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House Beautiful’s report lists 13 home design choices that interviewed designers said they would avoid in their own spaces, including zellige tile, waterfall islands and built-in coffee makers. Their reasons include difficult maintenance, high costs, reduced storage and everyday usability; the recommendations are expert opinions, not a universal verdict on each feature.
House Beautiful has published a list of 13 home features that interviewed interior designers say they would leave out of their own spaces, warning that some attractive renovation choices can bring extra upkeep, installation costs or practical trade-offs. The report includes zellige and cement tile, waterfall islands, smart-home packages, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers and freestanding tubs.
The designers’ objections vary by feature. Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile says handmade zellige tile can be difficult to install because its pieces vary in size and thickness. She also says the surface may chip, craze or stain and needs regular sealing. Chappell raises similar maintenance concerns about cement tile, which she describes as porous and vulnerable to staining and etching; it is also heavy and labor-intensive to install.
Other concerns focus on how a feature affects daily use. Yvonne Harty of Harty Interiors says waterfall islands can limit storage and seating, cost more and leave corners prone to chipping. Brieanna Cunningham of C&C Partners also points to constraints on storage and outlet placement. Harty suggests considering a furniture-style island instead, while Cunningham says a desirable stone slab could be used as a backsplash.
The report also flags smart-home systems and built-in coffee makers as potential sources of expense and maintenance. Cunningham says smart-home packages can be costly and may run into Wi-Fi, system or update problems. Designer Jessica Alpert says built-in coffee makers require ongoing cleaning and maintenance. The remaining entries in the 13-feature list are white linen furniture, disposable furniture, freestanding tubs, limewashing an entire home, and four other choices not detailed in the supplied source extract.
The Cost of Looks and Convenience
The report is relevant to homeowners weighing renovation costs against long-term use. A feature can look polished in a photograph while demanding more cleaning, repairs or specialist installation than a household expects. Those recurring demands matter when comparing the initial price with the effort and expense of keeping a space functional.
The designers’ comments are professional opinions, not findings that these features are unsuitable for every home. Room size, household habits, budget and willingness to maintain materials can change the calculation. The practical value of the list is to prompt questions before committing to a costly or hard-to-reverse choice.
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Design Choices Under Scrutiny
House Beautiful frames the list around the difficulty of making renovation decisions that will remain satisfying over time. It says design trends can move quickly and that even a visually appealing or convenient feature may not justify its cost and maintenance burden.
The article draws on comments from a handful of designers and tile-industry professionals. Its advice is selective rather than a product test or comprehensive comparison: the source material offers individual assessments, and does not provide prices, maintenance schedules or a survey of homeowners’ experiences.
“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
What the List Does Not Establish
The supplied report extract names only nine of the 13 features; it does not identify the other four or provide their associated reasoning. The full set of recommendations cannot be reconstructed from the supplied material without adding unsupported details.
The extract also does not specify when the article was published, quantify the costs involved or establish how common the reported maintenance problems are. The designers describe their own judgments; the report does not show that every installation will have the same drawbacks or compare these choices with alternatives across different budgets and home layouts.
Check the Full List Before Renovating
Homeowners considering these features can use the reported concerns as prompts to ask contractors and suppliers about installation requirements, sealing, cleaning, repair costs and storage needs. For technology, useful questions include how the system works when Wi-Fi is unavailable, what maintenance it requires and what support is included.
House Beautiful’s report does not announce a follow-up test or new guidance. Readers seeking all 13 entries will need to consult the original article; this source extract does not supply the final four features.
Key Questions
Which home features are named in the supplied report?
The extract names 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.
Why do the designers criticize zellige tile?
Jamie Chappell says its handmade pieces vary in size and thickness, which can make installation slow and difficult. She also says the tile can chip, craze or stain and needs regular sealing.
Are the designers saying these features never work?
No. The comments are individual professional opinions about cost, maintenance or practicality. The report does not establish that every feature is a poor choice for every household.
Does the supplied material include all 13 recommendations?
No. It identifies nine features but does not name the other four. The complete list requires consulting House Beautiful’s original report.
Source: housebeautiful.com
