As a disabled person while probably a niche subject I would love to see something on accessibly in design and functionality. For example when you mentioned the Cloud Sofa all I could think about is how hard those would be to get in and out of it you have back or knee issues as they are just a pillow and you're left just sinking into it. Similarly I know the stand alone light bulb without any way to diffuse the light must be hell for someone during a migraine.
I would also like to see that. I don’t consider myself disabled, but am getting older and have severe osteoarthritis in a knee. Looking at the cloud sofa and the low chairs makes me wince. When my knee pain flares up . . . I’d have to avoid them. Also the high cafe(?) chairs popular in many restaurants now, I can’t sit in them for any length of time before my knee starts hurting. Recently I was shown into an exam room at my veterinarian’s with my dog to wait to be seen, and had to ask for a regular chair please. People need to think about what is functional and comfortable. I really like having an ADA height toilet in my bathroom. It looks really good, and is comfortable.
Definitely worth for everyone creating a space to potentially spend the rest of their life in. No need to make it overly inaccessible even if you are completely healthy right now.
One impractical thing i've seen a lot (and that i actually think is so gorgeous), is the copper rod against the stove backsplash. They're always styled so beautifully, usually with copper pots and glistening utensils, but all i can think about is that it's right in the path of all the grease and splatters coming from the stove.
Okay, so, I love you for this. I'm a practical minded person, and so many designs just make me cringe, not for being ugly (they're often gorgeous), but for being so impractical. I find myself watching a design show and thinking, sure, that's pretty, but I am not cleaning that room. We were looking as houses recently and I came upon a master bedroom with an open concept en suite, and I could see the owners imagining themselves moving straight from the bathtub to the bed, oh happy times, but come on. Never mind the actual toilet in your bedroom, even the bath is stupid. There's the humidity, of course, but also, for many people, having a soak is a retreat for unwinding, and sometimes that means even from your spouse/partner. If you have pets, let alone children, the last thing you want is an open plan for your bath. And then there's the temperature. Keeping your bath warm in winter is hard enough without adding an entire roomful of air to leach the heat away. It's just silly.
Plus there's the ritual that must be accomplished before using the facilities in one of these large open suites -- Closing the blinds on like 9 windows, making sure all 4 doors are locked, etc. C'mon, I just want to pee.
AMEN! Before I put up barn doors on the stupid open batahroom I had to lock two doors before taking a shower because anyone walking in would get a eyeful of naked me! @@Revelwoodie
Preach on the closet/bathroom combo. I’m so lucky my home was built before this trend. It makes ZERO sense to have your clothes near moisture unless there’s a exhaust fan in the closet too.
There is. New builds have air exchangers in every room that control humidity. I came here to comment this exact thing, everyone who complains about this is someone who doesn't know how new builts are set up.
@@imnumber142 Same here. Although it is a valid point for older homes. A lot of the modern developments and trends might not work for older houses with only natural ventilation.
@@imnumber142 I don’t buy it. Sorry. What’s a new build? Is this in ALL new builds regardless of size, builder or state? My house was built in 1996, most of our friends built their homes in 1998-mid 2000’s. 2yrs after I built my house there were amazing new air exchangers? My parents built a new home in 2019, their dual walk in closets are not in the bathroom but I’ll ask my brother, who just built a new home in 2018 with bathroom attached closets to show me these new air exchangers. In 1996 our builder put a AC/Heating vent in our main closet which isn’t connected to the bathroom so we have amazing air exchange too.
I have this in my home and we have a control humidity and our closet is bone dry and never have an issue. I gotta say you gotta have a big enough space to do this. Even though it’s connected our shower is still pretty good distance away from the closet.
The condo we're subleasing has this. It's fine enough because I can get dressed without disturbing my partner but it always makes me concerned about my clothes and I can't put up art in my beautiful walk in closet
I agree with you completely! I also have a problem with the kitchen sink fixtures that have separate hot and cold faucets. When you’re cooking, you’re lucky if you have one clean hand to turn the water on - two handles to turn is too many. Another design concept that gives me the ick is open shelving in a small kitchen. Too much maintenance! I have a story about a friend, his bowls stored on open shelves, and his pet bird - we won’t go any further with that.
I loved every minute of this video, particularly your take on bare bulb lights, they look great, but impossible to live with. I recently bought a tempered glass floor mat and hated it. They are heavy and show every single dog paw print. There is a point where you have to say: I made a mistake and I don't have to live with it. Great video!
The bathroom, the bathroom, OMFG the freaking bathroom! Points for you, you live in my head. Every time I see wallpaper in a full bath, I'm flabbergasted. Before I became interested in interior design, I watched home improvement shows, so function has always shaped my initial approach and from there I figure out how to make it look hot. Now, the open concept bathroom... [Insert heavy sigh here] Why? Just why? It's kinda sick, if you ask me. It's never acceptable. It's never a good idea. Never, unless you're practicing for prison life. While talking about bathroom privacy, I'd also like to add how much "barn" doors should never be allowed as a bathroom door. Because they're on a sliding track, that open gap at the bottom gives others a concert to the inner goings-on. It's like people forget that there are private and sometimes noisy things taking place, and such issues need not be shared with others. Thanks for the vid. Practicality is everything.
THANK YOU i have been so confused for YEARS on designers putting wallpaper in rooms with baths or showers, I never understood how that wouldnt peel over time, especially as a "wallpaper steamer" is an item designers to help remove wallpaper. Annoys me so much - thank you for including it!!
A video that truly brings to the front how unpractical some of these designs are. Bravo!! The one thing I always think on anything is “how am I going to clean it?” And that is how I choose!
You're amazing to listen to all on your own so you don't need the background elevator muzac. I've just discovered you and I'd like to come back but I don't know if I can bear to listen to that stuff again. Trust your voice and your content, which are both great!.
Each and every issue pointed out was accurate in my opinion as well. I fell for the look of brass hardware and then ended up replacing all of them that costed me a fortune both first when I bought them and then when I replaced them. We need more content like this please
I agree with you 100%. Regarding closets with windows in them, they should have some kind of room darkening as clothes or leather goods will fade over time unless you move clothes around. On the plus side, it is nice to have fresh air in a closet once in a while. I love your channel.
