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.
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...
@@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 :)
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.
Here is a thought, do not stare directly into the lightbulbs. I personally find having to remove light covers to get to the lightbulbs annoying. After accidentally dropping and breaking light covers over the years, we have decided no more. We are fine with bare lightbulbs.
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.
@@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.
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. UPDATE: Was dusting another expensive chandelier yesterday, noticed that one of the links in the chain that it depends from was starting to come apart. Pointed it out to the homeowner, who was 100% unconcerned. When it goes, it's going to take out a fabulous antique French desk with spindly legs and an embossed red leather top. *sigh*
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! 😂😊😅
@ 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. :)
@ Currently in a cheap apartment, but am in the process of renovating a hoarder house that my husband and I inherited. :) We'll be installing an easy-to-clean tiled kitchen backsplash for sure! Getting ready to Sheetrock and tile the bathroom next week. Been a while since I last installed tile, but we still have the tools.
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 😅😊
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!
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❗
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.
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)
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!
In Sweden, we put "cozy lights" in our windows. So in the evening, we switch off out main lights and turn on those, which are much lower in intensity, as well has having more of a reddish hue. Those "industrial lights?" No, they are to be somewhere under a lampshade I love how you agree with me about a lot of those things, by the way. And you have a very nice, calming voice at that :)
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!💕
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.
@ ..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!💕
People who are into interior design seem to have an allergy to Formica, even when it's the best solution. It's a bit like foodies' aversion to microwaves. I have never seen an interior design person recommend Formica for kitchen worktops, but you'll have a hard time persuading me it's not the best material 99/100. Formica backsplash sounds like a great idea to me.
@@catl3599 _ I have no direct experience with interior designers’ “allergy to Formica”, but if they reject it even when it’s the best solution, they’re irrational. I would never hire such a person. As for the foodies’ aversion to microwaves, that just more irrationality. Do they have an aversion to the laws of thermodynamics? That’s what such an aversion amounts to. Ironically, they’re subject to those laws, despite their irrational aversion. 😎
I love our 60 year old house formica kitchen counters and back splash. But we have metal edges on our counters...not sure how standard that was back in the day.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
I agree almost 100% with everything being said... except for the kitchen backsplash thing. I have had painted wall (no special paint nor sealer, just regular washable wall paint) for 20 years. I've painted it over once and for the stylistic reasons. Quick wipe is just what you need for the maintenance with occasional water and sponge. Same things you'd use for tiles or whatever other materials. The paint doesn't absorb grease or stain. And should it do so, it's easy to paint it over. Should you decide to change the color scheme, it's way easier with paint - tiles and other sort of backsplashes need extensive, not to mention expensive replacement work.
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!
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.
@@annoyedok321 I am so ahead of the time! I got rid of the clutter-collecting coffee table 25 years ago and replaced it with a large ottoman. When serving food, I throw a large fancy scarf or other type of decorative cloth over it.
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.
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 😅🤣
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?!?
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.
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.
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.
Yes!!! Plus the smell - not all things smell good at the beginning of cooking (think onions or cabbage or cauliflower) and think about frying. You'll have the fried smell for two days all over the house. Not to mention that if you didn't have the time to clean up the kitchen, any guest coming to the living room is going to see your mess.
I also point out that when you’re disabled, open space is your friend. My mom loves her open space kitchen because she knows that when she’s old, it is easier to maneuver around in one from a wheelchair or walker. Plus when she broke her pelvis this style was much more accessible than a closed kitchen.
In denmark that is a feature of cheap apartments, and a kitchen shared with another room means the whole apartment counts as having one half room less (because kitchens are normally not counted).
I like the open concept because I can be with the family as I cook. I hated our first and second houses with the family room separate from the kitchen, and I couldn’t participate in conversations or watch games with them. That being said, it all depends on how it’s designed. Our third house had it right. This one, not so much, to the point that I’m looking for a new house, and we’ve been here just over a year.
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.
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 =(
@@brianb-p6586 Yeah both are hazards waiting to happen. I don't care how sleek it looks, get your foot caught between the risers and slip and boom, your leg's gone. It may not seem like something a coordinated grown up would do, but if kids are visiting, they WILL find a way to fall through the stairs. It's utterly stupid IMO....All for an aesthetic.
So many decorator professionals designs are just not practical. Keep general design practical and add different features with movable decor…..example…toss pillows, hang up wall art etc….
