes and lager money. Unlike her however, I’ve learnt to live within my budget... fortunately an occasional trip to John Lewis is affordable for us!

Anyone who thinks it is all right to hang wallpaper apparently priced at £850 a roll in a flat when one inhabitant is an infant and another one someone who spills red wine on new sofas, is a fool.
The wall to wall John Lewis quip was first used against the Duchess of Cambridge by some of her husband's erstwhile friends.

I'd go further and buy a cheap hotel(cheap for London that is) and tell them all that if they don't live within computing distance then they can stay overnight at the hotel. I wonder how many would want to be MPs without the generous allowances.

sodapop

I saw some pictures of the new interior, not sure if it was the real thing or just an impression. The sofa material was the same as the hideous wall paper, it all looked very garish to me. I have to say I'm not a fan of lots of patterns in my decor but each to his own.

That wasn't the new interior. It was, in fact, the interior of the designer's house, but I think the sofa was photoshopped as hers is quite different.
Have a look at the link I posted earlier.