I really enjoyed this video. A lot of good practical advise. I believe people should think about function over fashion when it comes to house living. I disagree on one point though: wall paper in the bathroom. There are wallpapers that are specifically designed to be installed in bathrooms. They are vinyl-based and have special adhesive that is not sensitive to moisture. We had this type of wallpaper in our master bathroom for 12 years and had no problems with it.
Two thoughts here. First, the "open concept" bathroom. I went on a work trip last year and had to share a tiny upscale boutique hotel room with a co-worker that had this "open concept". There was no door to the bathroom and there was a slider that could be pulled across either the shower *or* the toilet (not both at once). We work on opposite sides of the country and had only spoken previously via email, phone, and Zoom. Let's just say, TMI time with that bathroom (and ours wasn't the worst for our team)! Luckily, we both had a sense of humour about it! Second, an impractical trend you missed: fluted/ridged/slatted *everything* (kitchen cabinets, table supports, bathroom vanities, walls, room dividers, etc). Aside from being a trend that's likely to pass very quickly, leaving people with expensive cabinets, wall treatments, etc that look dated, these are horrible in a kitchen, with all the steam and grease. Even flat cabinetry can be difficult to keep clear of oil and sticky grime in a kitchen. These ridged cabinet doors are *impossible* to clean.
Hotels really dont take in consideration that many kinds of people may share a room at some point . Coworkers , family members , friends . Bathrooms should be private .
I'm more concerned that your organization made you share a room on a work trip. As an HR executive, I've never heard of that before...for the reasons you mention, and so many more.
@@desertfenton I’m not concerned by sharing a room on a work trip. Any kind of trip like that, work related or not, will use 2 people in a room as the base cost. (You would also not share with your boss, for example, even if you were both the same gender, so you aren’t sharing with someone who is in a position of authority over you.) Say you go to visit the stately homes of Britain, or take a Caribbean cruise. If you travel with your spouse you’ll be quoted a price for each of you, based on your sharing a double room/cabin. If you travel alone, you will either be charged a significant “single supplement” or the travel agent will offer to pair you up with someone of your same gender who is also travelling alone. If either of you doesn’t want to share, you’re more than welcome not to but then you must each pay over $1k more for your accommodations. I’m also a long-time SF/Fantasy convention attendee. I’ve roomed with up to 5 other people I’ve never met before at cons! That’s considered totally normal. I’ve just never lacked privacy in a bathroom before.
Exposed bulbs! Yes I hate these. I’m a lighting designer and so much of the job is reducing glare and then… we threw that all out the window with exposed bulbs
My design rule set in stone: Function over form every single time - unless it's purely for design value, like a vase or statue. Those curls look gorgeous on you.
0:26 Exactly. I just designed my custom house. Told the architect to place the walk in closet on the opposite side of the master bedroom. Never understood why you’d want all that moisture next to your clothes.
I've honestly never seen one of those open concept toilet designs before, and no, they don't look great even of photos, they look like a nightmare! I wouldn't have believed that anyone could come up with such an atrocity and someone else could actually say: "Yep! That works!" It's insane!
I agreed with every single one of your descriptions. As an 80 year old I have lived with many of these problems. Another thing that I might have missed is with the hanging pots. I love this look and have had it in the past. If you use the kitchen often you will find that oils and moisture become airborne and stick to the pots as a greasy film. You can become a slave to those pots if you want them to look clean. I also have a closet as part of my bathroom which I hate. The only thing is that I have a very large window right above the tub and near the shower. This helps. Thank you for your input. Sometimes we don’t think about these things before designing a room.
I really like Don Asletts No Time To Clean. He makes many of the same points you do and many more about surfaces and materials that need to be constantly cleaned to look good. We switched cheap laminate flooring for a mid-tone wood-look tile and the carpet in our bedrooms from a solid color to a multi-colored shag. We used to have to sweep and vacuum every day and now it looks great going a week or more. So I'd say any really dark or light flooring is also impractical.
Omg I cannot agree with you enough on all points, but especially the closet throughway to the bathroom and the open concept bathrooms. I have no idea how people don't think about mold in these instances. I definitely steam up the bathroom in the winter and I can't imagine bringing all that to the closet. Finally a practical interior designer on UA-cam!
I have been in real estate for well over 25 years and so when we designed and built our dream home 8 years ago we were very firm on what we wanted and we knew what to avoid (cue barn doors...hahah). You mentioned Push/Pull hardware and I did want to chip in my 2 cents. We did have a servo motor installed for the trash can drawer and boy is that thing WONDERFUL. I cook a lot and being able to nudge the trash open with my knee while holding dripping chicken offal is a good thing indeed. One design concept I won't repeat is the open kitchen and the gargantuan island, as pretty as it may look. Everyone in the family seems to think the island is the perfect dumping ground because it's the size of a small continent. Plus as a short person getting it clean in the middle has been a task only accomplished by climbing on a nearby stool. In an open style kitchen the whole space looks messy when there is a mess in the kitchen, even if the great room is spotless.
I love the bath & closet close together.he’s good. All he says is true. I had a pot rack and loved it. But mine pretty much matched and we’re kept very clean. They are so convenient and free up cabinet space .
Costs world's more, though. I agree it has a similar look, although personally, if cost wasn't a factor, I'd go for soapstone over every other type of countertop every time. And yes, I understand that soapstone can end up with a "worn" look, also. I'm perfectly ok with that. It's the cost that I have to consider that has kept me from going that route so far.
You always give sound advice! I was thinking of the hanging pots and pans (yes I'm an avid cook), but, you made some strong points! Also... I bought this beautiful wallpaper for my full bathroom but thought about the moisture and put it on my livingroom ceiling instead!
