8 Popular Design Trends That FAIL In Real Life

[@efenili]

"Prioritizing aesthetics over function is not good design" - amen to this. A good designer makes practicality look good, they don't remove it

[@cbob3769]

Don't tell Jony Ive that

[@karagi101]

Function and safety.

[@Keren2]

YES

[@somnvm37]

one thingthat I've heard is that function and form are the same thing in a way by making a regular hair dryer be made out of plastic, and look kinda weak, you hint that it's something that can't be dropped its shape also doesn't hint at any serious effect, it does just blow hot air, sometimes maybe too hot but that's it. and industrial dryer is a whole different thing, it looks much more heavy and safe, this more serious look makes it clearer that it can go to huge, often dangerous temperatures, and so on.

[@AlanSmithee-r3t]

I'm of the opinion that function can be aesthetically pleasing in and of itself

[@jnii2365]

Regarding the "floating stairs": here in Germany we once were able to get a building permit for a floating staircase without a handrail because it was declared as a sculpture and not a staircase. BUT for this to work, we needed to build a second staircase which fulfilled all requirements for an emergency staircase, e.g. lenght of exit path, materials...

[@sharonirons9828]

Those floating stairs would not fly in FL either. The building inspector would not sign off on that. New construction or remodel..

[@Kaalokalawaia]

Why bother though? I don’t see the point in having a staircase that is dangerous to use

[@Gleipnir31]

​@@Kaalokalawaia For accelerating an inheritance?

[@germanengineer1846]

In Germany as an Architekt u get sued in case of an accident on those stairs even when it was the wish of the customer. ;)

[@jnii2365]

⁠@@germanengineer1846not if your client signs an exclusion of liability agreement. It‘s the same, when the client doesn’t want to follow recommendations for e.g. materials to safe money. If they want to do it and they sign it off, i can’t get sued for it :)

[@Whammytap]

As someone who has never had a lot of money, I dream of having a tiled backsplash on my waterlogged, crumbling kitchen walls, and aspire to NOT having bare bulbs hanging around my apartment. And as a cleaning lady, those pebbled/rough stone bathroom surfaces are my bread and butter. They get very gross in a very short period of time, and take a lot of time to clean. I charge by the hour. Money in the bank. 💵 On behalf of cash-strapped housekeepers everywhere, thank you for these kinds of ridiculous trends. If this continues, I'll be able to afford some very snazzy custom tile. (It will be smooth.) P.S. - Also, as a cleaning lady, I've had two chandeliers fall from the ceiling as I was very lightly, gently dusting them. Make sure your chandelier hardware is something better than builder-grade, or you could have a scene from "Clue" on your hands.

[@ExestentialCrisis]

I love the pebble rock look. Just this week had it installed in our master bath. When choosing the materials for the remodel, I repeatedly brought up the "easy to clean" factor. After the umpteenth time, my husband finally said, "I don't know why you care, I clean the bathroom". Which he does, but I was trying to think of him. So I chose the river rock! 😂😊😅

[@Whammytap]

@ If you're willing to do the maintenance (or hubby is), treat yourself! I want real linoleum in my kitchen, which needs to be waxed constantly (unlike vinyl). I'm willing to do the extra work in order to have what I want in that particular case. :)

[@DrNoobius]

@@Whammytapdo you have a blog somewhere? You sound really fun to read! I do want to know some of those cleaning adventures 😂

[@Whammytap]

@@DrNoobius Haha, well it's good to know that my degree in creative writing was good for something! It certainly didn't help on the job market. ;)

[@emjayay]

If you own that house it is very cheap and easy to put tile on the wall above the countertop. Check KZbin videos.

[@ok-tchau]

A house with a doorless bathroom is not a house, but multiroom bathroom.

[@nickalicious2335]

😮

[@StuninRub]

That just means it is even more luxurious

[@aleisterlavey9716]

Roccos modern life reference?

[@jobicek]

Usually, it would be an en-suite bathroom. Typically in a master bedroom. Not a bathroom for a whole house. Unless it's a small apartment. I guess if it's designed as a bachelor's pad... I don't think it's ideal for a couple. If I wanted to do it, I would probably use a door that slides into a wall. It would give me that open look while still giving me a door when needed. And of course, ventilation has to be designed so that air flows from bedroom into bathroom with sufficient flow when in use or perhaps an air curtain (I have used linear vents in that function). But if you're single or have two separate bedrooms... Separate bedrooms would be unusual but I think they're great. Having to share a bed and a room can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. I think it's better when it's an option, not a must. From reading to snoring to different schedules to newborns, getting good sleep is a great thing. But I digress.

[@falxonPSN]

​@@jobicekAnd even a sliding or pocket door would not be an ideal solution as they typically do not seal as well as a swinging door. So you could still have the same problem of noise, moisture, and smell not being contained.

[@daflotsam]

This is the first video I've seen of yours and you are spot on. But I also like the way that you don't ridicule the designs, but rather give a friendly alert of what the downsides are and, if possible, how to remedy them.

[@markdavis2475]

Same here! Very watchable and informative.

[@evertonbrc]

He didn't ridicule the designs, except for the bathroom without a door, which he said was ridiculous. Because it really is!

[@ainsliekatemate698]

Took the words out of my mouth!

[@nickryan3417]

Yeah, it's very well done and very concise and appreciated. The 11m video whizzed by quicker than expected as a result of the delivery.

[@sallyb7472]

Doorless bathroom are COLD too. Really impracticable.

[@Toogor]

Exactly. I need the steam of Satan on my back in the shower or I'm freezing to death and nothing can convince me otherwise

[@Travelling_with_my_dog]

I can' imagine taking a shower or bath in one in the winter! Brrrr!

