Some home design trends appear, take root and don’t seem to die. They become popular with consumers, remodelers, builders and design professionals, and keep going and going and… This is fine for the classics, but not everything is a classic.
For example, white Carrara marble is perhaps is the most OG countertop option. It will never NOT be cool. If you poll designers, it is one of the most classic stone options in the history of design and construction, though it may not always be appropriate based on the design of the home.
Another home feature/detail that will never get old is crown moulding (bonus points if it’s plaster), but again, it has to be installed in the right project.
But then there are the details/products that have overstayed their welcome. They were cool at one point, but after appearing in every house flip, production home or overblown remodel, they need to go away.
We have compiled a list of these features that, in our opinion, are over–for one reason or another. Some on the list might seem like an unpopular opinion, but we stand by them.
But we also created a second list of design features we love and might be worthy of becoming classics like marble or crown moulding:
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More of these…
Soapstone Countertops
In our opinion, soapstone is an underrated material. It’s heat resistant, durable and strong. Ideal for fireplaces for retaining heat and radiating it in a room long after the fire goes out, soapstone is also an excellent countertop. Colors are somewhat limited in the grayish-black color spectrum, but it’s a lovely option in the kitchen or bathroom.
3-D Tiles
Ceramic tile is awesome; textured ceramic is…awesomer (yes, we know it’s not a word). It adds architectural interest (even in white), or it can be a bold standout behind a fireplace, foyer wall or bedroom.
Colored Appliances
Yes, we’ve been here before–back in the 1960s and 1970s when all pieces in the kitchen were either avocado green, harvest gold or some other hue. The updated approach is much more subdued. We’re talking about a bold range in red, yellow, blue or some other color, while the other pieces in the kitchen hide behind panels. A little goes a long way.
Tilt-Turn Windows
If you’ve never interacted with a tit-turn window in a European hotel, you don’t know what you’re missing. A handle swings the window pane inward like a door for fresh air and easy cleaning, but it can also tilt the top part of the pane inward for secure, weather-resistant ventilation. They may not be appropriate for a house with small children, but if your code body allows, they’re great.
Wall-Hung Toilets
We are fans of wall-hung anything–toilets, vanities, kitchen cabinets–as long as they are appropriate for the architecture of the home. Because the tank sits in the wall, the toilets take up less space, making them ideal for rooms with limited square footage. The toilets are easier to clean, and they also make the floors easy to clean. They also serve a practice purpose. According to Consumer Reports, the height of the toilet from the floor can also be easily customized: It can be adjusted to sit 17 inches to 19 inches off the floor, which meets the standards for the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Less of these…
Black Hardware
We’re not quite sure when it happened, but as best as we can remember black hardware became popular about 10 years ago–give or take. At first it appeared here or there, mainly specified by bold architects and designers who were willing to buck chrome. In 2020, the National Kitchen & Bath Association highlighted matte black as the “premier, dominant finish for fixtures, appliances and decorative hardware.” Fine, but then black proliferated…and proliferated. Now it’s just tired.
Black Windows
Around the same time Modern Farmhouse put a chokehold on the home design world (thanks for nuthin’ Chip and Joanna), black windows followed in lockstep. It’s not so much that black windows are bad. In fact they are very flattering in many types of projects. Many industrial buildings used black windows and black steel windows have been a staple for more than a century. But now, black window mixed with the modern farmhouse is just…annoying! They are supposed to say “I’m bold and edgy,” but in reality they say “I lack imagination.”
Double-Hung Windows
At one point, double-hung windows replaced single-hung units as the superior technology. And they were best in class, mainly because their operable sashes allowed homeowners to clean the panes from inside the house. Brilliant. No wonder they became the dominant window type in U.S. home construction. But there is an even better technology: Casements. They do cost more, but they are more energy efficient and provide a better seal than double-hung units.
Luxury Vinyl Tiles
Really! Why is this even a thing? Yes, the industry says the product is waterproof–depending on the construction of the product–durable and affordable. We believe them. And we agree that for some homeowners on a budget, it serves a need. It’s not that we dislike the category (for the record, we are not fans). Our main issue is that it’s called “luxury vinyl tile.” Ugh. Get real!
Waterfall Countertops
This is a tough one. A waterfall island serves a practical purpose: It protects cabinets from wet mops and accidental bumps from shoes, but it’s getting harder and harder to overlook the fact that the detail is too popular. We’re just not sure what could take its place.
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