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!
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.
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
2:03 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.
Light shades are popular for a reason. The fact that people are paying good money for things which surround a lightbulb but provide no shade at all has always baffled me.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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).
But I see it as actually being more practical when you’re aging in place, is disabled, recovering from an injury, or caregiving. My mom had two of these experiences; she broke her pelvis, which mean the open kitchen was helpful accessibility-wise. After that she had to care for her dying father and sister, which meant constantly monitoring and giving medication, plus assisting them with all the activities of daily living.
the washer dryer hookup in kitchens isnt popular here in u.s. i like the open floorplan so i can watch tv or emgage with others while i cook and eat. i dont like being closed off in a kitchen. i think thats why its very popular here.
@@kaykay1kc Yeah, It's very 50/50. I've lived in both but most high end areas I've lived in have open plans. Heck a lot of studio apartments ARE open plans, just kitchen and bedroom in one. I can't help but feel like the people complaining about the "smell" or stuff like that are just admitting they're unsanitary and trying to look for a problem, but that said, I wouldn't be against a closed kitchen....IF I lived alone (which I currently do). The frustrating thing about closed kitchens is the lack of space + people rumaging through to get whatever snacks they want makes for an infuriating experience, or having to wait until whoever's done cooking before you can go to the fridge. Open kitchens let people move around without getting in each other's way. So the benefits are there, there's a good reason why it's more popular.
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❣️❣️❣️🇨🇦
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
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 🤣
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.
Our home is 17 years old and never had a backsplash. I've been torn about this since we bought it ten years ago. I don't want it to look too busy. I'll have to get going on that project. Thank you, love the show.
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.
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 ^_^;
@@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.
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!
Hehe I just can't imagine a house with an open bathroom being able to sell. I just don't see the logic in deliberately designing it that way. Not because of the smell or privacy, but also temperature regulation, moisture regulation, etc. I can maybe see a vanity being directly tied to the bedroom, but I'd prefer a door for the shower and toilet. Contain all the moisture and deal with everything then and there. but all the same.... there's probably a good reason for it.
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.
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
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!
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.
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.
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 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!!!
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!
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).
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!
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 🫤
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.
This was WONDERFUL! I found myself nodding in agreement with everything you said, one thing after another. I hate naked lightbulbs, floating stairs without railings that look like death traps, and the TV that looks like it's being roasted over the fireplace. (Its lifespan will be MUCH shorter.) And I don't care how much IN LOVE you are with your significant other -- but normal people don't need or want to see them on the toilet! GROSS. Not to mention sounds and smells that, as you say, BELONG BEHIND CLOSED DOORS!
My builder left me without kitchen backsplashes because he said the house has to settle for a year! Anyway I placed a variety of Wooden boards (I love light coloured woods with different grain patterns) leaning against the walls all around the Stove- Air Fryer - coffee machine - anywhere splashes stain the unscrubbable flat paint finish (another ridiculous thing builder insisted on - I wanted Latex Eggshell paint). I am 100% for Function over Form! You have to be able to scrub any surface clean! I also regret the very expensive (to me) Granite counters which I have a fear of cracking with too hot pots or too cold frozen items out of the freezer! I have put literally dozens of bright green or black silicone mats everywhere to use as trivets and now, being elderly and ill, I cannot stand up long enough to do all the daily wiping down these counters require. So, I just cover it all with layers of paper towel which I replace when required. Looks like h*ll but who cares! Paper towel is required, also, because of the stone’s pattern, my elderly husband could not see where he was spilling mustard etc on the counters and leaving spills to harden and possibly stain deep into the porous stone. The installer put only one sealant coat on granite and since I have asthma which is very reactive to solvents & sealants, I cannot tolerate the smell of stone sealant when it is curing - I would have to move out - so I cannot do additional layers of sealant myself. I wish I had got laminate like we had in our old house!
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.
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.
Finally, someone is talking common sense. Thanks for making this video. I can't wait for the trend of kitchen island trend to go away. This style only suits certain designed houses, not for every house, especially when there isn't enough room but just for the sake of having it. When a sink sticks in the middle of a room, you just can't avoid water splashing, and soon, will have a little river on the floor; a cockjng stove in the middle of the room without a rangehood-- perhaps the stove is just for decoration purposes 😅
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.