As to the hanging pots: if your space is tight with no extra storage, but you have a decently high ceiling, one hundred percent do a hanging pot rack. Just go into it without the expectation that the pots will always look amazing and clean. And, personally, them hanging off to the side along the wall can be a way to cut the eye clutter a bit without losing the extra storage they provide. Ideally, I wouldn't use a hanging pot rack, but it's been a real bonus and lifesaver in some of the houses I've lived in that have had smaller kitchens.
If you really have a patterned wall in mind for your bathroom, you could always paint it that way. Extra work, sure, but if you're creatively minded, go for it. People do it all the time. I did that in both my kids' bedrooms, still looks great!
@@staceyschmidt3149 I agree. My apartment's kitchen doesn't have any full-sized bottom cabinets due to dumb layout decisions on the original designer's part, so a pot rack is a must for me.
Please, more of impractical design videos. I like that you defend your points with examples and logical explanations of why the design is impractical. In my case, I am looking for a practical, comfortable, and not pretentious design. For the past month, I have been binging on home decor videos. Consequently, I am scared to even choose paint for my closets, never mind having to deal with a grey leather couch since the color grey is out of style.
Anything rattan or woven -- dust mites everywhere. I had a beautiful rattan bedframe that I had to pressure wash with air (the kind you use to clean keyboards) to get the dust out.
Yass! On the concrete. We’ve got a bistro table that is concrete but its got a thick glass top thats elevated about 1/2” from the concrete BECAUSE we found it was a nightmare table top. Now with the thick glass, though, it looks perfect but I get a super smooth clean surface to actually eat on while still getting the rustic note of the concrete. Ha
LOVE this. We are too lost in the aesthetic and hype of design and are sometimes ignorant of aspects such as the porosity of a stone. I learned something here!
ooh thank you. I was wanting one of those travertine coffee tables and was thinking of doing the DIY. You mentioned why I was hesitant. No amount of glue is going to keep together stones that heavy. I ended up getting a thrifted coffee table that is beautiful, less expensive, and a lot lighter weight.
it was so good to watch this and not be able to predict all of the suggestions. I hadn't thought to do any of these but I like knowing why an idea is bad before I'm exposed to it.
Finally someone said it about those pot racks. The kitchen at my church growing up had one and I hated it. The rack itself kind of swayed so getting pots off or on the hooks was tricky and I was always worried about it falling down on my head. Also, you're not using all of the pans every day, so you have to dust them.
The point you made about bathroom wall paper is so true. I had this happen to me several yrs ago, and I had to have it removed, I was heartbroken. Ms. B. Churchill
I think those exposed bulb fixtures are pretty cool and the dazzling problem can easily be fixed: just use a bulb with a mirrored top, frosted glass, or even just smoked glass. But I’m generally just a big fan of frosted glass lamps
Second house with closet at the end of bathroom jointed together. Never had a problem. It’s been 20 years. It’s a good idea especially in small spaces.
Oh wow. U just saved me a lot of regret before I was going to make these “pretty mistakes”. Wow. Thanks! Would luv to see more videos like this-- absolutely!❤
I would agree with all of those, except the bathroom wallpaper. I have always (over 40 years) wallpapered my bathrooms and never had a problem with pealing. What I would say is that I have always used a heavy vinyl paper and strong paste. It can work.
I've had my closet in the bathroom, including directly across from the shower, in 4 houses I've designed since 1990 (including where I live now) and not one single problem with mold or mildew - ever. It's called putting in adequate exhaust; not a big deal.
The examples he showed were open closet concepts mere feet from the shower. That possible disaster makes sense to me, but if the closet is closed with a door, I don't see the issue. I can't image a closet open to the bathroom.
Sliding barn door would fix a big open cupboard with hanging pots and pans. Give the cook access to their things, while allowing you to close it up and protect everything from splatter or guest opinions. Might still be a pain though. Probably easier to utilise the space in a better way :) Might be obsessed with that July 2024 kids playroom barn door! :)
I'm so glad I found you! I'm currently remodeling our home, and agree with you on everything so far, on point! I would love to get more advice on affordable kitchen designs, and brands of cabinetry. I'm so into the veneer glossy wood like doors to combine with matt black or matt off white. cabinets, but still want to keep it timeless and fresh. We spend time in europe and love the modern european styles. Would love your opinion on the matter.
I have a “oil lamp” style exposed bulb table lamp from IKEA and I love it. I think it works because it’s dimmable and IKEA made a very warm bulb to pair with it. It very much resembles a candle.
You really hit it on the nail with these……and you now know that many people are very grateful for making them aware of possible mistakes and many more agree with you. Anyone who likes a clean home knows how these can cause havoc. I read many of the comments and they are certainly with you.
I love this. I actually was going to concrete countertops in my new house. I already did the closet next to the bathroom. There is a door that separates though. Wish I would have seen this sooner
Great advice! Love your channel! I am a hanging pot offender. My kitchen is very very tiny…but you are right that anything on the bottom of my pans really can make my kitchen look dirty.
💯% on board with his other objections, but I personally love❤ a pot rack🍳. Living in earthquake territory, I would rather stack my prized ceramic baking dishes & nesting bowls in lower ⬇️ cabinetry where they are more likely to survive. 🤨Hanging pans may clank, but they won't break in a shake-up. Plus, I have a big variety of pots. It's lovely to have easy access to 'em. (My heavier enameled & cast iron items are stored in my larger double oven that's never been used😳.) Never had an issue keeping my pots shiny or clean. 😉Prefer a stainless steel industrial rack on an adjacent wall away from the range (& spatter). 🤫Too tall for ceiling racks above ⬆️ island or peninsula. Those tend to inhibit my 👀 sightline. Like my cosy copper collection near my breakfast nook. 💚Bridget from Cali☘️ (using my pal's YT acct)
All new builts with that closet/bathroom combo have air exchangers in every room with a nice little screen that tells you humidity levels, so the first one seems like complaining without ever actually having been inside one. If you have this problem you should call your air exchanger people. Second, my garage floor is concrete with a thick sealer, that thing is indestructible so I'm shocked they don't just seal concrete counters the same way.
I thwarted my desire for a hanging pot/pan display by installing a pull out cabinet holders for them, it was more convenient and less visually jarring. Make it easy on yourself.
