TL;DR
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A House Beautiful report gathered designers’ views on 13 home features they would not choose for their own spaces. Their concerns include upkeep, installation complexity, limited function and whether the cost is justified; these are expert opinions, not a universal verdict on the designs.
House Beautiful has published a report listing 13 home features that interviewed interior designers say they would not install or use in their own spaces, pointing to maintenance, cost and everyday practicality as recurring concerns. The piece is advice from a handful of design professionals, not a finding that the features are unsuitable for every home.
The report covers finishes and fixtures including zellige and cement tile, waterfall islands, smart-home systems, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs. It also names limewashing an entire home, though the supplied source excerpt ends during that section and does not provide the designer’s explanation. The headline promises 13 features, but the provided material details only eight categories enough to summarize; it does not supply the full list or all of the article’s comments.
Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile says handmade zellige pieces can vary in size and thickness, making installation slow and difficult, and says the surface can chip, craze and stain and needs regular sealing. Chappell also cautions that cement tile is porous, can stain or etch, requires frequent sealing and is heavy to install. The report notes that cement-tile production can use substantial water and energy, without giving figures or a comparison basis.
For kitchens, Yvonne Harty of Harty Interiors says waterfall islands can reduce storage and seating, cost more and leave corners vulnerable to chips. Brieanna Cunningham of C&C Partners adds that they can restrict storage and outlet placement. Cunningham also says smart-home packages can be expensive for their low-voltage systems and may be affected by Wi-Fi interruptions, malfunctions or software updates. The report’s other examples include light-colored linen that can show stains, built-in coffee machines that need regular cleaning and maintenance, and low-quality furniture that may not last.
The Upkeep Behind the Look
The report’s practical point is that an appealing design choice can carry ongoing costs and care requirements beyond its purchase or installation price. Porous tile may need sealing, specialty fixtures may require regular cleaning, and a layout feature may sacrifice storage or seating. Those trade-offs can matter to homeowners planning a renovation because changes to kitchens and bathrooms may be expensive or difficult to reverse.
That does not mean the listed features are inherently poor choices. A homeowner who values handmade tile, a sculptural island or a freestanding tub may decide the look is worth the extra work. The useful question raised by the designers is whether the feature fits the household’s space, routine, budget and tolerance for maintenance—not whether it is currently fashionable.
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Design Choices Beyond the Trend
House Beautiful frames its report around the expense and permanence of renovation decisions, noting that choices can range from a full gut renovation to a smaller refresh. It also points to the rapid turnover of home trends as a reason some homeowners may find it difficult to judge whether a feature will suit them several years later.
The designers cited offer specific experience-based cautions, not a tested comparison of products or a consensus across the design industry. Some recommendations are conditional: Harty says a freestanding tub may work in a very large bathroom, while Chappell’s concerns about tile focus on handling, installation and care. For waterfall islands, Harty suggests a furniture-style island as an alternative; Cunningham says a desired stone slab could instead be used as a backsplash.
“Because each piece is handmade, there’s a lot of variation in size and thickness, making installation slow and tricky.”
— Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile, on zellige tile
Limits of the Designers’ Advice
The supplied source excerpt is incomplete: it cuts off during the discussion of limewashing and does not show the full 13-item list, the remaining designer comments or a publication date. The roundup also does not provide cost estimates, maintenance schedules, product testing or evidence that the features perform poorly across all homes. The cautions should be read as the views of the named designers, rather than as independently verified or universally applicable conclusions.
Several concerns depend on the property and its occupants. The source does not define how large a bathroom must be for a freestanding tub to work, quantify the added costs of a waterfall island or smart-home package, or compare those options with alternatives. It also does not establish how often particular tile surfaces need sealing under different conditions.
Check the Full List Before Planning
The source does not identify a follow-up announcement or a scheduled next step. Anyone using the report to guide a renovation can compare each feature’s installation and care requirements with their own budget, room dimensions and daily routines. For a specific project, homeowners can ask a qualified designer or contractor for estimates and maintenance guidance suited to the materials and layout.
Because the supplied excerpt omits part of the article, readers should consult House Beautiful’s full report before treating the examples summarized here as all 13 features. The practical decision remains individual: weigh the look against the space, upkeep and long-term cost before committing.
Key Questions
What is the report about?
House Beautiful’s report collects designers’ opinions on 13 home features they would not choose for their own spaces, citing concerns such as maintenance, cost and practicality.
Which features are described in the supplied source?
The excerpt discusses zellige tile, cement tile, waterfall islands, smart-home systems, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture, freestanding tubs and limewashing an entire home. It does not include the full 13-item list.
Are the designers saying these features should never be used?
No. The article presents the views of a handful of designers, and some concerns depend on the home. For example, Yvonne Harty says a freestanding tub may suit a very large bathroom.
What are the main concerns about tile?
Jamie Chappell says zellige’s handmade variation can make installation slow and tricky and that it can chip, craze or stain. Chappell says cement tile is porous, can stain or etch, and needs frequent sealing; the source also describes it as heavy and labor-intensive to install.
What information is missing from the source excerpt?
The excerpt ends during its limewashing section and does not provide all 13 entries, the rest of the article’s comments or a publication date. It also gives no comparative cost or maintenance data.
Source: housebeautiful.com