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.
@@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.
2:39 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
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. 🙄
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!
You're so spot on for all of these - and I like how you're giving concrete criticism and reasons, but then end with ways to work around with the concept instead of just shutting it down.
i'm an Architectural Technologist, I designed and built a 6 homes for our family over 40 years ago. Two lousy designs that come to mind in addition to those in your video are 2nd floor "Bonus" Rooms with no view and bathrooms at the front entrance !!
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.
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.
Apparently it’s a popular trend because it’s cheaper to not put a wall in. Personally if I checked into a room and saw the bathroom was in the same room I would be immediately checking out.
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
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😃
Yeah my apartment has no backsplash. I'm hoping to maybe do tile. It'll have to probably be peel and stick vinyl, but it's better than nothing I guess.
I have an open bathroom, and it is great, but I have a separate toilet for the reasons that you say. Moisture is not a problem in a Perth climate, especially with a very big bedroom that is ventilated by open windows continuously, even in winter (and I hate the cold). Also, I have outside showers, and seldom use the inside shower, which I believe is the ultimate in luxury. (One solar shower, one standard electrical, and one gas).
Thank God there's someone else! People made me feel like the party pooper whenever I brought up these and other glaring flaws. I never say anything anymore.
100% spot- on with all these observations. I can't tell you how many I see on a daily basis, or have clients bring up to me and I have to do damage control on WHY they are not a good idea - JFC.
we have glass fittings, they are ok cos we have diffused bulbs within, but yeah, cleaning the dust off them is SO annoying. BUT, dust doesn't collect on them MORE, you just see it more, so actually i'm likely cleaning my glass shades way more often (4 times/year) than most people (who probably only clean their shades every other year or when they change the bulb)
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.
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.
@@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.
This is a great video. I like that you also give advice on how to incorporate these styles safely for people who like them. That takes more effort as a video creator than just listing the bad designs.
All good points but I'd like to add two more. 1. Living rooms that are two stories high, often with a mezzanine, with two story glass windows. How do you clean the ceiling and windows without risking life and limb? How much does all that air cost to heat? 2. Houses that have the only access to the upper floors from the kitchen. Instant death trap. I can't paint my front door any colour that I want, but I can trap my kids upstairs in case of a fire? Cool.
Very logical and reasonable information that seems obvious. Thank you for the info as some of it I was unaware that some materials used, caused problems, so this was helpful. Great research and presentation! You have a fine voice for presentations, also. Thank you!
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
When I was a kid I thought spiral stairways, particularly floaty ones, were super cool. Finally I used one in the St Catherine's College library in Oxford (Swedish architect, about 1965) You have to make a partial turn at each step. Nope.
Thanks for addressing the Edison/undiffused lightbulb fixture issue!! They hurt the eyes, impede visibility, yet because they're cool there seems to be a collective denial about this. I feel vindicated!
I don't know about epoxy, but I love Corian counters. Wetproof, clean, no breakage, and, in my kitchen, no lip on the sink. I discovered that the backsplash is also Corian. No mold, no repainting. Stone and tile are beautiful, but the kitchen is a work space. Funny, autocorrect tried to change Corian to coriander.
Last week I was in a large building with a staircase without a hand rail. I am 67, I had a backpack on my back and a violin in its case in my hand. I went to find another staircase because I treasure my life and my violin.
As a licensed Architect I agree with you on all of your comments, and if you want another 500 pet peeves I could tell you. I designed a house that sold for 10 million dollars in Southampton NY and the main light source in the master bath was the deco. incandescent bulbs. If you looked at yourself in the mirror your face was dark with horror movie shadows. - but I have designed fully recessed TVs above fireplaces with 20 plus foot ceilings and they can be done tastefully and functionally.
3:40 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.
That is not a real danger. I'm the biggest klutz ever and I have lived in a house with these stairs and not only has the never happened to me but also to no one else.
IBC code is annoying like that. I haven’t heard of anyone tripping due to an open riser and I worked in the stair business as an engineer for nearly a decade. lol we helped write and clarify the code for spirals. Anyone not building to IBC would go open riser or, if local code or personal preference required, they’d get a thin metal bar across the gap just so it passes the 4 inch sphere test.
@Cor456 the main thing I would change on mine is adding a dowel to get the 4 inch gap. Kids otherwise love to use the stairs like picnic tables and can potentially slip through the gap. IBC also does not specify that railing should be vertical, and horizontal railing is a toddler ladder, and todders are top heavy.
