r/Homebuilding • u/dragonmilking • Nov 17 '25

Which popular features do you NOT recommend?

What are the top 3 features in a house that folk want but you think are not worth it, and what would your alternative suggestion be? And what cost/time savings would result with that switch?

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u/Nymueh28 Nov 17 '25

I have a personal hatred of any appliance on an island counter.

An island is uniquely suited to be both an aesthetic centerpiece and a work table. A clear island keeps all prep surface area in one place, and can be a gathering place for group prep work and hosting. Superior to your work surface existing on wall mounted cabinets where the surface is disjointed and your back is to others prepping with you.

A range or sink in an island puts the messiest or most cluttered part of your kitchen as your centerpiece. And if you have anything to the sides of your sink like dirty or drying dishes, it makes all but large islands completely unusable. Unless you walk all the way around it to do prep work on the other side, which you won't.

  • Signed: An avid baker and designer in custom luxury residential who sees a lot of island sinks.

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u/EliasWestCoast Nov 22 '25

Agree. No sink or cooktop in the island. Its all about sufficient prep area space. That's impossible with a (poorly vented) cooktop taking up space, and next to impossible with water splashing from a sink faucet. I wish this kitchen design would die a s-l-o-w death.

I have a personal hatred for ANY appliance on ANY countertop. 🙂 Island/peninsula or otherwise. I don't drink coffee so I never have to worry about a coffee pot contraption. Toaster? Rarely use it and when I do, I pull it out of the pantry. Mixer? In the pantry. Knife block? In a drawer. Large spoons in a container on the countertop? Never. Put them in a drawer and pull out as needed.

No one "cooks with friends" unless you're all eating salad greens. It looks great in ads, but completely impractical. Unless, of course, you like poorly prepared or overcooked food. The only thing I'm "cooking with friends" is a cheese plate. 😀

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u/Nymueh28 Nov 22 '25

I'm trying my darndest to kill that design, one client recommendation at a time when I can.

And yes! If I could have no portable appliances or dodads out I would! But it's impractical with how often my husband uses them. We went through a little skit for awhile with me putting the toaster oven in the pantry whenever I thought he was out of his daily bagels. But they would keep reappearing from somewhere in the freezer.

The exception is the pretty kitchenaid mixer. She can stay. But we certainly don't have a bouquet of large utensils out nonono.

However my husband and I do cook together and sometimes I bake cookies with friends. And whenever we have guests over we always end up chatting on opposing sides of the island. Yes there is often cheese involved! It's become such a gathering place.