[@AlexisHiemis]

And the moisture of showering and bathing get's trapped in all the bedding of the bedroom, because bedsheets and mattresses are for absorbing the moisture of your body over night. It will be a real joy to climb into a damp, cold bed every night and worst case mold will spread there, yikes.

[@talzO9]

impracticable 😭

[@elizabeths4371]

noises; over exposure and the smells all preventable with a door

[@odileflint7082]

Thank you for finally being the voice of reason! Those stairs always terrified me

[@silverhausen]

See thru stairs are scary even if they have a bannister! Have pity on those with bad balance!

[@sodobabel]

Some architects really seem to have a deathwish. I once visited a well off friends new expensive designer house, wit a double sealing leaving room and a floating staircaise to match, only for the damn death trap to ever so slightly vibrate (im a 40 year old male, a bit on the heavier side) on every step. Is the stair going to fell off with too much weight? definitely not. Would i want to experience the slightest discomfort and mild insecure feeling every time i use the stairs in my new expensive forever home, absolutely not. (Not to mention the elderly, kids, small pets, drunk friends, heavier people, etc)

[@endlessstudent3512]

We have one without glass of protection to the open side. But we DO have a handrail at the wall itself. Thats kind of a middleground.

[@TheSuzberry]

That’s why we have building codes. Architects be damned.

[@FurnitureFan]

Yes. While I enjoy new ideas, and I really appreciate plenty of natural light, some designers forget that this is a home. At some point in life you'll have a limb in a cast and you'll go home to relax and get better. That can't happen if you can't get upstairs to use the bathroom!

[@cinnamonraw9911]

The open bathroom trend…. You have such a good point. When I need to throw up : I want to do it in peace and privacy. And whilst having promised to share everything, I draw a line at the smells 😅😊

[@wallihaley5194]

Exactly!

[@NavaSDMB]

Yeah; I understand some people have scatological fetishes, but watching another person take a dump while I'm in bed isn't something I fancy.

[@gyongyiolah1609]

😂 true!

[@senfone]

not only throwing up 😂

[@88nutshell]

exactly! and I'm so sick and tired of random people on the internet telling me that if I don't feel comfortable watching my husband use the toilet, then something is wrong with my marriage!

[@joslaurent6196]

You had me at “no one wants to marinate in that aroma”🤣🤣🤣

[@svennoren9047]

"A kitchen used more for instagramming than for actual cooking" I'm dying! 🤣😂

[@joshiedL]

Finally someone with some logic when it comes to bare lightbulbs 🙌🏽 I’m sick of having my retina scorched

[@Kualinar]

Have the same issue with the halogen lights that where trending about 30 years ago. Those are blinding.

[@censusgary]

Anybody who uses those bare bulbs ought to hand out welding goggles to everyone who comes in the room.

[@joshiedL]

@ 😂 please make this happen

[@peggyjones3282]

I rented a house that didn't have a door to the bathroom in the master suite. It was terrible. We went through more candles in that year and a half. I remember my husband ordering me out of our bedroom because he needed the toilet and didn't want me in any proximity. It was gross.

[@Meanne77]

No kidding. My WC is in a separate room but I have to keep the door slightly ajar to allow the cats access to their litter. Let me tell you that whenever they use it, and despite them thoroughly covering their deed, the smell travels down the hallway and gather in my bedroom. I can't even imagine if there was no door AND the WC/bathroom being directly connected to the bedroom!

[@dannydaw59]

Scented candles?

[@simonmorse417]

@@dannydaw59 Tricky. Cats have no opposable thumbs so can't operate a lighter or strike matches.

[@elizabetharmada4038]

Same here, I bought a tension curtain rod and put a blackout curtain. I also bought damp rid because the entire room has mildew and molds, really disgusting.

[@xystem4701]

I like how you provided alternatives or solutions if people were really into the trends, even though the mainline trends themselves aren't practical

[@9VARZ]

TV too high is definitely a highly underrated one. Another similar trend (especially in Taiwan and Southeast Asia) is mounting floorstanding (or tower) loudspeakers on mantelpieces and media consoles. It's a fantastic way to make your $8000 speakers sound like $80 ones!

[@FurnitureFan]

This is such a great example of why it's better to live in a space for months & move things around to suit you first. Having a permanent place for appliances never works for everyone living there.

[@9VARZ]

@@FurnitureFan It's a fair point. Or one could also engage the services of an expert designer or consultant to make sense of the spaces.

[@annoyedok321]

TV above the fireplace and having a glass coffee table are the two things I judge people heavily on.

[@Mrs.Silversmith]

Textured tiles are a beast. My entire kitchen backsplash was done in textured/dimensional tiles by the previous owner. It looks nice, but in order to clean them I literally have to get out a toothbrush to get into the various grooves and crannies. I would have much preferred a smooth tile. The result is that I always procrastinate on cleaning those tiles because it is such a pain.

[@houndofculann1793]

Wouldn't a dishwashing brush work? Still a very unnecessary pain of course but not quite as bad as using a toothbrush

[@bantaman8723]

Get yourself a drillbrush. Should make it less of a pain in the butt

[@meateaw]

Yep, we went with 1 great big tile when we redid our kitchen in our previous house. Amazing look and feel, none of the crannies to clean.

[@williammaxwell1919]

As an architect, I think the only place for textured tiles in wet areas is on the floor for slip resistance

[@Katharina-rp7iq]

Try one of those battery powered makeup cleaner brushes that turn back and forth. Works like a charm for problematic textured tiles. Granted, I have way less surface than you since I have just one decorative strip between a hanging cupboard and the countertop. Also don't leave that gadget lying around or some drunk friend will try to use it at night after a party.

[@fiddlersthree8463]

"God forbid you should get food poisoning." 🤣🤣🤣🤣Reynard, you're the best!!

