"Haunted by the John Lewis shame"

I loved reading Robert Shrimsley's column in the FT magazine this past weekend. Tapping into the Boris and Carrie interiors shenanigans/ allegations, whatever you wish to call them - Robert addresses the John Lewis furniture nightmare.

There's no denying that good ole' JL delivers on quality, gives you a good little steer on the interiors front, but it might just be lacking a teeny bit of creativity and perhaps demonstrates a sense of 'I-just-can't-be-arsed-to-look-any-further'. After all it's pretty easy to rock on down to JL and cruise the floors (or the pages) of interiors and get everything sorted under one roof - from the bed to the biscuit tin. There's a reason why they have one of the busiest wedding lists going.

BUT - how truly disappointing when you nosy your way into a friends house and discover that you have {shock-horror} - THE SAME dinner plates or fruit bowl or candle sticks, or worse...bed spread, or THE worst - couch. Noooooo. I love the idea of being inspired by others, but can't abide the possibility that I might have bought something the same as someone I know. It's a no from me. Actually, this is now reminding me of the time we were at a wedding in New York - the night before the big day we were out for a few drinks and one of the other guests (a very close friend of the bride) was telling me, very proudly, about her to-die-for-dress in this super unique lemony colour. Oh gawd - hanging up in my wardrobe was also my super unique lemony dress. Like lightning, I was up and at it shopping on Spring Street the next morning ahead of the wedding that afternoon. And no-one was the wiser (apart my poor husband witnessing the wholly unnecessary drama - in his book anyway). So, yes, perhaps in my case it's rather extreme, but I don't like the idea of having the same as someone else - especially when it comes to the home.

So yes, John Lewis serves a very useful purpose, but it's not there to be consumed from top to bottom. Sure, get some basics and bits, but peppering a home with details that have a background, a history and a life before the shelf - that's the good stuff and that's what sets your home apart and frankly lifts the skirt on who you are and what makes you tick.

And by the way, I laughed out loud at Robert's column when he concluded "I must admit to being a letdown in the bedroom: we got our kingsize from Dreams on the A40. Oh the shame."

Robert, and everyone, let's try to think beyond Dreams...

Robert Shrimsley

The National Conversation

FT.com/magazine May 1/2 2021