"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.
Also about chandelier tubs - it's going to be a real hazard and a pain changing bulbs with a slippery porcelain obstacle under your feet or in the way of your ladder.
"Prioritizing aesthetics over function is not good design" - amen to this. A good designer makes practicality look good, they don't remove it
Don't tell Jony Ive that
Function and safety.
YES
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.
I'm of the opinion that function can be aesthetically pleasing in and of itself
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...
Those floating stairs would not fly in FL either. The building inspector would not sign off on that. New construction or remodel..
Why bother though? I don’t see the point in having a staircase that is dangerous to use
@@Kaalokalawaia For accelerating an inheritance?
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. ;)
@@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 :)
Doorless bathroom are COLD too. Really impracticable.
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
I can' imagine taking a shower or bath in one in the winter! Brrrr!
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.
impracticable 😭
noises; over exposure and the smells all preventable with a door
I like how you provided alternatives or solutions if people were really into the trends, even though the mainline trends themselves aren't practical
Finally someone with some logic when it comes to bare lightbulbs 🙌🏽 I’m sick of having my retina scorched
Have the same issue with the halogen lights that where trending about 30 years ago. Those are blinding.
Anybody who uses those bare bulbs ought to hand out welding goggles to everyone who comes in the room.
@ 😂 please make this happen
Here is a thought, do not stare directly into the lightbulbs. I personally find having to remove light covers to get to the lightbulbs annoying. After accidentally dropping and breaking light covers over the years, we have decided no more. We are fine with bare lightbulbs.
@@stevenalexander4721 Get light cover made out of plastic or other material more resistant to breakage.
A house with a doorless bathroom is not a house, but multiroom bathroom.
😮
That just means it is even more luxurious
Roccos modern life reference?
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.
@@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.
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.
UPDATE: Was dusting another expensive chandelier yesterday, noticed that one of the links in the chain that it depends from was starting to come apart. Pointed it out to the homeowner, who was 100% unconcerned. When it goes, it's going to take out a fabulous antique French desk with spindly legs and an embossed red leather top. *sigh*
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! 😂😊😅
@ 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. :)
@@Whammytapdo you have a blog somewhere? You sound really fun to read! I do want to know some of those cleaning adventures 😂
@@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. ;)
@ Currently in a cheap apartment, but am in the process of renovating a hoarder house that my husband and I inherited. :) We'll be installing an easy-to-clean tiled kitchen backsplash for sure! Getting ready to Sheetrock and tile the bathroom next week. Been a while since I last installed tile, but we still have the tools.
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 😅😊
Exactly!
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.
😂 true!
not only throwing up 😂
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!
I like the tone of kindness and the calm in your voice besides the information.
I am happy to see that someone shares my passion for putting function above looks
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❗
Personally, I don't think most of these trends look good at all. Both ugly and stupid - just trendy.
You had me at “no one wants to marinate in that aroma”🤣🤣🤣
Same! Hahaha!
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.
Same here! Very watchable and informative.
He didn't ridicule the designs, except for the bathroom without a door, which he said was ridiculous.
Because it really is!
Took the words out of my mouth!
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.
My first video too, and I totally agree. I love the reasoning behind each problem, but also the ideas and tips and how to do it differently.
Thank you for finally being the voice of reason! Those stairs always terrified me
See thru stairs are scary even if they have a bannister! Have pity on those with bad balance!
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)
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.
That’s why we have building codes. Architects be damned.
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!
In Sweden, we put "cozy lights" in our windows. So in the evening, we switch off out main lights and turn on those, which are much lower in intensity, as well has having more of a reddish hue.
Those "industrial lights?" No, they are to be somewhere under a lampshade
I love how you agree with me about a lot of those things, by the way. And you have a very nice, calming voice at that :)
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!💕
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.
@ ..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!💕
People who are into interior design seem to have an allergy to Formica, even when it's the best solution. It's a bit like foodies' aversion to microwaves. I have never seen an interior design person recommend Formica for kitchen worktops, but you'll have a hard time persuading me it's not the best material 99/100. Formica backsplash sounds like a great idea to me.
