[Closed] Does anyone on here give a rats ass about soft furnishings?

Show an interest - make some recommendations:

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That should remove you from the list of consultees. 😀

yep i struggle to Give a **** beyond - is it comfy.

Mine doesn't bother now.

If it's not bikes, motorbikes or football, she leaves me to it 🙂

Forget about chromosomes the true gender test is ... Does it take more than half an hour to chose a lamp shade?
More importantly we already have one.
Edit , when I was young free and single my bedroom curtains was whatever duvet cover I wasn't using. It would get washed then pegged on the washing line I had strung above the windows. Stylish and practical.

Just try not to let your eyes glaze over too quickly when any suggestions about cushion colours are made.
Remember it's n+1for cushions and bikes too.

A home has to look nice. It's where you spend a lot of your time.
Comfy sofa, looks like shit is not really an option in my house.
And yes, I bought all furniture, cushins(spelling?) and whatever else needed to make the house look nice.
I have pride in how my house looks. I don't want friends coming round saying "oh my god, his house looks awful".
If a man has no pride in his home,he probably has no pride in his appearance and probably no pride in himself.

But Harry, she doesn't really [b]want[/b] your opinion. She just needs you to feel partly responsible for the choice, so you don't whinge about the extortionate cost.

Iolo, for people like me furnishings are non things. I couldn't tell you what curtains we have in our bedroom. They're just curtains.

Ah, the benefits of living alone.
I've said it before and I'llsay it again - not one single solitary CUSHION in my house.
Pointless and absolutely nothing to do with pride in the appearance of your house you big twerp!

Mrs T shows me two items, "Which do you prefer?"
I point at item A, "I like that one".
Mrs T's face takes on a disappointed look, I have clearly failed.

Item B is purchased.

6 months later I am blamed for my part in the buying of item B.

Ooh I do like a nice cushion.

where's bunnhyop and her eternally patterned, matched and colourwayed soft furnishings when you need her?

Probably beating-up nbt with a billiard ball in a paisley pelmet.... 🙂

My OH once spent £185 on a pair of lined curtains. WTF? I was less than impressed tbh.

I've contributed equally to the design decisions in our house. I suspect men are uninterested because they've deferred to their partners. If my wife insisted on pale flowery shit like my mum does then yeah, I'd not give a toss - I can't choose between two types of flowery shit.

However, we have this fabric for our bedroom curtains:

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I'm a designer, and so I'm as OCD, and anal, about matching colours etc as any woman. I'd imagine most other designers are too. And like most designers I regard patterns of any description as tasteless showy-offy frippery. Luckily, so does Mrs Binners

I'd have this bloke killed for crimes against good taste, with his gaudy chintzy nonsense...

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And looking at that vile curtain fabric, Molly would be right behind him in the queue for the gallows

"I have pride in how my house looks. I don't want friends coming round saying "oh my god, his house looks awful"."

nope - still struggling to give a rats ass.....

True story last week I get a text at work:
"The green paint doesnt work in the kitchen"
I texted back, "how can it not work? You just put it in the try and put the roller in, make sure you stir it first"

If my house was dirty it would bother me a whole lot more than non matching furnishings.

And looking at that vile curtain fabric, Molly would be right behind him in the queue for the gallows

It "works" though, it really does..:)

My involvement with soft furnishing extends to - if a bothy is found with soft furnishings, eradicate them. It only attracts mould and damp, and mice chew them.

At home, the wife may be interested about such things.

I know what I don't like.

Apart from that game for anything from monkeys swinging in trees, to giraffes galloping plains to William Morris but not LL Bowen. The test for me is 'do I hate it?' So yes I give a bit of a monkeys, but I don't care so much other than I hate polyester/nylon, and I'm digging myself deeper aren't I?

Just say "Teal". It's this year's on trend colour and will make you sound in touch with your feminine side.

Colin-T 😆

My wife does this for a living

*whimpers*

How many times have our wives shown/feigned an interest in bikes when we go on about them?
When my wife starts talking soft furnishings I show an interest because to not do so would be bloody insulting to her, it really doesn't detract from my quality of life to devote a few minutes to it.

