TL;DR
Get cleaning gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
House Beautiful reports that interior designers identified 13 home features they would not choose for their own spaces, citing installation difficulty, maintenance, cost or everyday usability. The supplied report details eight of the 13; information about the remaining five is not included in the source material provided here.
House Beautiful has published a list of 13 home features that interviewed designers say they would leave out of their own spaces, pointing to maintenance demands, installation challenges, cost and limits on everyday use. The supplied report describes eight of the 13 choices, including zellige and cement tile, waterfall islands, smart-home systems, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, low-quality disposable furniture and freestanding tubs.
The designers’ objections are specific to how the features perform and what they demand, rather than a claim that the items are universally unsuitable. Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile says handmade zellige tile can be slow and tricky to install because pieces vary in size and thickness. She says it can chip, craze and stain, and needs regular sealing. Cement tile, she adds, is porous and susceptible to staining and etching, while its weight and maintenance add to the work.
Yvonne Harty of Harty Interiors says waterfall islands can restrict storage and seating, cost more and leave corners vulnerable to chips. Designer Brieanna Cunningham of C&C Partners also points to limited storage and outlet placement. Harty suggests a furniture-style island; Cunningham says a desired stone slab might instead work as a backsplash.
Other concerns involve reliability and upkeep. Cunningham says smart-home packages can be expensive and may be affected by system failures, Wi-Fi disruptions or software-update glitches. Designer Jessica Alpert says white linen furniture is hard to keep clean, particularly in homes with children or pets, and that built-in coffee makers require frequent cleaning and maintenance. Cara Shahbandi of Stanton Home Design advises saving for furniture made to last rather than buying low-quality pieces that may need replacing quickly. Harty says freestanding tubs need sufficient room around them and can be difficult to clean behind.
The Upkeep Behind the Look
The list is relevant to homeowners weighing design appeal against the demands of living with a feature after installation. Maintenance, repair and replacement costs can change the value of a choice that initially seems attractive, while constraints such as reduced island storage or a tub that is hard to clean can affect daily routines.
The advice is not a blanket assessment of every product or home. Several cautions depend on a home’s layout, household needs and tolerance for upkeep: a spacious bathroom may suit a freestanding tub, while a household prepared to care for natural materials may accept the work involved with certain tiles. The report offers designers’ experience as a point of reference, not a universal rule or a cost comparison.
Products Worth Considering
Shark Clean & Empty Cordless Stick Vacuum with Auto-Empty System, BU3521
Coway Mighty AP-1512HH(W) Air Purifier, White
LEVOIT Vital 200S-P Smart Air Purifier for Large Rooms
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How Designers Weigh Renovation Choices
House Beautiful frames the list around the expense and long-term consequences of renovation decisions, whether a project is a full remodel or a smaller refresh. It notes that a feature’s appearance or promise of convenience does not, by itself, establish that its cost and upkeep will be worthwhile.
The article also raises the pace at which home-design trends change. Its designers focus on practical drawbacks they say they have encountered or anticipate, including installation demands, durability and maintenance. The supplied source material names eight features but does not provide the other five entries or their supporting comments.
““Because each piece is handmade, there’s a lot of variation in size and thickness, making installation slow and tricky.””
— Jamie Chappell, Fireclay Tile
Five Entries Missing From the Source
The supplied material does not identify five of the 13 features named in the headline, so they cannot be described or attributed here. It also provides no publication date, survey methodology, product comparisons or independent testing of the designers’ assessments. The cautions are attributed opinions from the professionals quoted, not evidence that every example will have the same cost, performance or upkeep in every home.
Check Fit Before Committing
For readers considering one of the listed features, the report’s advice points to practical questions to resolve before committing: what installation and ongoing care require, whether the layout can accommodate the item, and how the household will use it. Homeowners can compare alternatives with a qualified designer or installer and ask for details on sealing, cleaning, repair and expected maintenance.
The full 13-item list cannot be reconstructed from the supplied excerpt. Further details would be needed to report the five omitted features or any additional recommendations from the original article.
Key Questions
Which home features does the supplied report discuss?
It describes zellige tile, cement tile, waterfall islands, smart-home packages, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs. The material provided does not name the other five items in the headline’s list.
Why does the report caution against zellige and cement tile?
Jamie Chappell says zellige’s handmade variation can make installation difficult and that the surface can chip, craze and stain, requiring regular sealing. She says cement tile is porous, can stain or etch, and is heavy and labor-intensive to install.
Are designers saying these features never work?
No. The article presents designers’ cautions and preferences, not a universal ban. Suitability can depend on a home’s size, layout, budget and the owner’s willingness to manage upkeep.
What alternatives do the designers suggest?
Yvonne Harty suggests a furniture-style island instead of a waterfall island. Brieanna Cunningham says a stone slab could be used as a backsplash. Harty also says an alcove or deck-mounted tub may be more practical for daily use than a freestanding tub in a tight bathroom.
Source: housebeautiful.com
