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House Beautiful reports that interior designers identified 13 home features they would not choose for their own spaces, based on concerns such as maintenance, installation, cost and everyday use. The available source details several examples, including zellige tile, waterfall islands, built-in coffee makers and freestanding tubs; the advice reflects the designers’ experience, not a universal rule.
House Beautiful has published a report on 13 home features that a group of interior design professionals say they would not put in their own spaces, citing practical drawbacks including upkeep, installation difficulty, cost and limited utility. The list is framed as expert advice for homeowners weighing renovation choices, not as a finding that the features are inherently poor choices for every household.
The report draws on comments from designers and a tile-industry representative about features that may look appealing but can bring trade-offs after installation. Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile says zellige tile varies in size and thickness because it is handmade, which can make installation slow and difficult. Chappell also says the surface can chip, craze or stain and requires regular sealing. She raises a separate sustainability concern about cement tile, describing it as porous, susceptible to stains and etching, heavy to install and in need of frequent sealing.
Several other examples concern how a feature works in daily life. Yvonne Harty of Harty Interiors says waterfall islands can add cost, limit storage and seating, and leave corners vulnerable to chips. Brieanna Cunningham of C&C Partners also points to constraints on storage and outlet placement. Cunningham says whole-home smart-home packages can be expensive and may not work reliably when Wi-Fi, system hardware or software updates fail.
The article also flags white linen furniture as difficult to keep clean, especially in homes with children or pets, according to designer Jessica Alpert. Alpert says built-in coffee makers require ongoing cleaning and maintenance. Cara Shahbandi of Stanton Home Design advises against low-quality, disposable furniture, encouraging buyers to save for pieces intended to last. Harty says freestanding tubs may be difficult to clean around and lose their visual impact when squeezed into a small bathroom.
The Costs Behind Design Appeal
The report focuses on a common renovation problem: the purchase price is only part of a feature’s cost. Installation, cleaning, repairs and replacement can shape whether a design choice remains useful over time. A tile that needs regular sealing or a built-in appliance that requires frequent maintenance may demand more time and money than a homeowner expects.
The advice may help readers compare a striking feature with alternatives that better suit their space and routines. A waterfall island, for example, may not be a good fit if storage and seating matter most; a freestanding tub may be awkward if there is little room to clean around it. These are trade-offs, not blanket prohibitions: the best choice depends on budget, household needs, room dimensions and willingness to maintain the materials.
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Design Advice Against Trend Churn
House Beautiful introduces the list against a backdrop of costly renovation decisions and rapidly changing home-design trends. It says homeowners can find it difficult to judge which choices will still suit them in five or ten years, both aesthetically and functionally. The report presents the designers’ professional experience as a guide to features they regard as more trouble than they are worth.
The supplied source identifies the story as a list of 13 features, but its excerpt provides detail on only some of them. It describes zellige and cement tile, waterfall islands, smart-home systems, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs. It also begins a section on limewashing an entire home, but the provided text ends before that item’s explanation. The full list and its remaining entries cannot be verified from the supplied excerpt.
“Because each piece is handmade, there’s a lot of variation in size and thickness, making installation slow and tricky.”
— Jamie Chappell, Fireclay Tile
Limits of the Published Excerpt
The supplied material does not include the full set of 13 entries, so the remaining features and the complete reasoning behind the list are not available here. It also gives no publication date, survey data or broader evidence measuring how often these problems occur. The recommendations are attributed to individual experts and should be read as professional opinions, not as universal assessments of performance or value.
Several concerns depend on circumstances. The suitability of a tub depends on bathroom size; furniture durability varies by product and use; and smart-home reliability can depend on the equipment, network and installation. The source does not provide product comparisons, maintenance costs or independent tests to quantify those differences.
Check Fit Before Committing
The report offers homeowners considerations to raise before selecting materials, fixtures or systems. Before committing, readers can ask contractors or designers about installation requirements, sealing schedules, cleaning access, repair options and long-term costs. They can also compare the proposed feature with alternatives that meet the same need with fewer upkeep demands.
No further reporting or follow-up is specified in the supplied source. For now, the practical next step is to assess each recommendation against the actual room, household and budget rather than treating the list as a one-size-fits-all rule.
Key Questions
What is the House Beautiful report about?
It collects design features that interior professionals say they would avoid in their own homes, with concerns ranging from upkeep and installation to cost and everyday practicality.
Which features are discussed in the supplied source?
The excerpt discusses zellige tile, cement tile, waterfall islands, smart-home packages, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs. It begins a section on limewashing an entire home, but does not include the explanation.
Are designers saying homeowners should never choose these features?
No. The comments describe drawbacks and personal preferences, not universal rules. Whether a feature makes sense depends on factors such as room size, budget, household routines and maintenance tolerance.
Why do the designers caution against zellige and cement tile?
Jamie Chappell says zellige’s handmade variation can complicate installation and that it needs regular sealing. She describes cement tile as porous and vulnerable to stains and etching, with frequent sealing and labor-intensive installation also among the concerns.
Does the source include all 13 features?
No. Although the report is titled around 13 features, the supplied source excerpt gives details for only part of the list and cuts off during the discussion of whole-home limewashing.
Source: housebeautiful.com