@@catl3599 _ I have no direct experience with interior designers’ “allergy to Formica”, but if they reject it even when it’s the best solution, they’re irrational. I would never hire such a person. As for the foodies’ aversion to microwaves, that just more irrationality. Do they have an aversion to the laws of thermodynamics? That’s what such an aversion amounts to. Ironically, they’re subject to those laws, despite their irrational aversion. 😎
I love our 60 year old house formica kitchen counters and back splash. But we have metal edges on our counters...not sure how standard that was back in the day.
"A kitchen used more for instagramming than for actual cooking" I'm dying! 🤣😂
I called 911 for you.
sure, amusing comment, dying with laughter though? Whats wrong with you?
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.
Wouldn't a dishwashing brush work? Still a very unnecessary pain of course but not quite as bad as using a toothbrush
Get yourself a drillbrush. Should make it less of a pain in the butt
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.
As an architect, I think the only place for textured tiles in wet areas is on the floor for slip resistance
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.
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.
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!
Scented candles?
@@dannydaw59 Tricky. Cats have no opposable thumbs so can't operate a lighter or strike matches.
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.
@@Meanne77
same!
I love how kindly you are roasting the instagrammers
I agree almost 100% with everything being said... except for the kitchen backsplash thing. I have had painted wall (no special paint nor sealer, just regular washable wall paint) for 20 years. I've painted it over once and for the stylistic reasons. Quick wipe is just what you need for the maintenance with occasional water and sponge. Same things you'd use for tiles or whatever other materials. The paint doesn't absorb grease or stain. And should it do so, it's easy to paint it over. Should you decide to change the color scheme, it's way easier with paint - tiles and other sort of backsplashes need extensive, not to mention expensive replacement work.
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!
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.
@@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.
TV above the fireplace and having a glass coffee table are the two things I judge people heavily on.
I would rather not have any TV. We now watch everything on a phone anyway.
@@annoyedok321 I am so ahead of the time! I got rid of the clutter-collecting coffee table 25 years ago and replaced it with a large ottoman. When serving food, I throw a large fancy scarf or other type of decorative cloth over it.
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.
I agree. Many designer forget the essence of design. They move backward compared to the era before. Safety and functionality come first..
Hear hear!
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 😅🤣
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?!?
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.
"God forbid you should get food poisoning." 🤣🤣🤣🤣Reynard, you're the best!!
“No one wants to marinate in that aroma.” 😂
Nobody wants to see, smell or hear that! 🙈🙉🙊
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.
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.
Yes!!! Plus the smell - not all things smell good at the beginning of cooking (think onions or cabbage or cauliflower) and think about frying. You'll have the fried smell for two days all over the house. Not to mention that if you didn't have the time to clean up the kitchen, any guest coming to the living room is going to see your mess.
Totaly agree, I understand the idea of an open kitchen in a smaller apartment. But not in decent size house.
I also point out that when you’re disabled, open space is your friend. My mom loves her open space kitchen because she knows that when she’s old, it is easier to maneuver around in one from a wheelchair or walker. Plus when she broke her pelvis this style was much more accessible than a closed kitchen.
In denmark that is a feature of cheap apartments, and a kitchen shared with another room means the whole apartment counts as having one half room less (because kitchens are normally not counted).
I like the open concept because I can be with the family as I cook. I hated our first and second houses with the family room separate from the kitchen, and I couldn’t participate in conversations or watch games with them. That being said, it all depends on how it’s designed. Our third house had it right. This one, not so much, to the point that I’m looking for a new house, and we’ve been here just over a year.
I appreciate the mild humour in your video. Enjoyable to watch!
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.
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 =(
That fancy pull down mount is a good idea though.
He actually addressed only the lack of handrails, not open risers... although those two characteristics often go together.
@@brianb-p6586 Yeah both are hazards waiting to happen. I don't care how sleek it looks, get your foot caught between the risers and slip and boom, your leg's gone. It may not seem like something a coordinated grown up would do, but if kids are visiting, they WILL find a way to fall through the stairs. It's utterly stupid IMO....All for an aesthetic.
the number of people who spend thousands on a top tier TV, then mount it on a white background high above the fireplace - clueless
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.
So many decorator professionals designs are just not practical. Keep general design practical and add different features with movable decor…..example…toss pillows, hang up wall art etc….
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!
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).
@@MyFiddlePlayer I am smiling!
Smart dogs
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.
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
2:03 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.