[@OldNavyGuy]

“No one wants to marinate in that aroma.” 😂

[@stefs3460]

Nobody wants to see, smell or hear that! 🙈🙉🙊

[@Kualinar]

He didn't show the worst. Door less bathroom to the living room or dining room. And, the absolute worst : Door less, wall less, bathroom IN the kitchen.

[@KarlaGustafson-vq1ch]

Love what you shared! I take issue with one TV design team in particular, who routinely use reclaimed wood to make a "custom" hood vent over the stove. How on earth does one clean a rough wood surface that is coated with cooking grease? My other pet peeve is the use of floating shelves in kitchens. They are a waste of space and also result in everything getting coated with kitchen grease. Such designs are for people who do not use their kitchens for cooking. As for floating stairs, many dogs will not walk up them - I know this from experience. Looking forward to your next post!

[@MyFiddlePlayer]

Had a friend whose dog would not go on floating stairs. The dog had to be carried up and down. Luckily it was a small dog (beagle-sized mutt).

[@KarlaGustafson-vq1ch]

@@MyFiddlePlayer I am smiling!

[@MoJo53000]

Smart dogs

[@helenanilsson5666]

Honestly, you don't have to be a dog to refuse to use floating stairs. I am not taking any chances with my health or well-being for a set of overhyped instagram stairs. I value myself more than that.

[@HoneyDoll894]

not entirely sure what kinda shelf you mean with a floating shelf, if you mean those bookshelf style shelves then maybe i agree, but for like normal kitchen cabinets maybe 40 cm above the countertop they are very practical and as long as your stove is not part of the same "line", they don't get greasy and are very useful for kitchens where actual food is made

[@a24-45]

Thanks Reynard for standing up for design for families - for babies, toddlers, kids, the elderly, people of all ages and capacity. Interior designers shouldn't be designing homes which can only be used by young, fit designers and their young, fit friends. Don't these people have relationships with any children or elderly people? what is with these stairs with no balustrades, multi-level living areas with unrailed steps, unrailed decks and patios and outside terraces? Balcony balustrades with gaps your cat can fall through? Living room seating and outdoor seating too low for the elderly to get out of without help?. Bench dining seats with no backs, which the elderly cant get on and off easily? High-backed upholstered dining chairs so heavy that an elderly person can't move their chair by themselves? I think every home needs to be rated on its "safety and liveability"as well as its appearance.

[@Cougard33]

I agree. Many designer forget the essence of design. They move backward compared to the era before. Safety and functionality come first..

[@marinacosta8835]

Hear hear!

[@c6h5choh-cn82]

Years ago I broke my wrist falling from a height of more or less 2 meters. I heard the crunching sound a fraction of a second before the unbearable pain set in. I writhed on the ground for 3 minutes in pain. The pain was so intense I was gasping for breath and I felt dizzy. I rose up and walked to find help but less than 10 meters I blacked out from the intense pain. I woke up when my father helped me get up. That's what comes to my mind whenever I see these STAIRS WITHOUT HANDRAILS, my falling accident and the intense pain 😁🤣 I wore a cast for more than a month. Couldn't take a bath and the arm inside the cast was always itchy. My wrist is OK now. The consolation was I was forced to use my non-dominant hand when using the computer, so now sometimes it feels like a have 2 right hands 😅🤣

[@carolbaker2773]

as a person in their 30s that has no kids, I also dont want those things! I dont want to have a workout to get out of the couch or have my back hurt because of the lack of support. Why not design with functional comfort in mind?!?

[@ecupcakes2735]

totally agree. its ludicrous that so many architectural designers are not designing for LIFE! these are homes to be lived in, not for your personal portfolio. its really sad that they dont have such considerations and would put aesthetics over safety.

[@Acadian_Proud]

I’m so glad that you have addressed the major safety issues around some of these images that we see online and in magazines. Thank you.

[@claudiamiller7730]

Backsplashes = solution! We purchased a house built in 1993 that has FORMICA backsplashes thru all the workspace in the kitchen…and it’s marvelous. Have encountered many different attempts at backsplashes in 10 homes over 50 years..and pretty much disliked them all..until this application. The walls are smooth with no pattern to try to work around when decorating, clean up so very easily and the room is painted the exact soft blue as the laminate, so it looks like the walls are just paint. I don’t know why designers haven’t used this technique more aggressively in the past. Certainly makes for a clean, streamlined look without the horror of having to scrub/repaint drywall that’s exposed to the slings and arrows of an active cook’s kitchen!💕

[@Vito_Tuxedo]

Wow...what a great Idea. I love my Corian counter tops, but the backsplash isn't high enough to fully protect the painted walls. A thin Formica laminate is just the thing! Not a problem for the gas range, though. When we remodeled, I had the contractor install a full-height stainless steel panel that extends all the way up to the range hood. It's great, but it would be overkill for the rest of the kitchen. Formica will be perfect.

[@claudiamiller7730]

@ ..we had one home (built in 1965) that had a small 30” portion of countertop next to the wall oven that was commercial grade stainless…boy! - did I love that! - mellowed with age and perfect for hot items coming out of the oven!💕

[@RushWasABand]

I am happy to see that someone shares my passion for putting function above looks

[@elizzy8754]

You don't have to sacrifice looks: just choose the right item, material or structure for the given situation. And think 20 times before following a trend❗

[@merrywalsh2809]

I always dread these kinds of videos, even though I love them. Which black mark will I get? Today, it is the open bathroom. It is my primary bath, but the good news is I live alone, and there is a water closet. There are windows, always open since I live in Hawaii, to let out moisture. So while I am reprimanded, I am full of excuses, like any toddler.

[@helenanilsson5666]

Haha honestly, just the fact that you live alone almost justifies not having a door. I've been living alone for many years and unless I have visitors I always leave the door ajar. That said, since I only have that one toilet right in the hallway, I wouldn't take the door off entirely - otherwise I would never be able to have visitors again, unless I start befriending exhibitionists ^_^;

[@57thorns]

@@helenanilsson5666 I had a cat for many years, and live alone, and the toilet is at the end of a corridor so the door has not been closed (except when I have had visitors) since I moved in. Smells are taken care of having decent ventilation and that corridor.