My OH once spent £185 on a pair of lined curtains. WTF? I was less than impressed tbh.

Unless it's for an absolutely tiny window, I struggle to see what is strange about that. Exactly how much more fabric and stitching is there in a pair of curtains than a pair of trousers?

Add a zero and I'd definitely agree!

Ye Gods - have you not learnt yet.
Suss what she really doesn't like and express a strong positive opinion on that choice - "You always get your way.........nothing in the house is really mine..........like being a visitor in my own home.....have to live with your tastes...etc"
After a while, give in and let her have what she wants.
Spend Brownie points at your leisure (and no, that isn't any form of smutty euphomism)

Used to not care, now we have kids I do, but only because I want to be damn sure everything is either wipe clean or can be put through the washing machine when it inevitably gets dribbled/pooed/thrown up on.

As for colour, meh, whatever, when we bought the house the deal was the the garage was sacred bike space and the rest of the place was her domain, and I've happily stuck to it.

Gunz - Member
How many times have our wives shown/feigned an interest in bikes when we go on about them?
When my wife starts talking soft furnishings I show an interest because to not do so would be bloody insulting to her, it really doesn't detract from my quality of life to devote a few minutes to it.

Huh? so soft furnishings is your wife's [i]hobby[/i]?
Wow. Lucky you 😆

I don't think I overly care beyond wanting something I don't hate. I'd vito a Laura Ashley house, but given a choice between several near-identical shades of pale cream I'd struggle to enthuse.

My OH once spent £185 on a pair of lined curtains. WTF? I was less than impressed tbh.

How much did you spend on your bike(s)?

"If my house was dirty it would bother me a whole lot more than non matching furnishings"

this - for sure.

OT: hatter - have you ever used that name on other chat media?

How many times have our wives shown/feigned an interest in bikes when we go on about them?

Never. I counted. Twice.

just say you're colourblind and that ikea is a good place to shop on a weekend. That should sort it unless you like parking 5 miles from a store and like that claustrophobic lift feeling.

Feel free to add that gok wan is an idol of yours and you have opinions on womens clothing too 🙂

My wife and I choose things we like together that makes our home feel nice and homely and look the way we like.

Seriously what is wrong with you guys? Do you not like getting on with your wives? Hardly takes any time to do this sort of thing.

I'm pretty sure my wife has a rule that goes something like "If you can get in the bed or on the sofa without moving a pillow it has not got enough or them..."

Do you not like getting on with your wives?

Absolutely. I believe thats why god invented the phrase 'yes dear'

the tech in the house is all mine 🙂 I giuess theres a mumsnet thread about OH asking for opinions on tech

Cushions are useful for putting your TV dinner on to get it nearer your mouth and to add vital stability when eating Chilli from a bowl whilst watching Fast n Loud or Wheeler Dealers, that is all.

You can also wipe things on them once the curtains are too stiff to be absorbent

Hardly takes any time to do this sort of thing.

Not in my house! 16 blind samples to agonise over, then we have to think of whether the blinds should overlap the windows by 15 or 30mm by making a mock up out said samples. Not forgetting the price. The second favourite sample would be £200 cheaper than the first. Is it worth the compromise? Is it?

Meh.

Cushions = Fat litter.

When choosing the settee we spent a long time finding the most comfortable one, we paid for it and waited for it to be delivered. As soon as it was delivered Mrs hoppy littered it with cushions, which as you go to sit down you have to move otherwise they make it less comfortable. Aargh.

We have shutters so don't need curtains. We have a comfy sofa so don't need cushions (though there are few lying around that came free with a bed).

My wife is too busy cooking and cleaning to be mithered with cushions and that.

Cushions are good on a sofa for when you lie on it - props your head up.

