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House Beautiful published a roundup of 13 home features that designers interviewed for the story would avoid in their own spaces, citing upkeep, installation demands, cost or limited practicality. The supplied source includes details on eight features; the other five are not identified in the material provided.
House Beautiful has published a list of 13 home features that designers interviewed for the report say they would not choose for their own spaces, citing difficult upkeep, installation challenges, expense or limited everyday usefulness. The source material provided here details eight of the 13 items, including zellige and cement tile, waterfall islands, smart-home packages and freestanding tubs.
Tile expert Jamie Chappell of Fireclay Tile cautioned that handmade zellige varies in size and thickness, which can make installation slow and difficult. Chappell also said the tile can chip, craze and stain, and needs regular sealing. Cement tile presents a different set of maintenance demands: Chappell described it as porous and prone to staining and etching, with frequent sealing and labor-intensive installation required.
Several of the other features draw criticism for how they work in daily life. Yvonne Harty of Harty Interiors said waterfall kitchen islands can reduce storage and seating, add cost and leave stone corners vulnerable to chips. Designer Brieanna Cunningham of C&C Partners added that they can restrict storage and outlet placement. Harty suggested a furniture-style island as an alternative, while Cunningham said a striking stone slab could instead be used as a backsplash.
The report also questions full smart-home packages, white linen furniture, built-in coffee makers, low-quality “disposable” furniture and freestanding tubs. Cunningham cited system malfunctions, Wi-Fi interruptions and software-update problems. Designer Jessica Alpert said white linen is hard to keep clean in a busy home and built-in coffee makers require ongoing cleaning and maintenance. Cara Shahbandi of Stanton Home Design advised saving for furniture intended to last rather than buying low-quality pieces.
The Upkeep Behind Attractive Features
The roundup highlights a common renovation trade-off: visual appeal does not always match everyday practicality. Features that require specialist installation, frequent cleaning or regular sealing can add costs after the initial purchase. For homeowners planning a renovation, that means the decision involves more than the price of materials; it also involves the time, labor and maintenance needed to keep a feature working or looking as intended.
The designers’ comments are advice, not a finding that these features are unsuitable for every home. A large bathroom may have room for a freestanding tub, and a homeowner may value the look of handmade tile enough to accept its care requirements. The central point is to weigh the specific household’s needs and maintenance tolerance against a feature’s appearance before committing to a costly installation.
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Design Trends Meet Daily Use
The House Beautiful report frames its recommendations around the expense and permanence of home renovation choices. It notes that trends can move quickly, while choices such as tile, cabinetry and plumbing fixtures may be costly to replace. The article draws on comments from interior designers and a tile-industry professional rather than presenting a comparative study of renovation costs or product performance.
Some items in the list are fixed features, such as specialty tile or a waterfall island; others are furnishings or systems that can be changed more easily. The supplied excerpt names eight items and describes why the interviewees object to them. It does not include descriptions of the remaining five, so they cannot be reported from the material available here.
“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 Listed Features Not Supplied
The source provided for this article stops partway through the original roundup, after beginning a section on limewashing an entire home. It does not supply the rest of that section or identify the other items needed to complete the 13-feature list. The full list and its remaining explanations are therefore unconfirmed here. The source also gives no publication date, and it does not quantify installation costs, maintenance frequency or the environmental impact of the materials discussed.
The recommendations reflect the interviewees’ professional views. The source does not establish that every homeowner will experience the same problems, or that the features are universally poor value. Conditions such as room size, product quality, household habits and installation work can affect their practicality.
Check the Full List Before Renovating
Readers considering any of these features can compare the designers’ concerns with the needs of their own home and ask contractors or suppliers about installation, cleaning, repairs and long-term care before purchasing. For specialty tile, that includes asking about sealing and handling; for a smart-home system, it includes understanding how it depends on Wi-Fi and software support.
The supplied material does not state whether House Beautiful plans a follow-up or provide further reporting on the other five features. Until the complete article is available, the eight items described here are the only recommendations that can be detailed from this source.
Key Questions
Which home features are described in the supplied report?
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 also begins a section about limewashing an entire home but does not include its explanation.
Why did the tile expert raise concerns about zellige and cement tile?
Jamie Chappell said handmade zellige can be difficult to install because pieces vary in size and thickness, and that it may chip, craze or stain without regular sealing. Chappell described cement tile as porous, prone to stains and etching, heavy to install and in need of frequent sealing.
Are designers saying these features should never be used?
No. The report presents interviewees’ preferences and practical concerns, not a blanket rule. Whether a feature is suitable depends on a home’s layout, budget, use and the owner’s willingness to maintain it.
What are the other five features in the list?
The source material supplied here does not identify them. It describes eight items in detail and starts a section on whole-home limewashing, but the remainder of the original list is missing.
Source: housebeautiful.com