[@shiNIN42]

If it works for you, it's fine! :) I never even heard about this thing before, I surely wouldn't want that - but I have no tiles in the kitchen and never would as I hate tiles (it's the same for the bathroom, no tiles). But my induction cookers are in front of the window so I actually have some protection :D Glass is very easy to clean! So I don't think I do anything wrong there. I messed up the kitchen floor, oh well, one makes mistakes... But that's not in the list as I used some less trendy option. My bathroom door is almost always open though, it opens from the kitchen. I am sure some people would have problem with that but we worked with what I had here and it works. Thankfully there are never too bad smells! That surely matters a lot even if one lives alone!

[@w.urlitzer1869]

I like the tone of kindness and the calm in your voice besides the information.

[@Elizabeth-d1n]

I could not agree more! Any stairs that allow my foot to slip through freak me out. Open bathrooms (esp open showers) are freezing cold. Edison lightbulbs are blinding. And the absolute worst, TVs that require you to look upwards -- my neck hurts just thinking about this.

[@adam2802]

Too many ppl get edison bulbs w/out considering the actual light out put. Ours aren’t high rated, and only have partial coverage with a distorted glass shade, and even my light sensitive eyes are okay with them (also on a dimmer for those migraine days), but this is also a dark house, the bulbs have work to do that absorbs the impact of them, and these low wattage ones are common around here in cafes etc, and are quite attractive (if you like the industrial vibe) But i have been in bright places with Bright unshielded edison bulbs and oooof, no thanks-but i’ll take them any day over the bright LED lights which have meant i can barely come inside at all at work now as ten-twenty mins is all i need to trigger a day long migraine, and night driving is hell these days =(

[@emjayay]

That fancy pull down mount is a good idea though.

[@brianb-p6586]

He actually addressed only the lack of handrails, not open risers... although those two characteristics often go together.

[@able8803]

Drop lights over tubs or shower area is not safe not only because of water but when using a towel and tossing it over to your back or side it can hit the drop lights. Same with having decorative vases near the tub area.

[@alanmcinnes1111]

Thank you for calling out so many design trends that are totally impractical. I love a beautiful design, but I agree with you that usability and practicality should be first. Thank you for sharing your great ideas.

[@kathyw3466]

Another one to add that I see all the time now by builders is the half glass open shower and sometimes the bath is also in it. These people have clearly never had a shower on a cold day. Cheers from Australia.

[@timprescott4634]

Wet rooms. The BANE of my design show watching existence. I have a visceral reaction every time I see one.

[@roadwayrona]

These people normally are comfortably off and heat the whole house to constant 23 degrees Celsius.

[@breensprout]

i hate the glass half open showers in part because the design requires you to get fully in the shower in order to turn it on. i don't want to be hit by that freezing cold spray before it warms up!

[@chrisgreek4285]

I just found you, Raynard, but I love that your philosophy is to not sacrifice practicality for fashion. Hubby and I removed the television from our living room almost twenty years ago and have never looked back. We actually have had more than one person ask us what we DO in that room! HAHAHAHAHA! It always cracks me up when I answer that we talk, read, etc.; the look of pure astonishment that we would actually do that with each other all over their faces is priceless! (btw, we have been married for 40 yrs this past summer which is why half the people are so amazed that we would WANT to spend time together chatting!). Every single thing that you said resonated with me - hubby always said we would only have a house with a chandelier over the tub if he needed the insurance money! 🤣🤣🤣 Sometimes I think that our grandmothers had better kitchens than we do as their were so purposeful. I remember going to both of my grandmothers houses and pull-out chopping boards, pantries, flour cupboards with the sifter as part of it, and so many more!!! We may have the better appliances, but they had the better tools that would align perfectly with my life now. We currently live in the Canadian Arctic, where form is soooooo low on the scale of priorities. The thing that I miss is having a great backsplash - there is not even one centimetre - but we do almost no frying on the stove, so my biggest thing to contend with is steam from a soup pot making rivulets down the wall. When we build our retirement home in a few years, I hope we find a Designer with your sensibilities. I loved the examples you showed of how to correct the problems! Hugz from the Canadian Arctic❣️❣️❣️🇨🇦

[@Velldan]

maybe you could install a backsplash yourself? my dad helped me to do this in my kitchen when i moved. just get some very good glue stick stripes and place a glass sheet or sth else on the wall. dunno if this works for you

[@benchristianalguso1319]

THANK YOU for this. I like watching Renovation shows. For those of us who cook all the time, Backslash saves a lot of extra work. Also oil and dust will always settle on open shelves and anything on them.

[@Tugela60]

Backsplash.

[@benchristianalguso1319]

@Tugela60 oooops.

[@carolbaker2773]

That was my grandmas advice to me when looking to replace cabinents. No open and no glass (unless they are frosted). She told me nothing will make your kitchen look more dirty than grease on your cups and on the glass

[@FurnitureFan]

It's true. I love a pantry where you can see what you have at a glance, but behind a door. I've just viewed a house with a large pantry - perfect except for the extra toilet in the corner!

[@freethebirds3578]

Food grease + dust = serious scrubbing to remove

[@sharonblack6124]

Ah SANITY at last! From ridiculous death trap staircases, blinding lights and neck-cricking tv placement. Subscribed. ☺

[@le8148]

Good Info! I keep trying to tell my husband he put the TV too high up on the wall, that it should be eye level when sitting (not standing), but he disagrees and won’t move it (in reality doesn’t want to redo work already done).

