TL;DR
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A House Beautiful report collected interior designers’ views on 13 home features they would not choose for their own spaces. The reasons range from difficult maintenance and installation to cost or limited practicality; the advice reflects the designers’ opinions, not a universal assessment of each feature.
House Beautiful has published a roundup of 13 home features that designers said they would not put in their own spaces, citing concerns such as upkeep, installation difficulty, cost and everyday usefulness. The report is a collection of professional opinions, not a finding that the features are unsuitable for every home.
Among the features discussed are zellige and cement tile. Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile says handmade zellige pieces can vary in size and thickness, complicating installation, and may chip, craze or stain without regular sealing. Chappell describes cement tile as porous and vulnerable to staining and etching; it also needs frequent sealing and can be heavy and labor-intensive to install.
Designers also raise practical concerns about waterfall islands and whole-home smart systems. Yvonne Harty of Harty Interiors says a waterfall countertop can reduce storage and seating options, add cost and leave corners susceptible to chips. Brieanna Cunningham of C&C Partners also points to limited storage and outlet placement. On smart-home packages, Cunningham says the systems can be expensive and may be affected by malfunctions, Wi-Fi interruptions and software-update glitches.
The other features named in the report include white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs. Jessica Alpert cautions that white linen can be difficult to keep clean in homes with children or pets and says built-in coffee makers need ongoing cleaning and maintenance. Cara Shahbandi of Stanton Home Design recommends saving for furniture intended to last rather than buying low-quality pieces. Harty says freestanding tubs may be awkward to clean around in small bathrooms. The supplied report also names limewashing an entire home, but provides no designer comments or explanation for that choice in the supplied excerpt.
How Upkeep Shapes Design Choices
The roundup highlights a decision homeowners face during renovations: a feature’s appearance is only one part of its value. Installation, cleaning, repairs and long-term maintenance can affect whether a design remains workable after the initial appeal wears off. Those costs matter particularly when a choice is difficult or expensive to reverse, such as tile, built-ins or a major kitchen fixture.
The report also leaves room for personal priorities. A homeowner may value the look of handmade tile or a freestanding tub enough to accept the extra care, while another may prefer easier cleaning or more storage. The designers’ comments can help readers identify trade-offs to investigate before committing, but they do not establish that any feature will fail or be a poor investment in every setting.
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Design Appeal Versus Daily Use
The source frames its list around the time and expense involved in renovations, as well as the pace at which home trends change. It argues that attractive finishes or convenient-seeming additions can carry ongoing maintenance demands that are easy to overlook during planning. The designers interviewed draw on their work in the industry, but the report presents their views as advice rather than survey results or measured performance data.
The supplied material includes explanations for several features, but not all 13 entries. It names zellige tile, cement tile, waterfall islands, smart homes, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture, freestanding tubs and limewashing an entire home. The excerpt does not identify or describe the remaining four features, so their names and the associated reasoning cannot be reported from this source alone.
““Because each piece is handmade, there’s a lot of variation in size and thickness, making installation slow and tricky.””
— Jamie Chappell, Fireclay Tile, on zellige tile
What the Excerpt Leaves Out
The supplied source material does not state when the article was published, provide the complete list of 13 features, or explain why every item was included. It also offers no comparative cost figures, failure rates or maintenance data, so the claims should be understood as the interviewed designers’ assessments rather than quantified conclusions. The suitability of each feature depends on factors such as the home’s layout, how it is used and the owner’s tolerance for upkeep.
Questions to Ask Before Renovating
The source does not announce a follow-up, study or scheduled next development. For readers considering these features, the practical next step is to ask contractors and designers about installation requirements, cleaning routines, repair risks and total ownership costs before choosing materials or fixtures. Homeowners can also compare alternatives: Harty suggests furniture-style islands for flexibility and alcove or deck-mounted tubs for easier everyday use, while Alpert points to a separate coffee setup as an alternative to a built-in machine.
Key Questions
What is the report about?
House Beautiful asked interior designers to identify 13 home features they would not choose for their own spaces. The supplied excerpt gives reasons for only some of the items.
Why did designers raise concerns about zellige tile?
Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile says the handmade pieces can vary in size and thickness, making installation slower and more difficult. She also says the surface can chip, craze or stain and requires regular sealing.
Are waterfall islands always impractical?
No. The report describes concerns raised by Harty and Cunningham, including reduced storage and seating, limited outlet placement, added cost and chipping risk. Whether those trade-offs matter depends on the kitchen and the homeowner’s needs.
What alternatives did the designers suggest?
Harty suggests a furniture-style island or an alcove or deck-mounted tub in place of certain waterfall-island or freestanding-tub designs. Alpert suggests a separate coffee bar rather than a built-in coffee maker.
Does the report prove these features are bad investments?
No. The material presents individual designers’ opinions and does not provide cost comparisons, performance data or evidence that the features are unsuitable for every home.
Source: housebeautiful.com