However, you only need two. My mum has dozens. When we sleep there the bed has about 12 on it that we have to sweep onto the floor which annoys my mum a bit. I mean, thanks for making a nice guest room and all but we'd like to be able to actually lie down in the bed.

we got into a massive argument last night because i'd damaged the cushions by sitting on them ( they are for supporting your back). If it was down tome they'd go in the bin.

Our bed has 10 pillows but I'm only allowed to sleep on one of them the rest are for show. Who are they on show to. I have to take them off every night and put them back every morning drives me mad.

How do you damage a cushion?

MrsP managed to find a cushion for £80. I had no idea they got that expensive.
The annoying thing is then that I got told off for using it so we have an £80 cushion that cant be used as a cushion. I have been told to go and get some more from the box in the spare room (yes we have a special store for unused cushions in case of emergency)

Soft furnishings?

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Our bed has 10 pillows but I'm only allowed to sleep on one of them

Is this a real thing? My wife seems to scorn me for preferring two pillows but a ban would signal the start of a revolt.

I manage to sneek in an additional sleeping pillow but that can't be left on the bed during the day as it will leave the pillows unsymmetrical.

How do you damage a cushion?

Either with a chainsaw, blim embers, dogs etc - or by not using a complementary 'accent' cushion placed just so.

I do, but then I also like looking at freaky bikes and people with interesting things shoved througj them or bits coloured in. Im a simple little thing and visual stimulus is important to me. Besides which im a massive niche whore amd the fact that someone
..somewhere may have a matching anything to me brings me out in an attack of the vapours and i need my corset loosened and someone to fan me whilst smelling salts are applied.

God im a so glad im not a "bloke"

where's bunnhyop and her eternally patterned, matched and colourwayed soft furnishings when you need her?

Probably beating-up nbt with a billiard ball in a paisley pelmet....

I make a living out of making curtains and blinds. Amazingly I've made quite a few pairs for STWers.

For the moaners out there who think that running up a pair of lined curtains is easy and shouldn't cost so much, you have a go.

And I can understand why you wouldn't be interested in soft furnishings and not understand them, it's sort of how I feel about bike maintenance. I never understand the workings and am a bit ashamed really.

My wife and I choose things we like together that makes our home feel nice and homely and look the way we like.

Same here with t'husband, although given that we're generally overgrown children, this normally results in crocodile shaped shower mats and bedding with cats on it (as in printed, not actual cats).

We could probably do with caring a bit more about soft furnishings, we've still got the same two sofas from my first ever flat. They're twelve years old and one of them stabbed me with a rogue spring. Back of my leg was pissing blood. We flipped the cushion over, hoped for the best and called it the Iron Throne. 🙁

Love a nice cushion to get the head down on in front of the burner after a skinfull lunchtime, helps to be absorbent for the drool.

When I engage with my wife about this stuff I normally find myself in some kind of 'Roger Nouveau Football Fan' from the Fast Show existence.

'Do you like this?'

'Yes'

'Well I don't think it works because of [insert pointless reason I cannot comprehend here]'

'True - it isn't suitable'

'What about this one?'

'I don't like it'

'Ohh I do'

'Well yes, it is quite nice really'

'But it isn't going to work with X, Y or Z'

'True'

Eventually we get the first thing I was presented with.

I want the house to look nice and be comfy so yes I don't mind a cushion or 2.. I do however draw the line at my wife's obsession for washing powder/liquid. The ones in the shop have to be smelt and analysed.... I just don't care enough what my clothes smell like after they are washed!

I come home from work, cycling etc.. My clothed need cleaned. I put them in the wash and they come out smelling better than when I put them in and with no mud or oil on.. Job done

Do I care if they smell of spring meadows or sea breeze... Not a jot!

I do get a bit pernickety over the cleaning mind u.. My wife just leaves it to me now.

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Question 17

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/quiz/jason-statham-387673

When I moved into my rented house 6+ years ago there was a pair if black curtains hanging up in the living room. Every now and then they washed then hung back up. To this day I have never thought about replacing them and I mean never.

I have to take them off every night and [b]put them back every morning[/b]

I think I can see where you're going wrong.