[@juliem.3936]

Tell him if he doesn't want to change the height, you'll need to purchase new furniture that supports your neck better. 🤣

[@c6h5choh-cn82]

Buy another TV and place it below the first one 🤣

[@le8148]

@ LoL 😝

[@katherinekatherine8512]

Leave him.

[@FurnitureFan]

I know your pain. My siblings installed a door viewer for me and they're all taller than me. I have to keep a folding stool by the front door until I can change the whole door!

[@thectyptid00]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="159">2:39</a> I have similar light in my bedroom and the trick is to find dimm warm bulbs. All your examples have neutral and very bright bulbs that blind you and leave weird shadows, but if bulbs are dimm and super warm, like industrial orange warm, it looks better and fits the aesthetic of the fixture better

[@Annie261.]

What’s the point of having a light when you put in a dim orangey bulb?

[@thectyptid00]

@Annie261. vibes

[@rosemarriott7486]

THANK YOU! Finally someone is calling out these ridiculous concepts.

[@Andrew-rc3vh]

It is not funny though. It is designed obsolescence. After a year the mould will have destroyed your natural wooden kitchen worktop and you will be in the market to be ripped off once again. The AI will have you down as a mug customer.

[@annecarter5181]

Those stairs are terrifying!! 😱The others are just crazy!!

[@Bobrogers99]

Not to mention that they violate most building codes! If your community does not enforce codes, what other dangerous features are in your house?

[@c6h5choh-cn82]

Years ago I broke my wrist falling from the edge of the roof about 8 feet high. I landed on ground not concrete but I instinctively used my hand to soften my fall and so my wrist got broken. The pain was so intense I fainted. It took more than a month to heal. Those rail less stairs makes me remember my accident. I guess those home designers never experienced a broken wrist from a fall 🤣

[@user-jy3zl2vp4b]

Not to mention, glass handrails are a devil to keep clean!

[@Martha22c]

Thank goodness there are some designers like you, Reynard, that take functionality into account when designing spaces. Excellent video! Re light fixtures: also don’t get light fixtures that are dust catchers and are too delicate as you’re just going to be either leaving them dusty or replacing the whole fixture because you’ve broken it when trying to clean it. Also, no fly or moth trap light fittings! Eek - looks terrible with dozens of bugs trapped in there 🫤

[@sarahrosen4985]

I prefer to call the square, frosted glass, close to the ceiling light in my kitchen an entomology display case. 😊

[@FurnitureFan]

​@@sarahrosen4985😂

[@mch-aka007]

Practical, logical, & presented with a side of humor!! Always on point here Reynard!

[@basicfire]

Have been watching you for some time now and impressed with the progress you have made, especially the laced-with-dry-humour comments😄 keep them coming to keep people grounded, especially the ones who keep following trends religiously😃

[@Mari-cre8s]

I agree with the lack of safety with open staircases, Yikes! We recently and had to move in a pretty tight real estate market. The location, general floor plan and neighborhood are great…except for the ‘open’ primary bathroom! What were the previous owners thinking when they remodeled this way??!! We have two contractors working up bids now to rectify this nonsense asap! Meanwhile we are using the 2° and guest bathrooms. 🙄

[@voradorhylden3410]

Learn to walk and those stairs are not dangerous. God, how did alot of you humans get out of the caves jesus christ!

[@FurnitureFan]

Yes, this. I'm viewing a lot of houses owned by ex-landlords. The improvised floor plans were crazy, just to fit in as many tenants as possible. IDK what they were thinking but they wouldn't have lived there & sometimes it's too expensive to fix their "work" & make a house livable!

[@awaterplease7885]

I love how kindly you are roasting the instagrammers

[@broadwaybaby348]

I wanted to install several clear ceiling light fixtures in a dark hallway, and found that LED milk glass globe light bulbs solved the problem of glare and also were authentic to my early 20th C. home. The slight distortion of the bulb through the glass fixture is also very appealing. There's very little dust and it's easily dealt with through an extending long handled dust mop.

[@LaHermitess]

Some important, practical, objective information presented in a clear and concise manner. Thank you as always.

[@marcusmoonstein242]

A few years ago there was a trend in my city to use large, polished porcelain floor tiles in upmarket homes. They were crazy expensive and looked amazing when new. Unfortunately they were always in light neutral colors and showed dirt like it was a feature and were impossible to keep clean. To make matters worse the polished surface was deadly slippery when wet and scratched if there was even one grain of sand under your shoes. These tiles were ridiculously impractical and looked bad after just a few years. The trend lasted about two years until the early adopters realized the mistake they had made.

[@FurnitureFan]

Yes indeed. I once bought an apartment with pool tiling outside. It had a good nonslip grip, but the cream hue never ever looked clean except right after an annual power hosing.

[@anna9072]

I like my floors to be more or less dirt colored. White for a floor or rug is super impractical in most real homes.

[@user-jy3zl2vp4b]

@@anna9072 Yes. I always wondered about superstars who insisted on all white. Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt's house had white EVERYTHING! Ugh! I wanted to see them raise kids there!!! ha ha!!!

[@anna9072]

@ they can afford to pay other people to keep their house clean. I can’t…

[@hazardsigns]

Those damed bare light bulb racks! We rented when we first moved here and they looked lovely in the photographs. My god though, they were set at eye level over our table and burned with the fury of a thousand suns 😵 Now that we finally, finally have our own place (🥳) we went with LED dimmable with colour lights throughout. They are right up on the ceiling and you don't even think about them when they aren't on. When they are on, they give a lovely glow (we have other light sources too, I've been paying attention to this channel 😆). Our place is so tiny we have no stairs, but I definitely would put function over form if we ever go for a place that does have stairs. My gosh, I don't want to die because of dangerous stairs

[@lynettecorle8391]

Are you able to provide a link for your light fixtures? If so, TIA!

