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A House Beautiful report gathers designers’ views on 13 home features they would avoid in their own spaces, from zellige tile and waterfall islands to freestanding tubs. Their concerns include maintenance, installation costs, limited function and durability; the advice is professional opinion, not a universal rule.
House Beautiful has published a list of 13 home features that interior designers say they would not choose for their own spaces, citing maintenance demands, installation difficulty, expense and practical limitations. The report offers expert opinions for homeowners weighing renovations, but does not establish that the features are unsuitable for every household or property.
The report covers a range of choices, including zellige and cement tile, waterfall kitchen islands, smart-home packages, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, low-quality “disposable” furniture and freestanding tubs. It also names limewashing an entire home, though the supplied source excerpt ends before providing the details or designer comments for that item and the remaining entries. The article’s headline refers to 13 features, but the available material does not substantiate every entry.
Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile says handmade zellige can be difficult to install because pieces vary in size and thickness. Chappell also points to chipping, crazing, staining and the need for regular sealing. Cement tile, she says, is porous and can stain or etch, while its weight and maintenance add to the work. The source report also raises the production materials’ water and energy use as a sustainability concern.
For kitchens, Yvonne Harty of Harty Interiors says waterfall islands can reduce storage and seating while adding cost and leaving stone corners vulnerable to chips. Brieanna Cunningham of C&C Partners similarly cites limited storage and outlet placement. Cunningham says smart-home systems can malfunction when Wi-Fi or software updates fail. Jessica Alpert warns that white linen furniture can be hard to keep clean and built-in coffee makers require ongoing cleaning. Cara Shahbandi of Stanton Home Design advises saving for furniture built to last rather than buying low-quality pieces.
Renovation Choices Carry Long-Term Costs
The report’s central point is that a design feature’s appearance is only one part of its value. Upkeep, repair and installation can affect the total cost and convenience of a renovation long after the initial purchase. Homeowners considering a striking tile, custom island or integrated appliance may want to ask installers about sealing, cleaning, replacement parts and access for repairs before committing.
The advice is also a reminder that usefulness depends on the home and the people living in it. A freestanding tub may suit a spacious bathroom, while a waterfall island may be worthwhile to someone who values its appearance over storage. Designers’ preferences can help frame trade-offs, but they do not replace a household’s budget, priorities or assessment of a specific product.
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The Designers’ Practical Trade-Offs
The House Beautiful report frames the recommendations against the expense and permanence of renovation decisions and the rapid turnover of home-design trends. Some choices, such as furniture or a freestanding appliance, can be changed more readily than tile or built-in cabinetry. That difference matters when comparing an aesthetic preference with the time and expense of installation or later replacement.
The supplied report excerpt contains detailed comments on eight features: zellige tile, cement tile, waterfall islands, smart homes, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs. It mentions limewashing an entire home as another entry but does not include the related explanation. The source material provided here therefore does not give enough detail to report all 13 recommendations individually.
““Because each piece is handmade, there’s a lot of variation in size and thickness, making installation slow and tricky.””
— Jamie Chappell, Fireclay Tile
Advice Is Not a Universal Verdict
The recommendations reflect the named designers’ judgments, not a comparative study of product performance or costs. The supplied source does not give price ranges, maintenance schedules, or data measuring how often these features fail or disappoint homeowners. It also does not provide the complete list and supporting comments for all 13 entries, so the omitted recommendations cannot be described reliably here.
Practicality will vary with household needs, product quality, installation and room dimensions. The source, for example, presents freestanding tubs as a poor fit for bathrooms without enough open space, rather than ruling them out in every case. It is not clear from the supplied material how the report assessed sustainability claims or whether its designers considered specific products or alternatives.
Check Costs Before Committing
Homeowners planning a project can use the concerns in the report as prompts for conversations with designers, contractors and suppliers. Before selecting a feature, ask what installation involves, how often it needs care, what repairs could cost and whether the room layout preserves storage, seating and access. For tile and stone, request guidance on sealing, staining and chipping; for connected systems, ask about network dependence, updates and service support.
The source material does not announce a follow-up study or additional reporting. The next useful step for readers is to compare the specific products and layouts under consideration against their own budget, maintenance tolerance and daily routines, rather than treating a designer’s personal preference as a blanket prohibition.
Key Questions
Which home features does the report discuss?
The supplied material includes zellige and cement tile, waterfall islands, smart-home packages, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs. It also identifies limewashing an entire home, but the excerpt does not include the related explanation or all 13 entries.
Why does the report caution against zellige tile?
Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile says handmade pieces vary in size and thickness, which can slow installation. She also cites chipping, crazing, staining and regular sealing as maintenance concerns.
Are designers saying waterfall islands and freestanding tubs should never be used?
No. The cited concerns are conditional: waterfall islands may reduce storage and seating, while freestanding tubs need enough space around them. The report presents professional preferences, not a rule that applies to every home.
What should homeowners ask before adding a high-maintenance feature?
Ask about installation and repair costs, cleaning and sealing needs, expected durability, and how the feature affects the room’s storage or layout. For smart-home equipment, also ask about Wi-Fi dependence, software updates and service support.
Source: housebeautiful.com
