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House Beautiful reports that interior designers would avoid 13 home features they consider difficult to maintain, costly, or impractical for everyday use. The source material details eight of them, including zellige and cement tile, waterfall islands, smart-home packages, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs.
House Beautiful has published a report listing 13 home features that designers interviewed for the article say they would not choose for their own spaces, citing practical concerns such as maintenance, installation, cost and durability. The supplied report describes eight of the features in detail, including zellige tile, waterfall islands and freestanding tubs; it does not provide details for the other five.
Tile and stone choices feature prominently in the reported concerns. Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile says handmade zellige tile can vary in size and thickness, making installation slow and difficult. She also says it can chip, craze and stain, and needs regular sealing. Chappell describes cement tile as porous and vulnerable to staining and etching, requiring frequent sealing and careful maintenance. She also says it is heavy and labor-intensive to install.
Kitchen layouts and technology draw criticism for different reasons. Yvonne Harty of Harty Interiors says waterfall islands can add cost, reduce storage and seating options, and leave corners vulnerable to chipping. Brieanna Cunningham of C&C Partners adds that they can constrain storage and outlet placement. Cunningham also cautions that elaborate smart-home systems can be expensive and unreliable when Wi-Fi, system hardware or software updates fail.
Other choices on the list include white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs. Designer Jessica Alpert says white linen is difficult to keep clean, especially in homes with children or pets, and that built-in coffee makers require ongoing cleaning and maintenance. Cara Shahbandi of Stanton Home Design recommends saving for durable furniture rather than buying low-quality pieces likely to need replacing. Harty says freestanding tubs may be impractical in bathrooms without enough open space, including because cleaning behind them can be difficult.
Upkeep Can Outlast the Trend
The designers’ comments point to a recurring renovation risk: an attractive feature can carry continuing costs in cleaning, repairs, installation or replacement. Those burdens matter because renovation decisions can be expensive to change after materials are installed or cabinetry and plumbing are built around them.
The report is not a technical assessment or a survey of homeowners, and the designers’ advice does not mean every listed feature will be unsuitable in every home. Rather, it offers practitioner opinions that readers can weigh against their space, budget and tolerance for upkeep before committing.
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Design Appeal Versus Daily Use
The House Beautiful report frames the advice around the difficulty of choosing finishes and fixtures that will remain useful beyond a trend cycle. It notes that a renovation can range from a small refresh to a full gut project, but either can involve decisions with long-term costs and maintenance demands.
The source material provides specific commentary on eight of the 13 features named in the headline. It also mentions limewashing an entire home as a heading, but includes no accompanying explanation in the supplied text. Details on the remaining entries are not available here, so they cannot be reliably summarized.
“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
Five Entries Lack Detail
The supplied source text does not identify or explain all 13 features. It contains detailed descriptions of eight and a heading for limewashing an entire home without the accompanying text. The remaining entries and their supporting expert comments cannot be established from the material provided.
The article presents designers’ opinions, not measured comparisons of lifetime costs, failure rates or maintenance time. Whether a feature is practical depends on factors such as the home’s layout, household needs, product quality and installation. The source also does not state its publication date.
Check Fit Before Renovating
Readers considering these features can use the concerns as prompts to ask designers and contractors about installation requirements, cleaning routines, repair risks and long-term costs. For example, the source’s suggestions include considering a furniture-style island instead of a waterfall edge, choosing an alcove or deck-mounted tub where space is limited, and using a separate coffee bar in place of a built-in machine.
The report provides no announced follow-up or future milestone. Any decision should be based on the specific product and home, rather than treating the designers’ preferences as a universal rule.
Key Questions
How many home features does the report cover?
The headline says 13 features. The supplied source material describes eight in detail and gives a heading, without supporting explanation, for limewashing an entire home.
Why do the designers caution against zellige tile?
Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile says its handmade pieces can vary in size and thickness, complicating installation. She also cites risks of chipping, crazing and staining, along with the need for regular sealing.
What concerns do designers raise about waterfall islands?
Yvonne Harty says they can add cost, reduce storage and seating, and leave corners vulnerable to chips. Brieanna Cunningham also points to limited storage and outlet options.
Are these features unsuitable for every home?
No. The report records individual designers’ opinions, not a universal assessment. A feature’s practicality can depend on the room, household, product and willingness to maintain it.
Source: housebeautiful.com