Great video and I agree with everything except I do love the patina of real copper, brass, etc. I took a new copper can into my bathroom to help speed up the patina process. Love real patina! And I am glad you mentioned the concrete countertops because I have considered them for a workspace. I have soapstone in my kitchen so no worries about porousness for that but didn't consider that issue in a non-kitchen aspect for concrete. Also, with movement I can see the concrete breaking. Thanks!
aah i needed this video man... i was literally about to do some of those mistakes 😁... just to add to your copper finished product... there are also industrial style copper pipe lights, which looks great, but there are prone to electrocute you... one minor electricity leak on the body of those diy industrial style pipe lamp and you will end up horribly
You are absolutely right: any lamp that looks chic but does not cover the light source (bulb) is horrible. So never, ever, ever look directly into the bulb.
I saw several home bathrooms in the Middle East that had a wet room style and the shower was open to the rest of 5he fully tiled room. Big drain in the middle and a squeegee to wipe the floor with when you’re done. I made it work. Used my dirty towel to wipe down the wet toilet. Didn’t encourage me to run home and change my bathroom to that format though. Great for wheelchair users.
I get the closet/bathroom problem but what would you sugest instead? We'll remodel our home soon and from an architectural and practical POV, it makes sense to put the main walk-in closet near the bathroom for our bedroom😢
So true, Daddy! So true! Most of us have to learn the hard way, though. Whatever happened to the timeless beauty and infinite practicality of Formica, anyway?
Your channel got recommended to me, and I clicked without really expecting anything. 49 seconds in, subscribed. YES!! It always drives me ABSOLUTELY NUTS that people connect their bathrooms to their closets! THE MOLD, OMG I CAN'T--
Tell it! However, I DO have an aged Sputnik light in the bathroom, which has a dimmer thankfully. Also can live w unfinished copper, some of like "messy"
Oh I am So following you. Brilliant perspective on home design that we find gorgeous. It's actually LIVING with it that's costly. Thank you! Also- as a side note (and someone whose parents kept their 80's bathroom wallpaper well into the early 2000's before moving - wallpaper is more likely than a paint wall to get mold. Little dapples of disgusting dark spots which made me say "absolutely not!" to wallpaper in the bathroom for the rest of my life! Please, more videos like this. Would love to see a part 2.
You're always giving great advice DD here is some 411... keep your pots pans and skillets showroom New by washing by hand using a stainless steel sponge on the exterior. Also talking about steamed wallpaper nice tattoos😊
We bought a place with concrete countertops, and you are absolutely right. They are so stained. You can see the high traffic areas clearly, and it never looks truly clean. Not cute.
You say all the things I always think about design, proximity, form, and function. Seems many don’t think beyond the immediate aesthetic. Things have to make sense also. Glad to hear the utterances of intelligent life on the subject. Like the “open concept bathroom” I’d think was a joke if you didn’t present it as real. That’s really gross.
The travertine coffee tables are known in ERs as "you gotta see the XRAY of this guy's foot". The "open concept" bathrooms may have started out as "wet room" bathrooms, where you have the toilet in a teensy bathroom unprotected against shower spray because of lack of space, and because the toilet is waterproof. Your whole bathroom is fully tiled and waterproof.
I live in a fixer upper rental owned by two much older women who can’t afford to do anything. Pretty much “masking” as much as I can for it to look decent. Was going to use wallpaper in bathroom, so that was heartbreaking to hear. But don’t know what else to do. Already painted but not enough… hmmmm… good video!! Thank you!
You are the BEST . I love how your inserts Destroy my pants. the Pruned fingers ! I lost it . Just Lost it . Thank you . And yes More More More of this type of content. Love to you and your CoDude. HaHa.
As a disabled person while probably a niche subject I would love to see something on accessibly in design and functionality. For example when you mentioned the Cloud Sofa all I could think about is how hard those would be to get in and out of it you have back or knee issues as they are just a pillow and you're left just sinking into it. Similarly I know the stand alone light bulb without any way to diffuse the light must be hell for someone during a migraine.
Certainly not niche! Universal design is great for everyone 😊. I'd love to see that too.
Sounds interesting
I would also like to see that. I don’t consider myself disabled, but am getting older and have severe osteoarthritis in a knee. Looking at the cloud sofa and the low chairs makes me wince. When my knee pain flares up . . . I’d have to avoid them. Also the high cafe(?) chairs popular in many restaurants now, I can’t sit in them for any length of time before my knee starts hurting. Recently I was shown into an exam room at my veterinarian’s with my dog to wait to be seen, and had to ask for a regular chair please. People need to think about what is functional and comfortable. I really like having an ADA height toilet in my bathroom. It looks really good, and is comfortable.
=fr#
Definitely worth for everyone creating a space to potentially spend the rest of their life in. No need to make it overly inaccessible even if you are completely healthy right now.
As someone who has worked at RH for many years - fluffing, spot cleaning, and steaming ‘The Cloud’ was a constant chore.
Oh noooo! I would dislike that so much 😐😐
One impractical thing i've seen a lot (and that i actually think is so gorgeous), is the copper rod against the stove backsplash. They're always styled so beautifully, usually with copper pots and glistening utensils, but all i can think about is that it's right in the path of all the grease and splatters coming from the stove.
Especially if it’s up laquered! You’ll be looking at a very messy backsplash otherwise
@@mrphoenixgrey Thanks for another fab video 🙂
Male spaghetti sauce one time and it's all over
Okay, so, I love you for this. I'm a practical minded person, and so many designs just make me cringe, not for being ugly (they're often gorgeous), but for being so impractical. I find myself watching a design show and thinking, sure, that's pretty, but I am not cleaning that room.
We were looking as houses recently and I came upon a master bedroom with an open concept en suite, and I could see the owners imagining themselves moving straight from the bathtub to the bed, oh happy times, but come on. Never mind the actual toilet in your bedroom, even the bath is stupid. There's the humidity, of course, but also, for many people, having a soak is a retreat for unwinding, and sometimes that means even from your spouse/partner. If you have pets, let alone children, the last thing you want is an open plan for your bath. And then there's the temperature. Keeping your bath warm in winter is hard enough without adding an entire roomful of air to leach the heat away. It's just silly.
