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A House Beautiful report lists 13 home features designers said they would not choose for their own spaces, pointing to upkeep, installation difficulty, cost or limited function. The advice reflects the designers’ experience and preferences, not a universal assessment of each feature.
House Beautiful has published a list of 13 home features that designers interviewed for the report said they would not put in their own spaces, citing issues such as maintenance, installation, cost and everyday usability. The advice is based on those professionals’ views and does not establish that the features are unsuitable for every home.
The report covers choices ranging from decorative surfaces to built-in appliances and furniture. Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile said zellige tile can be difficult to install and maintain: handmade pieces vary in size and thickness, and the surface can chip, craze or stain. Chappell also cautioned against cement tile, describing it as porous and vulnerable to stains and etching, while noting that it requires frequent sealing and is heavy to install.
Several designers focused on kitchen layouts and technology. Yvonne Harty of Harty Interiors said waterfall islands can add cost while limiting storage and seating, with corners vulnerable to chips. Brieanna Cunningham of C&C Partners also pointed to restricted storage and outlet placement. Cunningham said whole-home smart systems can be expensive and subject to malfunctions, Wi-Fi interruptions and update problems.
Other items on the list include white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs. Jessica Alpert said white linen is hard to keep clean in busy households and that built-in coffee machines require ongoing cleaning and maintenance. Cara Shahbandi of Stanton Home Design advised saving for better-made furniture rather than buying low-quality pieces likely to need replacement. Harty said freestanding tubs need adequate space and can be difficult to clean around. The supplied source also names limewashing an entire home among the 13, but does not include the report’s explanation for that choice.
How Upkeep Shapes Design Choices
The list highlights a practical trade-off that can be easy to miss when choosing finishes or appliances: the purchase price is only part of a feature’s cost. Installation, cleaning, repairs and eventual replacement can affect whether an eye-catching detail remains useful over time. For readers planning renovations, the designers’ comments offer questions to raise before committing to custom work or materials that require specialist care.
The report is a collection of professional opinions, not a cost comparison or a controlled assessment of durability. A feature that creates extra work for one household may still suit another, depending on budget, room size, household routines and design priorities.
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The 13 Choices in the Report
House Beautiful frames the roundup around the difficulty of choosing renovation details that will remain satisfying both aesthetically and functionally. It notes that trends change quickly and that homeowners need to weigh a feature’s appearance against the time and money required to maintain it.
The 13 choices named in the supplied material are zellige tile, cement tile, waterfall islands, smart-home systems, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture, freestanding tubs, limewashing an entire home, open shelving, pot fillers, overly themed rooms and high-gloss finishes. The source excerpt gives detailed explanations for the first eight. It names the remaining five but does not provide their descriptions or the designers’ reasoning, so those explanations cannot be established from the material provided.
“Because each piece is handmade, there’s a lot of variation in size and thickness, making installation slow and tricky.”
— Jamie Chappell, Fireclay Tile
Where the Source Leaves Gaps
The supplied report excerpt does not include a publication date, the complete explanation for every item, or details about how the designers were selected. Although it identifies 13 features, it provides specific commentary on only eight. The reasons behind the remaining five choices therefore cannot be reported from this source material.
The designers’ statements are opinions and practical observations attributed to individuals; the excerpt does not provide comparative pricing, maintenance data or evidence that every version of these features has the same drawbacks. Their usefulness will vary with the design, installation quality and homeowner’s needs.
Questions to Ask Before Renovating
The report does not announce a product change, building rule or follow-up action. For homeowners considering any of these features, the next step is to ask contractors or suppliers about installation requirements, cleaning routines, repair costs and expected lifespan. Those answers can help determine whether a feature fits the room and the household’s budget.
Readers seeking the full case against all 13 choices would need the complete House Beautiful article, since the supplied excerpt does not provide the reasoning for five of them. The source material also does not indicate whether the publication plans further reporting on the list.
Key Questions
What is the report about?
House Beautiful lists 13 home features that interviewed designers said they would avoid in their own spaces, with reasons including upkeep, cost and practical limitations.
Which features did the designers discuss in detail?
The supplied excerpt gives detailed comments on zellige tile, cement tile, waterfall islands, smart-home systems, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs.
Did the designers say these features are bad for every home?
No. The report presents individual designers’ opinions. Whether a feature works depends on factors such as the room, budget, maintenance tolerance and household needs.
What are the other features on the list?
The supplied source also names limewashing an entire home, open shelving, pot fillers, overly themed rooms and high-gloss finishes, but does not include the explanations for those choices.
What should homeowners check before choosing a feature?
Ask about upfront and installation costs, ongoing care, repair needs and durability. For materials or systems with special requirements, confirm those details with the installer or supplier before committing.
Source: housebeautiful.com
