Upset at derision for my decor

[DameDoom]

A colleague came round for coffee yesterday and openly laughed at my house and shockingly bad taste. She spent about 2 hours ridiculing my 'delusional grandeur' and picked out item after item for scorn.

I bloody love my home and spend most of my money and time on it because I really love interiors to the point of obsession. I openly admit that and I know my taste isn't to everyone's but I was offended.

Has anyone else had this happen to them? If I don't like something I just keep my trap shut.

[DameFanny]

Still waiting for photos

[maybemyrtle]

"her husband is a high earner and her house is worth at least 3 times ours"
Money can't buy style, or even manners apparently. What a cow.

[sleepcrisis]

I think I love your house, DD. Woman sounds like a twat. I used to live in AA's shop but live far far away now where every other house is magnolia and they all think I'm a wannabe hipster for liking grey walls and antlers.

Really sorry to hijack thread but can I ask you a Q about dark and gloomy? Sorry I know it's really cheeky but never met anyone who has actually done dark and gloomy. I have been fighting the urge to paint front room down pipe. It's currently bare plaster. Haven't got the guts to do ceiling and woodwork too - is north facing and fairly small - 4x4m.
Ceiling not too low but not very high. Maybe 2.15m ish. Is Victorian but no bay. Is knocked through to the back reception room with a 2.5m opening but the rear window is now a door to kitchen extension so not huge amount of light. Dh's compromise is to paint front room down pipe and rear room something meh like pavillion grey. Would that look shite and half hearted? What do I do with woodwork? Argh. Need a confidence boost!

Whoops that's more than a quick Q. Sorry..

[Jaynebxl]

It is definitely a very particular style and personally I would hate to live somewhere so dark myself but if I found myself visiting a friend with such a house I hope I would focus on picking out some nice things to comment on before spending the rest of the time talking about something else. Her behaviour was horribly rude and judgemental.

[DameDoom]

Shoewhore if you've got a dark dingy kitchen you should absolutely do it. I have done a gallery wall and hung a massive ornate mirror with loads of candles n shizzle. It looks delightful and I have precisely two inches of usable workspace so maintain a certain slimness... what's not to love?
Mrs Florrick I am so impressed. Which mag will it be in? Will definitely buy it.

[DameDoom]

You lot have made me feel so much better. Thank you one and all. Ironically, I blustered out of the bedroom last night and managed to break two toes due to total pitch blackness. Shall have to sue bloody Abigail Ahern .

[WafflyVersatile]

I really like the style though it would probably be too dark for me to live with. I think my problem is I like a bit of everything and fail to commit properly to anything...

I have stuff that I know other people think is terrible taste but we all handle it with humour. I don't mind that my taste isn't everyone's.

Anyway sounds like she was very rude so bollocks to her.

[MrsFlorrick]

OP. I very much like AA stylee. I no longer reside in the trendy borough where her shop is. However I too spend spare cash after DC (=whatever I can wrestle from DH) on home and home decor style etc.

In fact I have had a well known interiors magazine photograph my very stylish kitchen diner this afternoon.

Your now ex friend would really really hate me. Stylish very designed home and a 2yo and a 4yo. Hahah.

I will be your friend and I certainly wouldn't mock your home. In fact I want to see it. And I am interiors obsessed and could do with a friend who is as bad as me.

[DrinkFeckArseGirls]

Def jealous!

[Foosyerdoos]

I googled too, looks fab. I think your 'friend' is jealous.

[RaspberrySnowCone]

It's your home you can decorate how you want, it's your space. Your colleague sounds incredibly rude and seriously lacking in social skills. Don't invite her again.

[BranchingOut]

I passed by there today, on my way to the Farrow and Ball shop, natch, and had to fight the urge to pet one of the dogs :)

[PeteCampbellsRecedingHairline]

Only a Mumsnetter would have a friend who was furious about their lampage.

How you didn't laugh in her face I don't know!

[LittleBearPad]

Dame your house sounds gorgeous and your guest sounds like a bitch. You were more polite than I would have been.

[trixymalixy]

Ha, just read where you said she has a B&Q house ( magnolia with feature wall). I could have guessed that!

[SabrinaMulhollandJjones]

I did just have to google Abigail Ahern to see her dog. He is indeed v handsome.

I would never criticise anyone's decor - just so rude. I would tell bare faced lies rather than hurt someone's feelings.

[trixymalixy]

I love love love Abigail Ahern! I'm jealous of your home and I haven't even seen it!!

Ignore her, she has no taste.

[ShoeWhore]

What an odd and rude way to behave.

I have quite specific taste but think it's rare I can't find something complimentary to say about someone else's house - what fabulous light in here, what a pretty lamp etc

Like the look of Abigail whatshername - perhaps I should embrace the pitch darkness of my kitchen and go for it?

[HarumScarum]

She was furious about the amount I spend on lamps

HAhahaha. This has made me snigger. I think maybe she has too much time on her hands. I can't imagine even having an opinion about someone else's lampage. Although, when I was helping my aunt do an inventory of her house and we got to fifty tables, I did gently suggest she shouldn't ever buy another.

[DameDoom]

bewitchedI agree she was very crass but I doubt she was jealous - her husband is a high earner and her house is worth at least 3 times ours. She was furious about the amount I spend on lamps ( eeh, me house is practically black so there is going to be some certain lampage needed).
Anyway, roll on the dark nights. T'will be wonderous.

[DameDoom]

ubik it's bloody genius and ignorance is bliss as far as I am concerned.
I wasn't that thrilled with the massive dry bogie I felt on my staircase - DH sadly carries a hanky ( I know) and it definitely wasn't me or my many pets. Must have been the York ghosties.

[PeteCampbellsRecedingHairline]

Dame- I'm always up for a non existent rumble in AIBU.

[ubik]

I am very interested in the inky sludgy paint = less housework scenario. We live in a magnolia nightmare because our lovely Georgian tenement was rented to students for years. everything is magnolia - the walls, kitchen wall and floor tiles, the bathroom, the carpets.

I think I might actually go insane

[GrendelsMum]

Please don't create a pet selection hamper, Doom! It must be the only type of selection hamper my DMiL has not yet given me for Christmas or Birthday, and I just wouldn't know what to do with the guinea pig.

[BewitchedBotheredandBewildered]

I think she was incredibly crass and ignorant to spend time in your house being so critical and taking the piss. I'm certain she's very jealous, especially because you've no need to take children into account with your style choice.
I've been in many -many,many- houses over the years and have "admired" decor that I hate, and I can be quite outspoken; it's just unnecessarily unkind to be negative.
I've googled too and I love it, I've done rooms in a similar style in the past.
I too now have a rather pedestrian husband whose idea of a wild colour is pale taupe! He was a wild punk when I met him!
And yes I've had the piss taken out of my choices too and bitten my lip knowing that if I retaliated the person would crumple.
No, they are not "flintstone" arches, they are mediteranean, you might think that a funny colour for a house but it's the same colour as the sky at dusk. But mainly - IT'S ONLY FUCKING PAINT!
OP I think you sound fab.