Plus there's the ritual that must be accomplished before using the facilities in one of these large open suites -- Closing the blinds on like 9 windows, making sure all 4 doors are locked, etc. C'mon, I just want to pee.
AMEN! Before I put up barn doors on the stupid open batahroom I had to lock two doors before taking a shower because anyone walking in would get a eyeful of naked me! @@Revelwoodie
Preach on the closet/bathroom combo. I’m so lucky my home was built before this trend. It makes ZERO sense to have your clothes near moisture unless there’s a exhaust fan in the closet too.
There is. New builds have air exchangers in every room that control humidity. I came here to comment this exact thing, everyone who complains about this is someone who doesn't know how new builts are set up.
@@imnumber142 Same here. Although it is a valid point for older homes. A lot of the modern developments and trends might not work for older houses with only natural ventilation.
@@imnumber142 I don’t buy it. Sorry. What’s a new build? Is this in ALL new builds regardless of size, builder or state? My house was built in 1996, most of our friends built their homes in 1998-mid 2000’s.
2yrs after I built my house there were amazing new air exchangers? My parents built a new home in 2019, their dual walk in closets are not in the bathroom but I’ll ask my brother, who just built a new home in 2018 with bathroom attached closets to show me these new air exchangers. In 1996 our builder put a AC/Heating vent in our main closet which isn’t connected to the bathroom so we have amazing air exchange too.
I have this in my home and we have a control humidity and our closet is bone dry and never have an issue. I gotta say you gotta have a big enough space to do this. Even though it’s connected our shower is still pretty good distance away from the closet.
The condo we're subleasing has this. It's fine enough because I can get dressed without disturbing my partner but it always makes me concerned about my clothes and I can't put up art in my beautiful walk in closet
I agree with you completely! I also have a problem with the kitchen sink fixtures that have separate hot and cold faucets. When you’re cooking, you’re lucky if you have one clean hand to turn the water on - two handles to turn is too many. Another design concept that gives me the ick is open shelving in a small kitchen. Too much maintenance! I have a story about a friend, his bowls stored on open shelves, and his pet bird - we won’t go any further with that.
😂We have two birds (and no open shelves); i know EXACTLY what you mean 😂
Ewe!!!
I loved every minute of this video, particularly your take on bare bulb lights, they look great, but impossible to live with. I recently bought a tempered glass floor mat and hated it. They are heavy and show every single dog paw print. There is a point where you have to say: I made a mistake and I don't have to live with it. Great video!
Concrete countertop in my kitchen is great! Not a problem at all eight years later.
Love everything about you except the background music - your voice alone is what I long for. Thank you for sharing your expertise.
Thank you for the feedback! I’ll let my editing team know
I agree
The bathroom, the bathroom, OMFG the freaking bathroom! Points for you, you live in my head. Every time I see wallpaper in a full bath, I'm flabbergasted. Before I became interested in interior design, I watched home improvement shows, so function has always shaped my initial approach and from there I figure out how to make it look hot.
Now, the open concept bathroom... [Insert heavy sigh here] Why? Just why? It's kinda sick, if you ask me. It's never acceptable. It's never a good idea. Never, unless you're practicing for prison life.
While talking about bathroom privacy, I'd also like to add how much "barn" doors should never be allowed as a bathroom door. Because they're on a sliding track, that open gap at the bottom gives others a concert to the inner goings-on. It's like people forget that there are private and sometimes noisy things taking place, and such issues need not be shared with others.
Thanks for the vid. Practicality is everything.
The amount of gorgeous bathrooms I’ve seen with wallpaper and then the aftermath does not live up to the name. Ugh
Can you imagine smelling poop while you're trying to relax in bed? Why God why.
THANK YOU i have been so confused for YEARS on designers putting wallpaper in rooms with baths or showers, I never understood how that wouldnt peel over time, especially as a "wallpaper steamer" is an item designers to help remove wallpaper. Annoys me so much - thank you for including it!!
A video that truly brings to the front how unpractical some of these designs are. Bravo!! The one thing I always think on anything is “how am I going to clean it?” And that is how I choose!
You're amazing to listen to all on your own so you don't need the background elevator muzac. I've just discovered you and I'd like to come back but I don't know if I can bear to listen to that stuff again. Trust your voice and your content, which are both great!.
Each and every issue pointed out was accurate in my opinion as well. I fell for the look of brass hardware and then ended up replacing all of them that costed me a fortune both first when I bought them and then when I replaced them. We need more content like this please
I agree with you 100%. Regarding closets with windows in them, they should have some kind of room darkening as clothes or leather goods will fade over time unless you move clothes around. On the plus side, it is nice to have fresh air in a closet once in a while. I love your channel.
I really enjoyed this video. A lot of good practical advise. I believe people should think about function over fashion when it comes to house living. I disagree on one point though: wall paper in the bathroom. There are wallpapers that are specifically designed to be installed in bathrooms. They are vinyl-based and have special adhesive that is not sensitive to moisture. We had this type of wallpaper in our master bathroom for 12 years and had no problems with it.
Two thoughts here. First, the "open concept" bathroom. I went on a work trip last year and had to share a tiny upscale boutique hotel room with a co-worker that had this "open concept". There was no door to the bathroom and there was a slider that could be pulled across either the shower *or* the toilet (not both at once). We work on opposite sides of the country and had only spoken previously via email, phone, and Zoom. Let's just say, TMI time with that bathroom (and ours wasn't the worst for our team)! Luckily, we both had a sense of humour about it! Second, an impractical trend you missed: fluted/ridged/slatted *everything* (kitchen cabinets, table supports, bathroom vanities, walls, room dividers, etc). Aside from being a trend that's likely to pass very quickly, leaving people with expensive cabinets, wall treatments, etc that look dated, these are horrible in a kitchen, with all the steam and grease. Even flat cabinetry can be difficult to keep clear of oil and sticky grime in a kitchen. These ridged cabinet doors are *impossible* to clean.
