A couple of weeks ago Style Magazine (The Times) asked me and 2 other (super cool) designers to design a London home for the Beckhams should they consider relocating to London. Yesterday full page spread in the mag of my mutterings as seen below, it was a fabulous thing to do, got carried away of course and spent a night last week dreaming of what could be done to their whole house.
I actually think there is quite alot to be learned from the Beckham’s, Victoria in particular – raising above all the negative press, relentless horrible comments that dogged her for years to follow her own path, and successfully create what she is today. When you dare to be different, negativity I hate to say tends to follow it goes with the territory.
I don’t mind criticism I mean I can’t say I love it but it actually doesn’t bother me what I find worse are the little jibes or underhand comments dressed up as humour. Odd no? In America having lived there for quite a few years there is such a different attitude to success, its embraced, encouraged its congratulated over here its a little different. Obviously I’m not talking about everyone true friends are true friends its more those casual acquaintances you bump into in the street or in the park that you don’t know so well who you can see thinking ‘how the hell is she doing so well when her interiors are so dark and so designed’. Hence the underhand comments dressed up as humour. Ignore I say if you go dark, if you play around with scale if you add a few more focal points then just one, hell if you care about your interiors and make it anything other than dullsville white you will get the piss taken out of you. Fom extended family, from neighbours, from casual acquaintances from the milkman to the postman its fair game I hate to say.
Don’t quite get why but lets not worry about that!
Ignore it all and decorate as you want to decorate and stay above it. I go to white houses all the time and I don’t hyperventilate or reach for the Prozac or a knife I might have to secretly regulate my breathing but nobody knows about that other than me. I don’t take the piss and I don’t sneer I am always always polite.
Dark cocooning interiors are not a fad infact they have been around for yonks and at least whilst I’m alive they are staying that way.
Is this sounding like a right old rant, its not meant to I just need to get it off my chest!
Link and images below:
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/style/homes_and_gardens/interiors/article1173897.ece
Gosh I can so relate to you on this Abigail. Since going dark (railings) I’ve had a few comments dressed up as humour which usually come from those whose own interiors come straight out of a Next at Home catalogue! And like you, I would never dream of expressing thoughts verbally as I don’t want to be rude and insensitive but for some reason, so many people seem to think it’s acceptable to justify their barbed comments by saying “I’m only joking” or “I’m just being honest”. I like the fact that my home is full of character, cosyness and comfort – it’s not everyone’s cup of tea which is totally fine but at least it’s interesting. Whilst my house displays my sense of humour, I quickly lose it when faced with , flippant comments!
Couldn’t agree more x
Great post! Thanks for sharing. I agree with what you have to say about Designing a house for the Beckhams
Yes it was a bit of a rant!!! but very accurate.
I and many many others agree with every word!
I will keep my fingers crossed you get the job for the Beckhams sake!
We have been looking for a flat in London & have seen so many beautiful period properties with their heart and soul ripped out and turned into cheap, bland, glossy white interiors, its criminal?
I am hoping my husband has booked me onto one of your courses, it has been on my Christmas list for the second year in a row now!
Marion Brydson
Shall keep my fingers crossed and hope to see you in the new year
Little jibes and underhand comments dressed as humour are used by cowards who don’t have strength to criticise you openly (did you notice how people use ‘I am not racist but…’ before saying something … well, racist). As for criticism, you must be very happy, it means to struck a nerve, it means that you are doing something different, something ahead of the times. Hold your head high and only start worrying when these ‘acquaintances’ start complimenting your house, that would mean you’re loosing your edge!
Good points indeed and thank you for your kind words x
crikey! i get {& quickly flick off} all snide remarks from family {comments from them are a given… a birth rite almost!}, but i’m not sure i could hack an onslaught of snide remarks coming from every other angle without some form of response… if they’re written comments i could definitely put it down to an error in translation {i’m learning the hard way, humour doesn’t always come across well on a page}, but do people actually say stuff to your face!?! in which case, have you come up with any great retorts you can share!?!
mostly i’d say people sadly feel threatened by stuff they can’t relate to, so onwards & upwards! 
Haven;t come up with any retorts but working on it! Onwards and upwards indeed x
Sorry, just one more thing re the Beckhams interiors- fingers crossed they come to you rather than Kelly bloody Hoppen! X
Your post was like music to my ears and I agree with every word and I, like you, really don’t get why people who know you, feel that they can take the piss out of your work and it’s perfectly acceptable. I write a blog and work as a stylist and I get lovely comments from people who hardly know me about my posts or work, yet so called and often supposedly very good friends think they can be sarcastic and wrap it up as humour, yet they would never speak to you again if you said anything of the sort to them. I have just come off facebook for that very reason as it wasn’t good for my health! I put it down to one thing which is jealousy and it is unfortunately a very British thing to put somebody down when they are doing well. I think the Beckhams would be mad not to commission you and I really hope they do. Merry Christmas and keep doing what you do so well x
Merry Christmas too, and thank you for your comments very apt x
I don’t know if you ever saw the mini reality show about Victoria Beckham, she came across as smart, funny and ready to take the piss out of herself. She has definitely made her mark on fashion, that cat print dress has been copied up the ying yang. I’m sure they’d love your interiors.
I didn’t but shall check it out thanks