[@asteroidrules]

I've been to a few hotels that had what I can only describe as "semi-open" bathrooms. The sinks and mirrors didn't have a door between them and the main room, just a change in flooring and possibly a curtain, while the toilet and bath were still split off into a small room with a door between them and the sink. It's not terrible, but it makes the bathroom itself reminiscent of a public bathroom stall because of the size and the lack of a sink inside it.

[@pcno2832]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="220">3:40</a> It's not just the lack of a handrail; stairs without risers are a trip hazard and could break the ankle of anyone who gets caught in them, and most of them are effectively illegal under the IBC, although the language, which really limits the extension of the tread beyond the riser, is a bit roundabout. Sure, if you're a fit young adult, you'll probably be safe enough, but if you have visitors or tenants who are very young or old, you could be risking a tragedy or a lawsuit. Open stairs do help the spread of heat, say, from a wood stove, but they also speed the spread of fire and increase the spread of noise. If you have a wood stove, there are better ways to distribute the heat, some with heat or smoke-triggered cutoffs.

[@TheSfelex]

really loved your calm way of talking, direct and practical explanations, and the examples showing on everything you mention.

[@treefarm3288]

The light over the bathtub reminds me... When newly arrived in the Queensland Tropics, I had dinner at a kitchen table right under a high four foot flourescent tube light, with no window screens. Insects rained into my dinner before and during consuming it.

[@jayumble8390]

Yeah, the doorless bathrooms have been so over hyped! Cute idea but not really practical unless you live by yourself! Excellent video!

[@lillianbarker4292]

I have those river-stones in my shower. They aren’t hard to maintain because they aren’t too deep and I live in Arizona where it’s very dry. Those rugged stone walls would be difficult. I agree with you. I want my home to be safe and welcoming to kids, pets and the elderly.

[@peppatheoof]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="123">2:03</a> i finally feel validated for how much i've irrationally hated these pendant lights. We have 3 in our kitchen and I hate them. I only use them on minimal brightness for a decent subtle glow, or to be left on overnight. And the edison bulbs I love for a dim, soft glow for a nice ambient addition, but for primary light, it's always been a subconscious bone of mine to pick.

[@abbyl1449]

Love the soft spoken sassiness about the kitchens 😆😆👍👍

[@parisakamali345]

His voice makes even the most harsh and critical opinions seem loving and caring 😂

[@e2rqey]

It kinda makes it cut even deeper. He's not mad, just disappointed 😭

[@sarahjames9456]

Such an important video. The floating stairs without rails is the worst. I hope architects/designers see your video and read the comments and rethink these silly choices.

[@spiralpython1989]

Those handrail-less stairs really scare me as a person with a disability. The floating stairs also scare me… i worry about falling off and through, and dropping my cuppa and book, ipad etc. and yes I hate the open chandeliery ensuite too. And yes! Keep the tv in a separate room away from the family gathering space!

[@deadturret4049]

Dont worry, im not disabled and they scare the hell out of me still.

[@rustysickle2528]

my number one design trend that must die is the open concept kitchen. It's a high-activity area so sells and noise from the kitchen radiates throughout the house, disrupting activities in those areas. Open concept kitchens also mean less walls for other functions such as storage or seating.

[@MichiruEll]

As someone who lives in a tiny apartment with a tiny kitchen, I promise I use my kitchen more than people with giant well-designed kitchens. Why? Cause I'm not wealthy enough for take out or restaurants. Unfortunate, my burners are in a corner and while the backsplash is plexiglass, the side wall is just painted, so it's full of splatters. And of cours, I'll have to pay for the repaint when moving out because it's "my fault". The joys of renting.

[@imalrockme]

You could try covering that part of the wall with tin foil, just give it a go and see what happens.

[@tkralva.6668]

Another design trend similar to the doorless bathroom that is just awful, is the open plan kitchen-living room. Having a kitchen that can be closed off is essential. 1. For smells of cooking 2. For the dirty dishes. And 3. Because in many homes the washing machine is in the kitchen (UK).

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

I have a 1920’s chandelier over my copper tub. Electrically, it’s sketchy as heck, it’s made in Venice italy. However, with 10 foot ceilings and GFCI circuitry, it’s not dangerous. GFCI is ridiculously safe. If you sneeze, it trips the circuits.

[@krisdiperna3929]

Haha!

[@Eet0saurus]

I really love this video. You are so respectful of the trends and you also give a lot of practical tips to make something similar happen. I do love the “open” bathroom I have now. It does have a door, but due to bad ventilation that door is almost always open. It feels more spacious that way. But I am careful not to let the humidity become too high

[@marksizer3486]

Love it! So many things have clearly never been used by the people who design them.

[@dvwebster]

Thanks for mentioning the TV over the fireplace. This a pet hate of mine (I worked in pro audio/video/smarthome) it is definitely to be avoided for comfortable viewing. Drop down TV mounts are one solution, but I prefer to use an electric projection screen that lowers from the ceiling in front of the fireplace as this is invisible when not in use.

[@FurnitureFan]

Yes, a much better method.

[@davedeville6540]

Well put, I agree on all of the above. Especially the naked bulbs, it's just not relaxing to have a burning glare at the edge of your field of view.

[@sterlinglewis5700]

When we moved into our home, the first thing we did was install tile backsplash around the range and sink. Not mentioned here was the 'open shelving' concept. They look 'groovy', but are nothing but grease and dust catchers. Except for reading lights, we converted all fixtures to indirect, with dimmers. Personally, I think chandeliers in a bathroom are ridiculous, as are bathtubs in the bedroom. I mean, why!? Another horror: we stayed a hotel that had a sliding 'barn door' for the bathroom, which gave us no privacy at all. The first thing I would ask any kitchen designer: "Do you cook?" and for the 'salle de bain': "Do you actually clean your bathroom?" If "No", they don't get hired. As a general rule, 'trendy' design dates almost immediately.