Hotels really dont take in consideration that many kinds of people may share a room at some point . Coworkers , family members , friends . Bathrooms should be private .
I'm more concerned that your organization made you share a room on a work trip. As an HR executive, I've never heard of that before...for the reasons you mention, and so many more.
@@desertfenton I’m not concerned by sharing a room on a work trip. Any kind of trip like that, work related or not, will use 2 people in a room as the base cost. (You would also not share with your boss, for example, even if you were both the same gender, so you aren’t sharing with someone who is in a position of authority over you.) Say you go to visit the stately homes of Britain, or take a Caribbean cruise. If you travel with your spouse you’ll be quoted a price for each of you, based on your sharing a double room/cabin. If you travel alone, you will either be charged a significant “single supplement” or the travel agent will offer to pair you up with someone of your same gender who is also travelling alone. If either of you doesn’t want to share, you’re more than welcome not to but then you must each pay over $1k more for your accommodations. I’m also a long-time SF/Fantasy convention attendee. I’ve roomed with up to 5 other people I’ve never met before at cons! That’s considered totally normal. I’ve just never lacked privacy in a bathroom before.
@@desertfentonmy moms work used to make them do this 30-40 years ago. They eventually stopped. I didnt think anyone did this anymore.
Exposed bulbs! Yes I hate these. I’m a lighting designer and so much of the job is reducing glare and then… we threw that all out the window with exposed bulbs
My design rule set in stone: Function over form every single time - unless it's purely for design value, like a vase or statue. Those curls look gorgeous on you.
0:26 Exactly. I just designed my custom house. Told the architect to place the walk in closet on the opposite side of the master bedroom. Never understood why you’d want all that moisture next to your clothes.
I've honestly never seen one of those open concept toilet designs before, and no, they don't look great even of photos, they look like a nightmare! I wouldn't have believed that anyone could come up with such an atrocity and someone else could actually say: "Yep! That works!" It's insane!
I agreed with every single one of your descriptions. As an 80 year old I have lived with many of these problems. Another thing that I might have missed is with the hanging pots. I love this look and have had it in the past. If you use the kitchen often you will find that oils and moisture become airborne and stick to the pots as a greasy film. You can become a slave to those pots if you want them to look clean. I also have a closet as part of my bathroom which I hate. The only thing is that I have a very large window right above the tub and near the shower. This helps. Thank you for your input. Sometimes we don’t think about these things before designing a room.
Cabinets were created for a reason.
I really like Don Asletts No Time To Clean. He makes many of the same points you do and many more about surfaces and materials that need to be constantly cleaned to look good. We switched cheap laminate flooring for a mid-tone wood-look tile and the carpet in our bedrooms from a solid color to a multi-colored shag. We used to have to sweep and vacuum every day and now it looks great going a week or more. So I'd say any really dark or light flooring is also impractical.
Omg I cannot agree with you enough on all points, but especially the closet throughway to the bathroom and the open concept bathrooms. I have no idea how people don't think about mold in these instances. I definitely steam up the bathroom in the winter and I can't imagine bringing all that to the closet. Finally a practical interior designer on UA-cam!
I have been in real estate for well over 25 years and so when we designed and built our dream home 8 years ago we were very firm on what we wanted and we knew what to avoid (cue barn doors...hahah). You mentioned Push/Pull hardware and I did want to chip in my 2 cents. We did have a servo motor installed for the trash can drawer and boy is that thing WONDERFUL. I cook a lot and being able to nudge the trash open with my knee while holding dripping chicken offal is a good thing indeed. One design concept I won't repeat is the open kitchen and the gargantuan island, as pretty as it may look. Everyone in the family seems to think the island is the perfect dumping ground because it's the size of a small continent. Plus as a short person getting it clean in the middle has been a task only accomplished by climbing on a nearby stool. In an open style kitchen the whole space looks messy when there is a mess in the kitchen, even if the great room is spotless.
I love the bath & closet close together.he’s good. All he says is true. I had a pot rack and loved it. But mine pretty much matched and we’re kept very clean. They are so convenient and free up cabinet space .
I feel like soapstone is a decent alternative to concrete. Similar look, still develops a patina, and won’t crack, plus stain and burn resistant.
Costs world's more, though.
I agree it has a similar look, although personally, if cost wasn't a factor, I'd go for soapstone over every other type of countertop every time.
And yes, I understand that soapstone can end up with a "worn" look, also. I'm perfectly ok with that. It's the cost that I have to consider that has kept me from going that route so far.
You always give sound advice! I was thinking of the hanging pots and pans (yes I'm an avid cook), but, you made some strong points! Also... I bought this beautiful wallpaper for my full bathroom but thought about the moisture and put it on my livingroom ceiling instead!
So glad I’m could help 🤍
As to the hanging pots: if your space is tight with no extra storage, but you have a decently high ceiling, one hundred percent do a hanging pot rack. Just go into it without the expectation that the pots will always look amazing and clean. And, personally, them hanging off to the side along the wall can be a way to cut the eye clutter a bit without losing the extra storage they provide.
Ideally, I wouldn't use a hanging pot rack, but it's been a real bonus and lifesaver in some of the houses I've lived in that have had smaller kitchens.
If you really have a patterned wall in mind for your bathroom, you could always paint it that way. Extra work, sure, but if you're creatively minded, go for it. People do it all the time. I did that in both my kids' bedrooms, still looks great!
@@staceyschmidt3149 I agree. My apartment's kitchen doesn't have any full-sized bottom cabinets due to dumb layout decisions on the original designer's part, so a pot rack is a must for me.
Please, more of impractical design videos. I like that you defend your points with examples and logical explanations of why the design is impractical. In my case, I am looking for a practical, comfortable, and not pretentious design. For the past month, I have been binging on home decor videos. Consequently, I am scared to even choose paint for my closets, never mind having to deal with a grey leather couch since the color grey is out of style.
I gotcha! Got more to come
I love your content, especially when you bring attention to practicality and functionality of the design.
