Architect's TOP 10 Most Hated Home Products (and what to buy instead)

(My Backpack is the "Classic Backpack" in Black)

💻 Get my desktop wallpapers:

🛋 Apply to be featured in my Architect Redesigns series:

⚙ My recommendations and gear:

🔗 Links/Socials:
Instagram: @danieltitchener
Twitter: @dantitchener
TikTok: @danieltitchener

🚫 I do not use online platforms other than those listed above. Beware of impersonators in the comments section.

Disclaimer:
This is not design advice, nor can I give you design advice. Everything in this video is conceptual and is for entertainment purposes only and not for the purpose of providing design advice. Nothing in this video should be construed to form an architect client relationship. You should contact your own architect to obtain advice regarding any particular project. When hacking furniture, you do so at your own risk.

[bp]

The opposite of what you said about "Organic Bins" works better. Not larger bins to dry out, but Small bins that need to be emptied once a day. This reduces stench of decaying organic waste by not accumulating too much before having to be emptied. Also, Having a separate composting setup, where you can empty the small bin every day is the best solution that works.

[wapnicawapnica]

in my country we always put our trash bins under the sink. you can go to any apartment in my city and find trash bin in a second – in the kitchen cabinet under the sink.

[mrmusiclover]

Being 82 years old, I appreciate the carpet in my home because of falls. I agree with your other recommendations, though.

[kylemacht]

Although I agree with your thoughts about range hoods, the performance of the range hood is one of the most important parts. Extraction efficiency has a lot to do with the area of the range hood and trying to cover the range or cooktop completely. The other thing that increases capture efficiency is the depth of the range hood, i.e. making a big bowl or funnel above the range. There are range hoods that fit in an upper cabinet and have a pullout feature that increases the surface area, i.e. the capture efficiency. I have used these in some projects, but they aren't as good at removing pollutants as a true larger range hood. Cooking can be one of the most significant factors for indoor air quality in a home if not dealt with properly.

[nicolvj]

1 0:22 Glass Tables
2 1:42 Kitchen Bins
3 4:21 Stone Veneer Cladding
4 6:22 Cooker Hoods
5 8:12 Drainboards
6 9:59 Cheap Handles & Switches
7 11:30 Radiators & Baseboard Heaters
8 12:44 Kitchen Cupboards
9 14:19 Carpets (Says Kitchen Cupboards again lol)
10 15:34 Vertical Blinds

[norgeancestry]

I really appreciate the points you've given as I am a stickler for common sense function and then joined with esthetics. One of your examples, though, I will challenge: The microwave oven placed above the cook top is unervingly senseless. The microwave's venting fan merely circulates the air within the home instead of venting to the outside. It's what lazy builders do to save money and take advantage of what they may believe to be ignorant home buyers not realizing this. We've retrofitted a few kitchens to solve this issue. We got a very strong vent, placed the vent high enough above the cooktop so we don't hit our heads on it, custom built cabinets around the flue for more useable storage, and the cooktop has added venting. We then we got an in-cabinet microwave which looks great and is more functional. I often believe too many builders do not actually cook in their own kitchens to fully understand the actual function that is needed!

[tomwebb]

Carpets have one massive advantage over hard floors, and that's noise. Not only does a semi decent carpet (& underlay) reduce noise echo in the room, it also massively reduces noise transfer to the room(s) below. Yes, a decent rug atop a hard floor can reduce the sound issue, but with how much of the floor needs to be covered to achieve this, you might as well just fully carpet the bedroom.

[nixi]

Yes to the lower cabinet drawers! 100% agree. I still rent but my sister did exactly that when she bought her home and it's much more practical!

[itn]

Rough surface stone in kitchen as backslash is the most bizarre thing, have seen many of renovation shows. It looks nice, but ideal for kitchen where no cooking is done.

[damonroberts]

@14:20 - Carpet: I think a lot of people would dismiss out-of-hand installing an "industrial grade" carpet in their home (the sort made for commercial settings like shops and restaurants), but we did just that and have no regrets. It has a canvas-like surface, which is comfortable enough underfoot (and subjectively "warmer" than most other flooring options). Liquid spills tend to pool on the surface rather than absorbing into the pile. We've had ours for almost twenty years, we chose a neutral colour, and it looks as good now as it did the day it was installed.

[adlee]

While I do agree that the trash can is not really a pleasant thing to look at, putting them in a drawer doesn't really go well with my flow when preparing food. I really need them to be easily accessible all the time with hand wet and full of trash 😂

[biggerock]

I live in a house built in 1910; it has large cast iron radiators. You're right about them taking up space but, after living with it for the past 11 years, I will always prefer radiator heated homes.

[yuliakraleva]

I agree with all buy one: draining rack in your upper cabinet is a really BAD idea. I will show you my experience, that led me to uninstall the expensive item with pleasure. First of all, when you're lifting up wet cup and dishes water flows down to your elbows. Second, it's impossible to pour out drained water from the tray underneath the draining rack without spilling it. And the last one, if you think that drained water will dry up, you are so mistaken - the dishes are wet, there is constantly water in the tray and the whole cupboard is wet so can't even close the doors, because they are swollen. I hope it will help

[lvseka]

I think drainboards are highly functional and underrated. Sure, they might not be the best looking of kit but they are truly a good solution for drying out dishes

[xscapeartistry]

We redid our kitchen last year and ticked off every bit of advice you gave in this video. I adore not having bins on display, our heavy duty lower drawers, the luxury vinyl floors, the hidden hood, the stone top dining table and the gorgeous sheer curtains that make the room airy and soft. I think my favourite part is the big but hidden bins.

[asunbeam]

Range hoods actually function differently than vent hoods! The bulkier vent hoods that take up precious storage space are actually extracting the smelly/greasy cooking air and expelling it outside. Range hoods are redistributing that smelly gross cooking air in your kitchen. As vent hoods are more costly, there might be some fake range hoods masquerading as vent hoods! But if a client has the funds, I would strongly recommend a proper vent hood!!

[amethystanne]

My Mother had a porcelain enamel sink/drain board attached to a painted steel base, typical of kitchens up to the 1950’s. My daughter-in-law really liked it. When we were going through Mom&Dad’s house after their passing, we paid a plumber to disconnect the plumbing and install the replacement base cabinet/countertop/sink.
Son&DIL cleaned and repainted the base a light Royal blue, and installed the unit into their house. It looks so good there.

[_adonisk]

The apartment I recently moved in (in Stockholm), has an organic bin in a cabinet under the sink. Whoever designed this apartment building had the great idea of putting the dishwasher next to it. So whenever I wash dishes, the organic bin is getting really warm and "sweaty"...

[zazyto]

This channel helped me design a small but very functional kitchen that can fit 3 people working at the same time. I am forever grateful for the principles, tips and ideas shared by Daniel. 6 months living in this new space, I don't see anything that could have been done better and it is all thanks to this channel!
Keep up the great work!

[tinalettieri]

Drawers! My number one favorite kitchen hack. I lived in a house about 40 years ago where the previous owner had remodeled her kitchen this way. It made the house hard to sell because it was "strange" to most people but I loved it even tho I was still young and agile. Now that I'm old and less agile, I live with standard cupboards and it's miserable although she did put in a couple of drawers and one cupboard has roll out basket drawers concealed inside. Also, being short, I detest upper cabinets. I can usually only reach the first shelf without a step stool.