[@FurnitureFan]

You're not considering how people use a bathroom - often people need an extra, brighter light to shave or apply makeup, but that's a supplementary spotlight that can be turned on as needed.

[@sterlinglewis5700]

@@FurnitureFan I agree, but you don't want 'spotlights'. Way too harsh. Most designers install overhead lighting only. We installed lighting fixtures on both sides of the mirror. Actually, all-around 'theatrical' lighting is the best.

[@marceld6061]

Those are excellent questions for anyone hiring a designer!!

[@user-jy3zl2vp4b]

Top of my list is HOW EASY IS IT TO CLEAN!!! If it fails the "easy clean" test...forget it!!

[@mathildemaijer2396]

First. I never understood the trend of those open bulbs. It literally hurts my eye.

[@mambi74]

The edison bulbs were cool back when they "got trendy" but they were used in 1 - places that fit that decor (cool restaurants/bars etc) & 2 - they were dimmed WAY DOWN to just be a low glow, mood lighting of sorts, not as main sources of lighting - (these where generally low-lit places to begin with). Open bulbs like that just scream poor 3rd world homes where that's all they could do for lighting cuz they had not fixtures for them.

[@AlexisHiemis]

It depends where you put them. If you have really high ceilings and not to low hanging lamps and don't have to constantly look into them, they are nice and the light bounces back from the ceiling (if you have bright ceilings) giving the room more light as well. I also use one on a cheap lamp that just works as a night light and is off during the times where it would be piercing into your eyes. They are not good for lamps on eye level that are on for extended periods of time though, I agree with that.

[@mathildemaijer2396]

@@AlexisHiemis I agree, they might have their uses, and that is not where you look into them.

[@WhoStoleMyAlias]

@@mambi74 For me the whole point of those edison bulbs is that you can actually see the decorative filament. I do in fact still own a couple of them with carbon filament and yes these are dimmed down to the level where you can look into them and that also hugely increases their lifespan.

[@c6h5choh-cn82]

Touch the bulb glass with bare hands. Your entire life will flash before your eyes 🤣 Make sure you got a burn ointment first in the cabinet 🤣

[@VulcanLogic]

Note that if you're an area where homes sell for less than $600,000, don't build a staircase without handrails. You will need to add a hand rail in order for the home to qualify for FHA or RD financing. In rural areas, that's kind of a big deal. 80% of my appraisal business is FHA and RD.

[@cakedupkevin]

Those open staircases are ridiculous! Another great video, Reynard!

[@lazygardens]

"They do look nice on social media ... but .... " now that is damning with faint praise. Natural stone showers? I have seen a couple of them that were excellent, but they were open-air in tropical areas, with ferns and moss instead of mold and grunge. We decided early that there would be a "media room" and a living room. It's been great.

[@sojournerhouse]

Thank you so much for all the free information you give to us. I down loaded additional resources you provided.

[@Damarco4u]

I completely agree with you on all of these. I’ve made some of these observations myself, especially about the floating stairs. Your clients are very lucky to have you as their designer!

[@denissegrimursa2861]

Huge THANK YOU for this. Impractical design is the opposite to design.

[@timprescott4634]

Can we talk about the “wet room” trend for a moment? I understand it in tiny bathrooms with NO room for a tub but when you’ve got a 400 sq. ft. bathroom and you put a tub, a bench, fake potted plant, and even a chandelier in the six head, stem room, doorless shower right next to the vanity and toilet, the aesthetic and functionality are completely lost. We are seeing it on ALL the “design” shows and it really needs to stop.

[@brassitaschannel-tu5yw]

Thank goodness we’re finally calling out bathrooms without doors. Seriously.

[@FurnitureFan]

Right. I've seen fixer upper houses with a narrow corridor and even they added sliding doors rather than have an open side!

[@violetgreen121]

Very good advice on all accounts. Thank you for really helpful videos!

[@madeyed2702]

Love your video and common sense comments! I am glad I chose regular medium size tiles and flooring for my bathroom. Was contemplating the stones, but decided that it will be too make work to maintain. Happy you confirmed my thought too! Your comment about the doorless bathroom put me into stitches 🤣🤣🤣

[@adolfogonzalez3051]

Bare bulbs especially edison ones kill my soul! Didnt realise the short backsplash was a thing to avoid so i elarned something new! Our kitchen was orignally a 200mm short backdplash but i changed it to full height to go to underside of overhead cabinetry. So lucky i changed it and only did so to utilise more of the stone we had purchased. Dodged a bullet there

[@martingo2680]

I don't like people complaining but damn you're spot on

[@cristin794]

Great video! Id also add chunky, uneven rugs that are easy to stumble on.

[@AnoJanJan]

We haven’t had a tv in our lounge/dining for 10 years. It’s the best thing ever. If we do want to watch something there, it’s either on a laptop or iPad.

[@l6318]

I've noticed that guests will orient themselves toward the TV even when it's not on. I think it's just a habit most people have, but it can make conversations feel impersonal or disrupt the flow. Just not conducive to spending time socializing, so I also don't keep a TV in such spaces.

[@brumels1570]

A TV is there for social gathering. I dont understand watching TV exclusively on a laptop if you arent single.

[@FurnitureFan]

​@@brumels1570To me it's antisocial - I do visit people who have the television on all the time. They'll only mute it when they have visitors. It's not great. and if a group is watching something together, I set up a projector and use a pull-down blind.

[@thomasjpuleo8112]

Totally agree that Edison bulbs in a clear fixture are useless as lighting. They are just a big glare bomb. A simple change to a smart bulb that I can turn to maximum warm color and to 1% intensity greatly improved the fixture. Now it is a chic sculpture hanging over my dining table and I love it.

