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A House Beautiful report identifies 13 home design choices its interviewed designers said they would not use in their own spaces. Their concerns include maintenance, installation difficulty, cost and fit for everyday life; the opinions are expert guidance, not a universal ranking or tested comparison.
House Beautiful has published a report listing 13 home features that interviewed interior designers said they would not choose for their own spaces, pointing to concerns such as upkeep, installation difficulty, cost and practical limitations. The advice offers homeowners a set of trade-offs to weigh before committing money to renovation choices, but it reflects the designers’ professional opinions rather than a formal product assessment.
The designers’ examples include zellige and cement tile, both of which can have distinctive appearances but require care, according to Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile. Chappell said handmade zellige pieces vary in size and thickness, which can complicate installation, and that the surface may chip, craze or stain without regular sealing. Cement tile, she said, is porous, can stain or etch, and is heavy and labor-intensive to install. The report also notes that cement tile production can use substantial water and energy.
Several other choices drew criticism for how they affect daily use. Yvonne Harty of Harty Interiors said waterfall islands can limit storage and seating while adding cost, and that their corners can chip. Brieanna Cunningham of C&C Partners added that island storage and outlet placement can be constrained. Cunningham also cautioned that whole-home smart systems may be expensive and vulnerable to Wi-Fi interruptions, malfunctions and software-update problems.
The report also names white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, low-quality “disposable” furniture and freestanding tubs. Jessica Alpert said white linen is difficult to keep clean in busy homes and that built-in coffee machines need regular maintenance and cleaning. Cara Shahbandi of Stanton Home Design recommended saving for furniture intended to last. Harty said a freestanding tub needs enough open space around it; in a cramped bathroom, cleaning behind one can be difficult.
The Costs Behind Design Choices
The report’s practical point is that a feature’s appearance is only one part of its value. Installation, cleaning, repairs and usable space can add costs or inconvenience after a renovation is complete. Those trade-offs matter because many home improvements are expensive and difficult to reverse, particularly when they involve cabinetry, tile or plumbing.
The designers’ comments are not a blanket instruction to avoid these features. A homeowner with a spacious bathroom may find a freestanding tub works well, while someone who enjoys regular care may accept the upkeep of handmade tile. The article instead encourages readers to match a design choice to their budget, household and maintenance habits, rather than relying on appearance or trend appeal alone.
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Thirteen Choices Under Review
House Beautiful frames the list around the expense and longevity of renovation decisions, including the pressure to follow quickly changing home trends. It says its examples come from a handful of designers with experience seeing styles and products come and go. The source material provided for this article gives detail on eight of the 13 entries: zellige tile, cement tile, waterfall islands, smart homes, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs.
The headline and introduction refer to 13 features, but the supplied report excerpt ends during a section titled “Limewashing an Entire Home.” It does not include the remaining entries or the full discussion of that feature. The article’s list should therefore be understood as a collection of designer views, not a complete technical review of every product or installation.
““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
Limits of the Designers’ Advice
The source presents individual designers’ judgments and does not provide a survey, cost comparisons, product tests or evidence that the listed features perform poorly in every home. Actual upkeep and suitability can depend on materials, installation quality, household use and available space. The supplied excerpt also does not show all 13 entries or give details about the remaining items, so their names and the full basis for each recommendation cannot be confirmed from the material available.
Questions to Ask Before Renovating
The report does not announce a product change or a scheduled follow-up. For homeowners planning a project, its advice points to practical questions to raise with a designer or contractor: What maintenance is required, what can fail, how will the feature affect storage or access, and what will installation and repairs cost? For tile and other permanent finishes, homeowners can also ask about sealing, cleaning products and installation requirements before choosing a material.
Whether any of the 13 features makes sense depends on the specific home and the owner’s priorities. The next step is to compare the expected appearance with the long-term work and cost, then choose an alternative if those demands do not fit the household.
Key Questions
Which home features are discussed in the available report excerpt?
The excerpt discusses zellige tile, cement tile, waterfall islands, smart-home systems, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs. It refers to 13 features overall, but the supplied material does not include the complete list.
Why did the designers raise concerns about zellige tile?
Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile said handmade zellige pieces can vary in size and thickness, making installation slower and more difficult. She also said the surface can chip, craze or stain and needs regular sealing.
Are waterfall kitchen islands impractical in every home?
No. Yvonne Harty and Brieanna Cunningham cited possible drawbacks, including less storage and seating, added expense and limited outlet placement. The report does not claim that every island has those problems or that the design is unsuitable for all kitchens.
What is the report’s advice about smart-home systems?
Brieanna Cunningham said some whole-home packages can be costly and may be affected by Wi-Fi outages, malfunctions or update glitches. Her comments are a designer’s assessment, not a technical finding about every system.
Does the report provide a complete list of all 13 features?
Not in the source material provided here. The excerpt identifies eight features and begins a section on limewashing an entire home, but it does not include the remaining entries or the complete discussion.
Source: housebeautiful.com