Thank you so much! 🥰
I’m so glad you are mentioning these items…especially the blinding light bulbs - can’t see for hours after 😂
Anything rattan or woven -- dust mites everywhere. I had a beautiful rattan bedframe that I had to pressure wash with air (the kind you use to clean keyboards) to get the dust out.
Yass! On the concrete. We’ve got a bistro table that is concrete but its got a thick glass top thats elevated about 1/2” from the concrete BECAUSE we found it was a nightmare table top. Now with the thick glass, though, it looks perfect but I get a super smooth clean surface to actually eat on while still getting the rustic note of the concrete. Ha
LOVE this. We are too lost in the aesthetic and hype of design and are sometimes ignorant of aspects such as the porosity of a stone. I learned something here!
ooh thank you. I was wanting one of those travertine coffee tables and was thinking of doing the DIY. You mentioned why I was hesitant. No amount of glue is going to keep together stones that heavy. I ended up getting a thrifted coffee table that is beautiful, less expensive, and a lot lighter weight.
Love this content , this gives a good reminder to people who ll build or renovate their homes.
Enjoyable video and I appreciate how you share your thoughts without being sassy, just matter-of-fact and logic 😊
It's sooooo nice to see you--Design Daddy--in a longer format video!!! Love the info you share!!!
That means so much! So happy you’re here 🤍
I wondered about some of these and you confirmed my fears. More, please!
I have SO many more! I’ll be sure to do a second part to this
Good video . Unfortunately i think there is room for a part 2. Backsplash that is hard to clean comes to my mind .
Amazing that someone takes the time to talk about this! And also from experience!!
Thank you very much for this episode !
Thanks so much for watching 🤍 got lots more to come
it was so good to watch this and not be able to predict all of the suggestions. I hadn't thought to do any of these but I like knowing why an idea is bad before I'm exposed to it.
Thank you so much! So happy I can help! I have a few more of these series to come too! 🤍
Finally someone said it about those pot racks. The kitchen at my church growing up had one and I hated it. The rack itself kind of swayed so getting pots off or on the hooks was tricky and I was always worried about it falling down on my head. Also, you're not using all of the pans every day, so you have to dust them.
The point you made about bathroom wall paper is so true. I had this happen to me several yrs ago, and I had to have it removed, I was heartbroken.
Ms. B. Churchill
I think those exposed bulb fixtures are pretty cool and the dazzling problem can easily be fixed: just use a bulb with a mirrored top, frosted glass, or even just smoked glass. But I’m generally just a big fan of frosted glass lamps
Second house with closet at the end of bathroom jointed together. Never had a problem. It’s been 20 years. It’s a good idea especially in small spaces.
Omg agree with you I hate the hanging pots it’s an eyesore
Practical would be my middle name if my parents had known how I'd turn out from the beginning. I love this video so much!
1000% agree with bare bulbs. I despise them and I think they look cheap and industrial.
My first video having just stumbled on DD, love these points, and totally into your style 🔥
Thank you so much 😊 happy your found me
Oh wow. U just saved me a lot of regret before I was going to make these “pretty mistakes”. Wow. Thanks! Would luv to see more videos like this-- absolutely!❤
I had no idea about concrete countertops. I knew about the cloud sofas. Great advice.
You’re most welcome! Thanks for watching 🤍
Thanks for the wise suggestions. Absolutely interesting content
You’re most welcome 🤍
I would agree with all of those, except the bathroom wallpaper. I have always (over 40 years) wallpapered my bathrooms and never had a problem with pealing. What I would say is that I have always used a heavy vinyl paper and strong paste. It can work.
I have wondered about the walk-in closet/bath combo! Thank you for confirming my initial suspicions.
I agree 100% with you. Open concept bathroom is unacceptable. For me, even trimming my fingernails and cleaning my noise are a private thing.
Thanks God. Design has to be aestheticically pleasing and practical. I've recently seen some of your videos and enjoyed them.
From Athens, Greece.
Thank you so much
I've had my closet in the bathroom, including directly across from the shower, in 4 houses I've designed since 1990 (including where I live now) and not one single problem with mold or mildew - ever. It's called putting in adequate exhaust; not a big deal.
The examples he showed were open closet concepts mere feet from the shower. That possible disaster makes sense to me, but if the closet is closed with a door, I don't see the issue. I can't image a closet open to the bathroom.
Sliding barn door would fix a big open cupboard with hanging pots and pans. Give the cook access to their things, while allowing you to close it up and protect everything from splatter or guest opinions. Might still be a pain though. Probably easier to utilise the space in a better way :)
Might be obsessed with that July 2024 kids playroom barn door! :)
I'm so glad I found you! I'm currently remodeling our home, and agree with you on everything so far, on point! I would love to get more advice on affordable kitchen designs, and brands of cabinetry. I'm so into the veneer glossy wood like doors to combine with matt black or matt off white. cabinets, but still want to keep it timeless and fresh. We spend time in europe and love the modern european styles. Would love your opinion on the matter.
I have a “oil lamp” style exposed bulb table lamp from IKEA and I love it. I think it works because it’s dimmable and IKEA made a very warm bulb to pair with it. It very much resembles a candle.
You really hit it on the nail with these……and you now know that many people are very grateful for making them aware of possible mistakes and many more agree with you. Anyone who likes a clean home knows how these can cause havoc. I read many of the comments and they are certainly with you.
I love this. I actually was going to concrete countertops in my new house. I already did the closet next to the bathroom. There is a door that separates though. Wish I would have seen this sooner
Great advice! Love your channel! I am a hanging pot offender. My kitchen is very very tiny…but you are right that anything on the bottom of my pans really can make my kitchen look dirty.
💯% on board with his other objections, but I personally love❤ a pot rack🍳. Living in earthquake territory, I would rather stack my prized ceramic baking dishes & nesting bowls in lower ⬇️ cabinetry where they are more likely to survive.
🤨Hanging pans may clank, but they won't break in a shake-up. Plus, I have a big variety of pots. It's lovely to have easy access to 'em. (My heavier enameled & cast iron items are stored in my larger double oven that's never been used😳.) Never had an issue keeping my pots shiny or clean.