[@simonebulmer5407]

Your videos are entertaining and also sooo helpful with practical tips. It's great to watch UK and US designers but there's something about our Aussie cousins that makes it more relatable for us. Thanks, from a Kiwi🥝

[@M1911jln]

I absolutely agree with you about the bare lightbulb look. It produces a great deal of glare. We just had a new home built and spent a lot of time deciding on light fixtures. We only selected fixtures that had frosted glass shades. As for the floating staircases with no railings? I don’t understand how those could pass code; they certainly wouldn’t pass code here.

[@meloniecollins6373]

Who's trying to win the most dangerous home award 😂 funny but true

[@ThePrecipice66]

Some absolutely brilliant advice here. Picked up on a couple of my personal bugbears: deathtrap stairs and door less bathrooms. As far as the latter goes I won't even consider a hotel room like this. When we book a hotel room the two primary considerations are: is it clean and does the bathroom have a door? Caring is not always sharing.

[@richardmh1987]

I think most hotels that feature doorless bathrooms are those that charge you "hourly rates", the kind that are not family friendly, however new family members might be a side effect of visiting them.

[@JohnnyFD]

Very well said! I hate form over function designs

[@DickyMorin]

Thank you for your safe and sensible design information. I can not get over all the photos I see of outside stairs with no balustrades and porches with no railings. Sometimes they even feature open spaces next to drops five deet or deeper. Frequently homes are pictured overloaded with large flower pots that make it a challenge to enter and exit a door safely. It is unfortunate that designers sacrifice safety for attaining a certain look.

[@lovely-wn5rq]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="60">1:00</a>....where the chandelier is almost touching the bubble bath ..😂😂😂😂

[@merrywalsh2809]

Haha. I pictured a rich, naked person swinging from that chandelier with a look of fright on their face.

[@efratmaor8140]

Totally liked your perspective and attitude. When my parents bought the house they currently live in (more than 15 years ago) the main bedroom bath room, had no door. Of course that was the first thing they renovated in the house. So unpractical.

[@Cocolicious08758]

I agree with everything you said! The open bathrooms is a disgusting trend

[@billyspi.5651]

Like they don't have 2 brain cells to rub together!Just wtf!

[@c6h5choh-cn82]

It's a design *approved without thinking* 🤣 As we say here in the drafting and design department of our company, a heavy industry company.

[@FurnitureFan]

​@@c6h5choh-cn82As we say in IT - what they asked for wasn't what they actually wanted 😅

[@vacafuega]

Love the no-nonsense approach and humour, so much sense in this video. Will probably be renovating a house soon, following for more tips :D

[@juliem.3936]

Excellent safety tips. Thank you.

[@marigeobrien]

THANK YOU! Every single point is valid and well explained. These are many of the reasons I dislike modern design. I call it "style without substance" and is often proposed by those who have never owned a home-- or don't seem to have, anyway. Plus, if I were to redo a kitchen and, even if I had a totally open budget, I would choose linoleum floors and Formica countertops. Why? Breakage. I've had a tile floor in the kitchen and I have never had so many pieces shatter to "smithereens" as I did then. Never again. I think stone countertops are insanely dangerous. Wood is bad for either, as well, because the maintenance is very difficult and very important. Another design idea that seems to be more to the advantage of the builder/seller than the actual dweller is the open-floor plan. Unless the space is ample enough, it actually feels claustrophobic. When a kitchen opens directly into a living room with a dining area in between, there must still be a certain amount of space for each area. I would say the whole space must be at least 45 feet long by 15-20 feet wide. I've seen recent designs but in spaces only 12'W x30'L. That is simply not enough space for three areas. Something will be sacrificed. Plus, how pleasant is it really for one person to spend time in the living room while someone else is cooking?

[@jacquelineazure]

I would like to add Mosaic (and grout cleaning)

[@FurnitureFan]

Yes, thank you for this. The largest tiles you can afford are always the best option for daily cleaning

[@gamera2020]

The TV above the fireplace and practically up to the ceiling is my pet peeve.

[@CamilaCastilhosM]

I just stayed at a hotel with the "fancy no door bathroom" and WHAT A NIGHTMARE... Damn whoever came up with this miserable idea.

[@bymilliebphotography8249]

You have such a soothing voice and you get right to the point. Loved this video and all the value ad advice! Had to subscribe. Keep up the amazing work!

[@able8803]

As an interior designer, I fully agree to all of these.

[@CB-ne9fu]

Great advice. My sis did an epoxy coating mimicking stone in my mother's kitchen. It started to "come off" in certain sections. Now looks cheap & unsightly. She meant well, but she could have used your advice then. Also, I wanted to install a small modern chandelier above the sink in the guest bathroom. Now I wonder if there is also a state code regarding height of lighting fixtures above a sink just like tubs? Last, my house didn't have a backsplash above the stove. It's been the bane of my existence esp since it's a textured wall. Almost impossible to get all the stains off of wall. Will be installing a backsplash at some point.

[@snowmonster42]

I had a kitchen with no backslash once. After a minor disaster with red velvet cake batter, I had to repaint. So not such a minor disaster after all. I repainted that backslash several times during my stay in that cheap graduate school apartment. Learn from my experience, people!

[@MyVanir]

Yeah, not having a backslash seems like schmuck bait to me.

[@02Tony]

I like this video, there are many good aspects but the biggest reason for me was providing solutions for each problem compared to other videos that provides only criticism.

[@beansprout_apg886]

That staircase with no handle is pretty scary. I still stumbled in stairs with handrails so I’m not risking my chances 😅

[@silverhausen]

I have never had a full backsplash and I use my kitchen heavily. I have a short backsplash. I have used thick vinyl wallpaper and washable glossier paint and those were fine. Of course, I like to changeup my kitchen a lot, so it gets redone about once every 10 years. The paint on the (wooden) windowsill looks the worst the fastest! I don't use heavy cleaners, just warm water on a soft rag. I agree with all the other points, very good info!