Light shades are popular for a reason. The fact that people are paying good money for things which surround a lightbulb but provide no shade at all has always baffled me.
The place I rent has a light like that. I put in frosted bulbs, which helped a lot.
So sensible! So practical. This guy thinks like an engineer. But designs like an artist.
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.
Good point
THANK YOU! Finally someone is calling out these ridiculous concepts.
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.
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.
Wet rooms. The BANE of my design show watching existence. I have a visceral reaction every time I see one.
These people normally are comfortably off and heat the whole house to constant 23 degrees Celsius.
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!
the open bathrooms are the worst out of all of these, not only cold but everything gets damp & no privacy. I don't get it it doesn't even look good?
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).
Exactly!
But I see it as actually being more practical when you’re aging in place, is disabled, recovering from an injury, or caregiving. My mom had two of these experiences; she broke her pelvis, which mean the open kitchen was helpful accessibility-wise. After that she had to care for her dying father and sister, which meant constantly monitoring and giving medication, plus assisting them with all the activities of daily living.
the washer dryer hookup in kitchens isnt popular here in u.s. i like the open floorplan so i can watch tv or emgage with others while i cook and eat. i dont like being closed off in a kitchen. i think thats why its very popular here.
@@kaykay1kc Yeah, It's very 50/50. I've lived in both but most high end areas I've lived in have open plans. Heck a lot of studio apartments ARE open plans, just kitchen and bedroom in one. I can't help but feel like the people complaining about the "smell" or stuff like that are just admitting they're unsanitary and trying to look for a problem, but that said, I wouldn't be against a closed kitchen....IF I lived alone (which I currently do). The frustrating thing about closed kitchens is the lack of space + people rumaging through to get whatever snacks they want makes for an infuriating experience, or having to wait until whoever's done cooking before you can go to the fridge. Open kitchens let people move around without getting in each other's way. So the benefits are there, there's a good reason why it's more popular.
More videos like this need to be done. It is so good to have expert advice as to what may look good but actually fail in real life. Thank you.
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❣️❣️❣️🇨🇦
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
Those stairs are terrifying!! 😱The others are just crazy!!
Not to mention that they violate most building codes! If your community does not enforce codes, what other dangerous features are in your house?
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 🤣
Not to mention, glass handrails are a devil to keep clean!
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.
Our home is 17 years old and never had a backsplash. I've been torn about this since we bought it ten years ago. I don't want it to look too busy. I'll have to get going on that project. Thank you, love the show.
really loved your calm way of talking, direct and practical explanations, and the examples showing on everything you mention.
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.
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 ^_^;
@@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.
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!
If I went on a date with someone who had an open bathroom, there'd be no second date, extending their living alone till the next person
Hehe I just can't imagine a house with an open bathroom being able to sell. I just don't see the logic in deliberately designing it that way. Not because of the smell or privacy, but also temperature regulation, moisture regulation, etc. I can maybe see a vanity being directly tied to the bedroom, but I'd prefer a door for the shower and toilet. Contain all the moisture and deal with everything then and there. but all the same.... there's probably a good reason for it.
Ah SANITY at last! From ridiculous death trap staircases, blinding lights and neck-cricking tv placement. Subscribed. ☺
The bad lights are the worst!
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.
Backsplash.
@Tugela60 oooops.
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
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!
Food grease + dust = serious scrubbing to remove
It's nice to hear advice from a designer who's practical!
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.
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.
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.
I like my floors to be more or less dirt colored. White for a floor or rug is super impractical in most real homes.
@@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!!!
@ they can afford to pay other people to keep their house clean. I can’t…
Sounds like ceramic not porcelain tiles
Practical, logical, & presented with a side of humor!! Always on point here Reynard!
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!
Dont worry, im not disabled and they scare the hell out of me still.
Brilliant video, thank you Reynard. :)
I appreciate that you took the time to offer solutions and alternatives that would look just as beautiful without compromising safety
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).
Tell him if he doesn't want to change the height, you'll need to purchase new furniture that supports your neck better. 🤣
Buy another TV and place it below the first one 🤣
@ LoL 😝
Leave him.
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!
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 🫤
I prefer to call the square, frosted glass, close to the ceiling light in my kitchen an entomology display case. 😊
@@sarahrosen4985😂
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.
Worse would be only to use the bare metal cable from the power line as a hand rail.
