TL;DR
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A House Beautiful report gathers designers’ views on home features they would not choose for their own spaces, including zellige tile, waterfall islands and built-in coffee makers. Their concerns center on maintenance, installation, cost and everyday usefulness; the advice reflects expert opinion, not a universal assessment of each feature.
House Beautiful has published a list of 13 home features that interviewed designers say they would not choose for their own homes, pointing to upkeep, installation challenges, cost or limited practicality. The recommendations are professional opinions rather than findings from a comparative study, and the source material details eight of the 13 choices.
Among the features described are zellige and cement tile, both praised for their distinctive appearance but flagged for care requirements. Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile says zellige’s handmade pieces vary in size and thickness, complicating installation, and that the surface can chip, craze or stain without regular sealing. Chappell describes cement tile as porous and vulnerable to staining and etching, as well as heavy and labor-intensive to install.
Designers also question some expensive or space-consuming choices. Yvonne Harty of Harty Interiors says waterfall islands can limit seating and storage, add cost and leave stone corners prone to chipping. Brieanna Cunningham of C&C Partners adds that storage and outlet placement can be restricted. Harty suggests a furniture-style island as an alternative; Cunningham says a striking stone slab could instead be used as a backsplash.
Other concerns involve routine life at home. Cunningham says smart-home packages can be expensive and may be affected by Wi-Fi outages, malfunctions or software updates. Jessica Alpert warns that white linen furniture is difficult to keep clean, particularly in homes with children or pets, and says built-in coffee makers require ongoing cleaning and maintenance. Cara Shahbandi of Stanton Home Design advises saving for durable furniture rather than buying low-quality pieces likely to need replacement. Harty says freestanding tubs need adequate room around them and can be difficult to clean behind.
Upkeep Can Outlast the Initial Appeal
The list focuses on a familiar renovation risk: a feature’s appearance at installation may not reflect its lifetime cost or daily demands. Sealing tile, cleaning a built-in appliance, troubleshooting connected systems and working around a large tub can all add labor after a project is finished. Those demands matter when homeowners compare an eye-catching option with a simpler one.
The experts’ comments also point to trade-offs that affect how rooms function. A waterfall island may use more stone while reducing practical storage or seating, while white upholstery can require more vigilance in a busy home. These observations can help readers frame questions for designers and contractors before committing money, but they do not establish that the features are unsuitable for every household.
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A Designer Roundup, Not a Product Test
The article is a House Beautiful design-advice roundup built around interviews with interior professionals and a tile-industry representative. It presents choices the contributors would avoid in their own spaces, alongside reasons and, in some cases, alternatives. The underlying source says renovation decisions can be costly and notes that trends change, but it does not report a survey, controlled comparison or cost analysis.
The supplied material names eight choices: zellige tile, cement tile, waterfall islands, smart-home systems, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs. The headline promises 13, but the source text provided here does not include the other five entries. It also does not quantify installation prices, maintenance costs or how often these products fail.
“Because each piece is handmade, there’s a lot of variation in size and thickness, making installation slow and tricky.”
— Jamie Chappell, Fireclay Tile
Five Choices Are Missing From the Source
The supplied report excerpt gives details for eight of the 13 features named in its headline. The remaining five are not identified here, so this article cannot describe or attribute advice about them. The source also does not provide a publication date, the designers’ full assessment criteria, or independent evidence to verify the maintenance and cost claims. Actual performance and suitability can vary by product, installation, household and room layout.
Compare Advice With Your Project
Readers considering these features can use the reported concerns as prompts for project-specific questions: what upkeep is required, what repair or replacement might cost, and how the choice affects storage, access and daily use? For tile, cabinetry, plumbing or connected systems, homeowners can ask qualified suppliers and installers about materials, warranties and installation requirements. The House Beautiful article’s broader list may provide further detail, but the supplied source excerpt does not include its remaining five entries or indicate any follow-up reporting.
Key Questions
Which home features does the supplied report discuss?
The excerpt covers zellige tile, cement tile, waterfall islands, smart-home systems, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, disposable furniture and freestanding tubs.
Why do the designers raise concerns about zellige and cement tile?
Jamie Chappell says zellige’s handmade variation can make installation difficult and that it needs regular sealing. Chappell describes cement tile as porous, vulnerable to stains and etching, and labor-intensive to install.
Are the designers saying these features should never be used?
No. The report presents individual professional preferences and concerns, not a rule that the features are wrong for every home. Room size, household needs, budget and willingness to maintain a feature can change whether it makes sense.
Does the source explain all 13 choices in the headline?
No. The supplied material gives details for eight of the 13. It does not name or explain the other five.
Source: housebeautiful.com
