TL;DR
House Beautiful reported that interior designers identified 13 home features they would not choose for their own spaces, including zellige tile, waterfall islands and freestanding tubs. Their concerns center on maintenance, installation, cost and how well each feature works in everyday life; the list reflects expert opinions, not a universal verdict.
House Beautiful has published a list of 13 home features that designers said they would not put in their own spaces, pointing to concerns such as upkeep, installation difficulty, cost and limited practicality. The report reflects the views of a handful of design professionals, rather than a formal survey or a finding that the features are unsuitable for every home.
Among the features discussed are zellige and cement tile. Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile said handmade zellige pieces vary in size and thickness, which can make installation slow and difficult. She also cautioned that the surface can chip, craze or stain and requires regular sealing. Cement tile, she said, is porous and vulnerable to stains and etching, while its weight and maintenance needs can add to installation demands.
Waterfall islands also drew criticism from designers Yvonne Harty of Harty Interiors and Brieanna Cunningham of C&C Partners. Harty said they can add expense, limit storage and seating, and leave corners vulnerable to chips. Cunningham cited restricted storage and outlet placement. Harty suggested a furniture-style island as an alternative, while Cunningham said a stone slab could instead be used as a backsplash.
The report also includes smart-home packages, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs. Cunningham said connected systems can be costly and prone to problems involving Wi-Fi, malfunctions or software updates. Designer Jessica Alpert warned that white linen can be difficult to keep clean in busy homes and said built-in coffee machines require ongoing cleaning and maintenance. Cara Shahbandi of Stanton Home Design advised saving for longer-lasting furniture. Harty said freestanding tubs need ample space and can be hard to clean behind.
Maintenance Can Outlast the Trend
The designers’ comments highlight a practical point for homeowners weighing renovation options: the purchase price is only part of a feature’s cost. Installation complexity, sealing, cleaning, repairs and the need for compatible technology can shape the experience well after a project is complete. A striking finish or a built-in appliance may be less appealing if it adds regular work or makes the room harder to use.
The list can help readers frame questions before committing money to a design choice: How will it age? What maintenance does it require? Does it suit the household’s space and routines? Those questions matter especially in renovations, where replacing a poorly suited built-in feature or surface may be more involved than changing a movable item.
Still, the report does not establish that these features are inherently poor investments. Suitability depends on the home, budget and user. A spacious bathroom may accommodate a freestanding tub, while a homeowner who values handmade tile may accept its care requirements. The designers’ comments are warnings to weigh trade-offs, not a single set of rules for every project.
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Why Designers Flagged These Choices
House Beautiful framed its report around the cost and long-term demands of home renovation. It noted that design trends can change quickly and that a choice that looks attractive or promises convenience may still require substantial upkeep. The publication asked a handful of industry professionals which decisions they considered more trouble than they were worth in their own homes.
The supplied report names eight of the 13 features: zellige tile, cement tile, waterfall islands, smart homes, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs. It gives specific comments from Chappell, Harty, Cunningham, Alpert and Shahbandi. The source material provided here does not identify the remaining five features or include the full article’s discussion of them.
““Because each piece is handmade, there’s a lot of variation in size and thickness, making installation slow and tricky.””
— Jamie Chappell, Fireclay Tile, as quoted by House Beautiful
The List Is Not a Universal Rule
The supplied source does not provide the full set of 13 features, the article’s publication date, or details about how the designers were selected. It also does not include cost comparisons, product testing or data measuring how common the cited problems are. The concerns should therefore be read as attributed professional opinions, not as independently verified results or a consensus across the design industry.
Several warnings are conditional. For example, Harty said a freestanding tub may not suit a bathroom without enough open space, rather than arguing that such tubs never work. The report likewise does not quantify how often smart-home systems fail or how much upkeep different tile types require. Those details may vary by product, installation and household.
Compare Upkeep Before You Commit
For homeowners planning a renovation, the practical next step is to compare a feature’s installation requirements and ongoing care with its appearance and price. Ask contractors or suppliers about sealing schedules, cleaning methods, repair options, space requirements, outlet access, system compatibility and what happens if equipment stops working. For built-in features, discuss future maintenance access before construction begins.
House Beautiful’s report offers a set of questions rather than a forecast of what design trend will come next. The supplied material does not announce a follow-up or further testing. Readers considering any of the listed features will need to weigh the specific product and room against their budget, routines and tolerance for maintenance.
Key Questions
Which home features are named in the supplied report?
The supplied material names zellige tile, cement tile, waterfall islands, smart homes, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs. Although the headline refers to 13 features, the provided excerpt does not identify the other five.
Why did designers criticize zellige tile?
Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile said handmade pieces can vary in size and thickness, making installation difficult. She also cited risks of chipping, crazing and staining, along with the need for regular sealing.
Are the designers saying these features should never be used?
No. The report presents the views of several designers about trade-offs, not a universal ban. Some concerns depend on the room, household, product and willingness to handle maintenance.
What should homeowners ask before choosing a built-in feature?
Ask about installation cost, maintenance, repair access, expected upkeep and how the feature fits the room. For smart-home equipment, also ask about reliability, connectivity and what happens if a device or network connection fails.
Source: housebeautiful.com