😉Prefer a stainless steel industrial rack on an adjacent wall away from the range (& spatter). 🤫Too tall for ceiling racks above ⬆️ island or peninsula. Those tend to inhibit my 👀 sightline. Like my cosy copper collection near my breakfast nook.
💚Bridget from Cali☘️
(using my pal's YT acct)
All new builts with that closet/bathroom combo have air exchangers in every room with a nice little screen that tells you humidity levels, so the first one seems like complaining without ever actually having been inside one. If you have this problem you should call your air exchanger people. Second, my garage floor is concrete with a thick sealer, that thing is indestructible so I'm shocked they don't just seal concrete counters the same way.
I thwarted my desire for a hanging pot/pan display by installing a pull out cabinet holders for them, it was more convenient and less visually jarring. Make it easy on yourself.
Great video and I agree with everything except I do love the patina of real copper, brass, etc. I took a new copper can into my bathroom to help speed up the patina process. Love real patina! And I am glad you mentioned the concrete countertops because I have considered them for a workspace. I have soapstone in my kitchen so no worries about porousness for that but didn't consider that issue in a non-kitchen aspect for concrete. Also, with movement I can see the concrete breaking. Thanks!
aah i needed this video man... i was literally about to do some of those mistakes 😁... just to add to your copper finished product... there are also industrial style copper pipe lights, which looks great, but there are prone to electrocute you... one minor electricity leak on the body of those diy industrial style pipe lamp and you will end up horribly
Great video darling!! What do you think about peel and stick wallpaper on just one accent wall in a full bathroom?
I just came across you channel and agree 100% with your takes ... you forgot black countertops, to elegant but impossible to clean !
Im going to have to turn this into a series because I have so many more to add to this list 🙏🏼
You are absolutely right: any lamp that looks chic but does not cover the light source (bulb) is horrible. So never, ever, ever look directly into the bulb.
I saw several home bathrooms in the Middle East that had a wet room style and the shower was open to the rest of 5he fully tiled room. Big drain in the middle and a squeegee to wipe the floor with when you’re done. I made it work. Used my dirty towel to wipe down the wet toilet. Didn’t encourage me to run home and change my bathroom to that format though. Great for wheelchair users.
Love these videos. Need more of these please 😊
More to come! I have a big list of these 🤣
Thank you so much for explaining all of these things. I had no idea about the cements top
I agree with everything you mentioned with exception to the pot rack.
I get the closet/bathroom problem but what would you sugest instead? We'll remodel our home soon and from an architectural and practical POV, it makes sense to put the main walk-in closet near the bathroom for our bedroom😢
So true, Daddy! So true! Most of us have to learn the hard way, though. Whatever happened to the timeless beauty and infinite practicality of Formica, anyway?
Yes, would love to see part 2 of this video.
You got it 🤍
Your channel got recommended to me, and I clicked without really expecting anything. 49 seconds in, subscribed. YES!! It always drives me ABSOLUTELY NUTS that people connect their bathrooms to their closets! THE MOLD, OMG I CAN'T--
Great overview, thank you!
Tell it! However, I DO have an aged Sputnik light in the bathroom, which has a dimmer thankfully. Also can live w unfinished copper, some of like "messy"
A part 2 is needed!!!!
I am so glad I found you! Everything you have said is so TRUE!
Voice of reason, THANK YOU
Oh I am So following you. Brilliant perspective on home design that we find gorgeous. It's actually LIVING with it that's costly. Thank you! Also- as a side note (and someone whose parents kept their 80's bathroom wallpaper well into the early 2000's before moving - wallpaper is more likely than a paint wall to get mold. Little dapples of disgusting dark spots which made me say "absolutely not!" to wallpaper in the bathroom for the rest of my life! Please, more videos like this. Would love to see a part 2.
You are so great. I hate thing is not function, clutter and hard to clean
1000 agree Design Daddy! Well thought out. The open see through toilet and walk through robe.. 👎👎
Curating my new townhome - this video was super useful! Love this content, more please ❤
You're always giving great advice DD here is some 411... keep your pots pans and skillets showroom New by washing by hand using a stainless steel sponge on the exterior. Also talking about steamed wallpaper nice tattoos😊
Stay tuned I got another part to this one :)
We bought a place with concrete countertops, and you are absolutely right. They are so stained. You can see the high traffic areas clearly, and it never looks truly clean. Not cute.
I loved the concrete sink so thanks for this update. Will not use it now that I know.
You say all the things I always think about design, proximity, form, and function. Seems many don’t think beyond the immediate aesthetic. Things have to make sense also. Glad to hear the utterances of intelligent life on the subject. Like the “open concept bathroom” I’d think was a joke if you didn’t present it as real. That’s really gross.
With conduction stove tops bottoms of pans stay nice .
There were brass sinks in the bathrooms of a bar I worked in and we did indeed have to polish those suckers every morning.. They were pretty though 😄
They are gorgeous for sure! But definitely a high maintenance item to add in!
The travertine coffee tables are known in ERs as "you gotta see the XRAY of this guy's foot".
The "open concept" bathrooms may have started out as "wet room" bathrooms, where you have the toilet in a teensy bathroom unprotected against shower spray because of lack of space, and because the toilet is waterproof. Your whole bathroom is fully tiled and waterproof.
Opal glass bulbs. I hope you have them in Canada/US
A follow up would be great. Thanks for sharing.
I live in a fixer upper rental owned by two much older women who can’t afford to do anything. Pretty much “masking” as much as I can for it to look decent. Was going to use wallpaper in bathroom, so that was heartbreaking to hear. But don’t know what else to do. Already painted but not enough… hmmmm… good video!! Thank you!
Great video. I learned a lot.
You are the BEST . I love how your inserts Destroy my pants. the Pruned fingers ! I lost it . Just Lost it . Thank you . And yes More More More of this type of content.
Love to you and your CoDude. HaHa.
Thank you so so much 🤍🙏🏼