I'm not overly bothered about soft furnishings but colour is really important to me. I'm not one for magnolia everywhere or inoffensive but boring neutrals (as I view them). When we bought our house in July I had to compromise with Mr Pea on furnishings and decor as he prefers relaxing neutrals and I like bonkers colours.

I like bonkers colours, but I'm not sure I'd want a wall covered in them.

leave her to it but reserve the right to veto any choice made

I painted the living room and our bedroom in relaxing shades but as a compromise I did the kitchen in a most beautiful shade of green - like new beech leaves in spring.

I work in a lot of homes, women always want beige carpet, men usually have laminate flooring,men want leather settes and a reclining chair to watch tv, women usually want soft padded settes and a chair with lots of damm cushions, and a fluffy rug,a dyson full of muck is usually on display.

But recently the metro sexualisation of the male is taking over, men want beige carpets,dysons,coffee tables and fancy blinds and electric curtain tracks.

There is also the abundance of smellies, squirty ones, gel ones, plug in ones, ones that squirt when you approach them, some in glass and dont get me started on bloody canndles, then there are potted plants and silly ornaments.

recently the metro sexualisation of the male is taking over

I had to buy a steam iron recently. In amongst all the pastel blue and lavender I managed to find a black one. Made by Bosch. In my head it's practically a power tool.

Real men should not have any Pastel colours in the house, its just not manly, and to have one is the start of the speedy down hill slope to de masculinisation.

Agree a steam iron is a tool of the trade,but not in pastel colours.

Quite.

Cf:

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My wife has a degree in textile design/printed fabrics.

I chose the curtains for the house & was complemented on my eye for matching the various rooms uses and design features!!!

I had to go to the bathroom to check my tackle was still in place 😮

I have perfected the art of 'the least of a **** I can get away with giving'

Was your criteria "when I close them does the room get darker?"?

I had to buy a steam iron recently. In amongst all the pastel blue and lavender I managed to find a black one. Made by Bosch. In my head it's practically a power tool.

Hmm, I see a market here for a new range of ryobi or dewalt cordless appliances with fast charge 18v Li-ion powered whisk, blender, iron etc.

Real men should not have any Pastel colours in the house, its just not manly, and to have one is the start of the speedy down hill slope to de masculinisation.

My curtains are a greeny pastel shade... but my mum gave them to me. So at least I didn't have to choose... or pay.

[i]"when I close them does the room get darker?"[/i]

A good point: can one buy curtains that are black on one side, the other being in some sort of relationship with the wallpaper? Otherwise I'll stick with venetian blinds made of wood.

I have no say on the matter in our house , Il Duce , I mean my missus, asks my advice and then ignores it. It's a system she has deployed now for 23 years.

I see a lot of blokes here on a one way trip to having their clothes all chosen by their wives....
Oh dear.... 🙂

Laurence Llewellyn Bowen fitted out an old cinema in Leamington where I live into a music venue. I wasn't a fan of him in the changing rooms days but this place is fantastic.
It has Tammy Wynettes caravan in the back for the bands to relax in...
🙂

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On a more serious note, yes I care. My wife cares more so she makes most choices, but I do retain (and have used) power of veto if I really don't like what she chooses

[quote=slowoldgit dijo]
A good point: can one buy curtains that are black on one side, the other being in some sort of relationship with the wallpaper? Otherwise I'll stick with venetian blinds made of wood.

Well, most curtains are lined. The side facing you is the bit you see so you choose something you like - patterns or colours to match the wall. The lining is the bit that faces the outside, and is usually an ivory or off white. You can get them interlined which will keep things warmer and reduce the light coming through, or you can use "blackout" lining which will block even more light. It doesn't stop the light completely - you do get a bit of light around the edges and that effect is greater if you have a pole rather than a rail. It does help though. We have blackout lining in our bedroom

That theatre looks ace.

Who is the chubby middle aged Herbert in the big shorts relaxing with a pie? Actually, on this website that could be anyone.