A gripe

Yes, it feels like gripe-week round here (what an idea) and maybe it’s because I had a ropey day – or maybe it’s simply that the Guardian told me I should be working it – but I’m finding a certain look I once loved a bit irksome now…

Yup, the whole mismatched dining chair thing. I even started to execute it in my own kitchen yonks ago, but I lost interest at two chairs and I’m just finding the whole thing a bit contrived now. In the manner of the typography letter phenomenon. What do you think, a passing bad mood mis-fired at a cool design idea or no longer original and thus on the turn?

6 Responses to “A gripe”

  1. Susan Taylor
    June 22, 2011 at 9:55 am #

    Agree. When Next start doing it in their catalogue, you know it’s time for pastures new.

  2. Elizabeth
    June 23, 2011 at 3:07 am #

    I think the picture above is just an especially bad rendition of it. It’s certainly no longer new, but it doesn’t have to feel so contrived as those particular chairs — each one stylish, with no common element between them. I’ve always thought it worked better and looked more casual (and less like trying too hard) when the chairs were more similar.

    Of course, maybe I’m just defending it because I’m too strapped to afford a dining set, and must make do with mismatched chairs.

  3. lemony
    June 23, 2011 at 2:45 pm #

    I think, due to the internet, trends that start off a bit ‘alternative’ and different to the mainstream quickly spread to being ‘bloody everywhere’ then quickly lose their appeal. I suppose the answer is just to stick to things we like rather than being influenced by trends – the trouble with that is I’m never sure how much things I think I just like are in fact being influenced by trends (if you see what I mean!) eg. I like mid century modern furniture now, but I don’t think I liked it in the 90’s – am I just following the crowd?
    Sorry this is turning into a bit of a blog post of it’s own but I find the concept of ‘taste’ quite fascinating and could probably waffle on about it endlessly…

  4. lemony
    June 23, 2011 at 2:51 pm #

    Ooh and I’ve got a gripe I really might have to do a blog post about – that Guardian article you’ve linked to refers to looking in ‘thrift stores’ – we don’t call them bloody thrift stores in this country!!! We call them charity shops or junk shops or second-hand shops!!! (this comment has to be read in a shouty voice)

  5. myfriendshouse
    June 23, 2011 at 4:07 pm #

    Elizabeth you make a good point and Lemony, yes the whole trends thing is a mind bender and I say that as someone part of the machine contributing to it! Yes, thrift stores is wrong. ST above hates even saying cup cake instead of fairy cake for the same reason I think, and it gets my goat when I read ‘shelter magazine’ on British websites. RANT OVER. x

  6. myfriendshouse
    June 23, 2011 at 8:58 pm #

    Hey Lemony
    The other My Friend also adding her two-pen’th. I also really hated that Guardian article, which was masquerading as ‘tips’ but was really just waffle. If you do a post about all this we’ll look out for it. x

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