This was WONDERFUL! I found myself nodding in agreement with everything you said, one thing after another. I hate naked lightbulbs, floating stairs without railings that look like death traps, and the TV that looks like it's being roasted over the fireplace. (Its lifespan will be MUCH shorter.)
And I don't care how much IN LOVE you are with your significant other -- but normal people don't need or want to see them on the toilet! GROSS. Not to mention sounds and smells that, as you say, BELONG BEHIND CLOSED DOORS!
My builder left me without kitchen backsplashes because he said the house has to settle for a year! Anyway I placed a variety of Wooden boards (I love light coloured woods with different grain patterns) leaning against the walls all around the Stove- Air Fryer - coffee machine - anywhere splashes stain the unscrubbable flat paint finish (another ridiculous thing builder insisted on - I wanted Latex Eggshell paint). I am 100% for Function over Form! You have to be able to scrub any surface clean! I also regret the very expensive (to me) Granite counters which I have a fear of cracking with too hot pots or too cold frozen items out of the freezer! I have put literally dozens of bright green or black silicone mats everywhere to use as trivets and now, being elderly and ill, I cannot stand up long enough to do all the daily wiping down these counters require. So, I just cover it all with layers of paper towel which I replace when required. Looks like h*ll but who cares! Paper towel is required, also, because of the stone’s pattern, my elderly husband could not see where he was spilling mustard etc on the counters and leaving spills to harden and possibly stain deep into the porous stone. The installer put only one sealant coat on granite and since I have asthma which is very reactive to solvents & sealants, I cannot tolerate the smell of stone sealant when it is curing - I would have to move out - so I cannot do additional layers of sealant myself. I wish I had got laminate like we had in our old house!
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.
Haha!
Love the soft spoken sassiness about the kitchens 😆😆👍👍
His voice makes even the most harsh and critical opinions seem loving and caring 😂
It kinda makes it cut even deeper. He's not mad, just disappointed 😭
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.
Love it! So many things have clearly never been used by the people who design them.
Finally, someone is talking common sense. Thanks for making this video. I can't wait for the trend of kitchen island trend to go away. This style only suits certain designed houses, not for every house, especially when there isn't enough room but just for the sake of having it. When a sink sticks in the middle of a room, you just can't avoid water splashing, and soon, will have a little river on the floor; a cockjng stove in the middle of the room without a rangehood-- perhaps the stove is just for decoration purposes 😅
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.
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.
@@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.
Those are excellent questions for anyone hiring a designer!!
Top of my list is HOW EASY IS IT TO CLEAN!!! If it fails the "easy clean" test...forget it!!
2:39 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
What’s the point of having a light when you put in a dim orangey bulb?
@Annie261. vibes
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. 🙄
Learn to walk and those stairs are not dangerous. God, how did alot of you humans get out of the caves jesus christ!
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!
You're so spot on for all of these - and I like how you're giving concrete criticism and reasons, but then end with ways to work around with the concept instead of just shutting it down.
i'm an Architectural Technologist,
I designed and built a 6 homes for our family over 40 years ago.
Two lousy designs that come to mind in addition to those in your video are 2nd floor "Bonus" Rooms with
no view and bathrooms at the front entrance !!
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.
Some important, practical, objective information presented in a clear and concise manner.
Thank you as always.
Yeah, the doorless bathrooms have been so over hyped! Cute idea but not really practical unless you live by yourself! Excellent video!
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.
Apparently it’s a popular trend because it’s cheaper to not put a wall in. Personally if I checked into a room and saw the bathroom was in the same room I would be immediately checking out.
Very well said! I hate form over function designs
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
Are you able to provide a link for your light fixtures? If so, TIA!
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😃
What a breath of fresh air you are, sir!
Yeah my apartment has no backsplash. I'm hoping to maybe do tile. It'll have to probably be peel and stick vinyl, but it's better than nothing I guess.
I have an open bathroom, and it is great, but I have a separate toilet for the reasons that you say. Moisture is not a problem in a Perth climate, especially with a very big bedroom that is ventilated by open windows continuously, even in winter (and I hate the cold). Also, I have outside showers, and seldom use the inside shower, which I believe is the ultimate in luxury. (One solar shower, one standard electrical, and one gas).
Huge THANK YOU for this. Impractical design is the opposite to design.
Thank God there's someone else!
