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A House Beautiful report describes 13 home design choices that interviewed designers said they would avoid in their own spaces, including zellige tile, waterfall islands and freestanding tubs. Their concerns center on maintenance, installation, cost and everyday usability; the advice is based on individual professional opinions, not a comparative study.
House Beautiful has published a report on 13 home features that interviewed designers say they would not choose for their own spaces, pointing to trade-offs involving maintenance, installation costs and daily function. The list ranges from decorative materials such as zellige and cement tile to built-in appliances, smart-home packages and certain furniture choices.
The report presents the recommendations as designers’ professional opinions, rather than a universal ranking or test of home products. Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile cautions that handmade zellige can vary in size and thickness, making installation slower and more difficult. She also says it can chip, craze and stain, and needs regular sealing. Cement tile raises similar upkeep concerns: Chappell describes it as porous and susceptible to staining and etching, while also noting its weight and labor-intensive installation.
Several other choices are criticized for sacrificing practical space or requiring more upkeep than homeowners may expect. Yvonne Harty of Harty Interiors says waterfall islands can reduce storage and seating, add cost and leave corners vulnerable to chips. Brieanna Cunningham of C&C Partners also points to limited storage and outlet placement. Jessica Alpert says white linen furniture can be hard to keep clean in a busy home, and that built-in coffee makers require regular cleaning and maintenance.
The full list in the supplied report also includes smart-home packages, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs. Cunningham says connected systems can be expensive and may encounter Wi-Fi interruptions, malfunctions or software-update glitches. Cara Shahbandi of Stanton Home Design advises saving for furniture made to last rather than buying low-quality pieces likely to need replacement. Harty says freestanding tubs need ample room around them; in a tight bathroom, cleaning behind one can be difficult. The source excerpt names additional items, but does not provide details for all 13.
The Costs Behind Popular Design Choices
The report’s practical value is its reminder that the purchase price is only part of a renovation decision. Installation difficulty, sealing, cleaning, repairs and space lost to a particular layout can add time or expense after a project is finished. Those factors matter especially for homeowners making decisions that are difficult or costly to reverse, such as tile installation or built-in cabinetry.
At the same time, the article does not establish that these features are poor choices for everyone. A homeowner may value a waterfall island’s appearance, a freestanding tub’s look or the convenience of connected controls enough to accept the drawbacks. The designers’ comments are best read as questions to ask before committing: how much care will the feature require, how will it work in this room, and what will repair or replacement involve?
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How the Designers Assess Trade-Offs
The source frames renovation as a decision with long-term consequences: a finish or feature may be attractive at first but bring upkeep or usability costs over time. It also refers to the rapid turnover of home-design trends, which can make it harder to judge whether a choice will remain appealing years later.
Rather than comparing products or reporting survey results, House Beautiful gathers comments from several design professionals and tile-industry voices. Their suggestions include considering a furniture-style island for added versatility, using a stone slab as a backsplash, choosing a separate coffee station, and selecting an alcove or deck-mounted tub where bathroom space is limited. These are alternatives offered by the cited experts, not requirements for every renovation.
“Because each piece is handmade, there’s a lot of variation in size and thickness, making installation slow and tricky.”
— Jamie Chappell, Fireclay Tile
What the List Does Not Establish
The supplied report does not provide a publication date, a complete explanation of every item in its 13-feature list, or data comparing the long-term cost and performance of these choices. Its recommendations are attributed opinions from a handful of professionals, and the excerpt does not describe a survey, product testing or a representative sample of designers.
Actual maintenance needs and suitability can depend on the product, installation, household and room. The comments do not mean that every smart-home system malfunctions, that every linen piece is impractical, or that a feature cannot be worthwhile in a well-planned space. The excerpt also refers to limewashing an entire home but gives no accompanying designer explanation, so the reason for including it cannot be confirmed from the supplied material.
Questions to Ask Before Renovating
The report identifies no follow-up study or announced next step. For readers planning work, the practical next step is to ask installers and suppliers for product-specific details: expected cleaning and sealing, repair options, installation requirements, warranty coverage and how a feature affects storage, outlets or circulation. Homeowners can also compare the initial price with likely upkeep and replacement needs before making a decision.
Because the article offers broad advice rather than project-specific assessments, the final choice depends on a home’s layout, budget and occupants. A designer or qualified installer can help determine whether a particular material or feature is suitable for the space and the level of maintenance the household is prepared to take on.
Key Questions
What is the House Beautiful report about?
It gathers comments from designers and other home-industry professionals about 13 home features they would avoid in their own spaces, citing concerns such as upkeep, cost, installation and practicality.
Why did designers raise concerns about zellige tile?
Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile says its handmade pieces can vary in size and thickness, complicating installation. She also says the surface can chip, craze and stain and needs regular sealing.
Are waterfall islands or freestanding tubs always bad choices?
No. The report presents individual design opinions, not a rule for every home. The cited concerns are that waterfall islands may limit storage and seating, while freestanding tubs need enough surrounding space to be practical and easy to clean.
Does the report prove these features are not worth their cost?
No. The supplied material does not provide cost comparisons, product testing or a broad survey. It reports designers’ views on trade-offs; homeowners’ budgets, layouts and priorities can lead to different decisions.
Source: housebeautiful.com