People made me feel like the party pooper whenever I brought up these and other glaring flaws.
I never say anything anymore.
Those open staircases are ridiculous! Another great video, Reynard!
100% spot- on with all these observations. I can't tell you how many I see on a daily basis, or have clients bring up to me and I have to do damage control on WHY they are not a good idea - JFC.
we have glass fittings, they are ok cos we have diffused bulbs within, but yeah, cleaning the dust off them is SO annoying. BUT, dust doesn't collect on them MORE, you just see it more, so actually i'm likely cleaning my glass shades way more often (4 times/year) than most people (who probably only clean their shades every other year or when they change the bulb)
I would like to point out those stairs are also murder for anyone on a cane due to the lack of a riser.
Even for people carrying furniture upstairs, it can't end well.
Thank you so much for all the free information you give to us. I down loaded additional resources you provided.
First. I never understood the trend of those open bulbs. It literally hurts my eye.
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.
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.
@@AlexisHiemis I agree, they might have their uses, and that is not where you look into them.
@@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.
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 🤣
This is a great video. I like that you also give advice on how to incorporate these styles safely for people who like them. That takes more effort as a video creator than just listing the bad designs.
All good points but I'd like to add two more.
1. Living rooms that are two stories high, often with a mezzanine, with two story glass windows. How do you clean the ceiling and windows without risking life and limb? How much does all that air cost to heat?
2. Houses that have the only access to the upper floors from the kitchen. Instant death trap. I can't paint my front door any colour that I want, but I can trap my kids upstairs in case of a fire? Cool.
Very logical and reasonable information that seems obvious. Thank you for the info as some of it I was unaware that some materials used, caused problems, so this was helpful. Great research and presentation! You have a fine voice for presentations, also. Thank you!
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
Excellent safety tips. Thank you.
When I was a kid I thought spiral stairways, particularly floaty ones, were super cool. Finally I used one in the St Catherine's College library in Oxford (Swedish architect, about 1965) You have to make a partial turn at each step. Nope.
Thanks for addressing the Edison/undiffused lightbulb fixture issue!! They hurt the eyes, impede visibility, yet because they're cool there seems to be a collective denial about this. I feel vindicated!
I don't know about epoxy, but I love Corian counters. Wetproof, clean, no breakage, and, in my kitchen, no lip on the sink. I discovered that the backsplash is also Corian. No mold, no repainting. Stone and tile are beautiful, but the kitchen is a work space.
Funny, autocorrect tried to change Corian to coriander.
Very good advice on all accounts. Thank you for really helpful videos!
Last week I was in a large building with a staircase without a hand rail. I am 67, I had a backpack on my back and a violin in its case in my hand.
I went to find another staircase because I treasure my life and my violin.
Edison Light Globes sells 12V low-voltage globes and fittings that look like standard lights for restricted zones, such as above baths.
As a licensed Architect I agree with you on all of your comments, and if you want another 500 pet peeves I could tell you.
I designed a house that sold for 10 million dollars in Southampton NY and the main light source in the master bath was the deco. incandescent bulbs.
If you looked at yourself in the mirror your face was dark with horror movie shadows.
- but I have designed fully recessed TVs above fireplaces with 20 plus foot ceilings and they can be done tastefully and functionally.
Great video! Id also add chunky, uneven rugs that are easy to stumble on.
3:40 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.
That is not a real danger. I'm the biggest klutz ever and I have lived in a house with these stairs and not only has the never happened to me but also to no one else.
IBC code is annoying like that. I haven’t heard of anyone tripping due to an open riser and I worked in the stair business as an engineer for nearly a decade. lol we helped write and clarify the code for spirals. Anyone not building to IBC would go open riser or, if local code or personal preference required, they’d get a thin metal bar across the gap just so it passes the 4 inch sphere test.
@Cor456 the main thing I would change on mine is adding a dowel to get the 4 inch gap. Kids otherwise love to use the stairs like picnic tables and can potentially slip through the gap. IBC also does not specify that railing should be vertical, and horizontal railing is a toddler ladder, and todders are top heavy.
"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.
Also about chandelier tubs - it's going to be a real hazard and a pain changing bulbs with a slippery porcelain obstacle under your feet or in the way of your ladder.
100% agree with all your design trend fails. Great vid, and I like your gentle, dismissive style of some of those frankly dangerous trends.