Bwahaha, yup I cram my small children and all their friends and cousins on the bench lol!!! Ages 2-5 and so far nobody has fallen backwards 😅 It definitely will be replaced once the kids get bigger though!
If you have a cat and a jute rug, your cat WILL throw up on the jute rug and it WILL be impossible to get it 100% clean. Not that I am speaking from experience or anything.
I learned the hard way with the jute rug. Not only do they shed all over your wood floors, but one spill or barf and it is gone. Also my cats thought it was your personal scratching pad. It lasted 1 month before I had to throw it out. No more!
Another one about the bench, what if you have people of different girths...you have to push it out for the person who may need the most room to be comfortable and others may find themselves reaching for the table which doesn't make a for a nice dining experience.
as someone who always needs to reach if sharing a bench, I agree. The only way I see this working out is small children all of the same size, which is too oddly specific
And even worse, what if several people get up simultaneously? That bench becomes a see-saw (I think you call see-saws something else- a teeter-totter, or something? Help me out someone). When others get up, if you're sitting towards the end of the bench, get ready for it to sink to the floor whilst the empty end flies up into the air. Dangerous stuff.
Another super negative of Jute Rugs: Cats (and some dogs) think you have just installed a fabulous large scratching post 😸 (scatching posts and pads are frequently made of jute)
I'd honestly consider that a plus. Cat scratching mats and posts are expensive. Rugs are generally cheaper, and if you get a "rough textured" one (as opposed to tightly, neatly woven), people will think some of the eventual pet wear & tear is actually intentional snags that are part of the design.
Let me tell you one perk of dining benches: I live in a small NYC apartment with my wife and dog. Floorspace is at a premium and we have our dining table pushed up against the wall most of the time since there are only two of us eating most days. The bench is great, because it just tucks under the table, if you had 6 chairs, it would prevent the table from being pushed flush against the wall. Or I guess you could hide the excess chairs somewhere, but again, we have no space! Are our guests slightly more uncomfortable sitting on a bench rather than a chair with a back and arms? Maybe, but they'll have to deal, lol. I'm not gonna lose several feet of floor precious space every day for that, guests will spend more time on our couch anyways if they're hanging out.
Honestly, using an outdoor rug would be the best for high traffic areas, especially under the dining room table! As much as I dislike having carpet in my dining room(would rather have hard floor with a rug), at least it’s outdoor carpet and it cleans up fantastic. It was installed by the previous owner, definitely an odd choice, doesn’t match the flooring in the rest of the house, but at least it’s easier to clean than the cream carpet that’s in the living room and hallway 🙃
As a firmly shoes-off household, I 100% agree with your points on jute rugs. Too scratchy, too messy, not comfortable if you wanna sit on the floor. Thick fluffy rugs for life!
Jute rugs are also not recommended if you have babies or young kids that like to play on the floor. The material is scratchy and can hurt their skin, so consider a softer rug if there will be kids in that room. However, if there's an area you want to deter kids from playing in, just put down a jute rug! They will gravitate to other places in the house.
I have had a jute rug for 3 years. It's not that scratchy. I got the refined one though at Ikea. Not hard at all. I lifted it yesterday and the dust 😮. It also has spots from my daughter's drinks that I can't wash off. Getting rid of it soon because I can now afford better 😊. But I would highly recommend it if you want to save and need a low maintenance rug.
I’m with you on the clear lights, but for a totally different reason. We had them in a rental as pendants over an island with Edison Bulbs ( Don’t even get me started pulling on that thread..!). Even after changing to a proper bulb, the eye strain one would get when working at the island was horrible. Like staring at the the flashcubes of grandma’s Instamatic camera on Christmas morning. Solved it by wrapping the fixtures in frosted window film that I found on Amazon. In conclusion, there’s a reason why that thing on your light fixture is called a shade.
I NEED those lamps with a "shade" but it's a geometric wire. So pretty. I do not need to blind myself, because I will look into the naked bulb at all times like a moth.
i have edison bulbs above my dining-table-turned-desk and they really don’t bother me that much. i don’t notice any eye strain when i’m working or watching movies on my laptop and they’re really beautiful and give off the most beautiful warm light. they’re also pretty easy to clean, i just windex them every couple weeks
Yah. I think it can depend on the type of light you are using - probably a brighter light in the kitchen, vs a reading nook where it might not be as blinding. But I definitely gravitate towards frosted glass, or even seed glass, if not an actual shade. The eye strain just isn't worth the design when there are so many cool options available
Yes! I got one of those cool Sputnik style chandeliers for our dining room with 6 clear glass shades and it is so bright! I had to install a dimmer and get new bulbs for it. Plus with clear glass you need nice looking bulbs too (I actually like the Edison bulbs :P )
I'm for benches at entryways and such, not so much at a table. Or at the foot of a bed. Those benches are more likely to be padded for better seating, decorative, and functional. I grew up with a home that had a built in breakfast nook with high back benches custom to the space. It definitely was a pain for me and my sister getting in and out as we got older. The space looked alright and I'm sure the benches made cleaning easier with kids coming and going, but it's a no for me. Thinking about it now, it might be why I like my kitchen table a bit more formal looking. We had a formal dining area ( I don't in my home) and it was only ever used for special occasions. I think every day is special in some way, and it feels good to have a space to sit that is comfortable and beautiful.
I have a vintage tufted leather and wood bench/seat at the end of my bed and I love it 🙈 it's really useful for... a.throwing clothes/in use items on temporarily until I can put them away or reuse b. standing on for reaching the trunk on top of my wardrobe (high ceilings) c. Feeling fancy (which I'm not I just happened to score a large enough room to fit it in) 😁
How beautifully you described using your dining room - thank you! I was on the edge of converting ours to a workspace… now I’m back from the edge and thinking I need to insist on more dining table time (vs the grab n go dinner my teen tends to favor).
One impractical item I haven’t seen you talk about is freestanding tubs. Impossible to clean behind, and usually not as comfortable and hard to get out of compared to a drop-in tub.
It is something for a huge bathroom where you have enough space and access to it from all directions, not for a normal 10-15 sqm bathroom where you have to put it against a wall.
Freestanding tubs are great for someone like me who is disabled and find them extremely comfortable. It allows maximum grab bars. The level of water is not too high which is a bonus for me.
Friend of mine had an adorable small house growing up. There dining table had its long side pushed up against a wall most of the time to save space and they kept a bench on that side. In the everyday, the table was up against the wall and you couldn’t see the bench, but it they had people over (or from what I remember, her birthday parties, with the five 4 year olds on one bench 😂), they could pull the table from the wall and bam more seating, no folding chairs required! It’s a great way to have extra seating, especially if you don’t use it everyday! Love your style Nick, keep up the amazing videos!
Reminds me of the flip-down chairs that used to be in movie cinemas and those that are still in use in theatres and opera houses. Wouldn't it be cool to have those flip-down chairs on a wall behind the table? That way, every time someone gets up, the chair automatically reverts to its folded up position. No need for chair legs. You'd still have to deal with the problems of getting past people or having everyone at the same distance from the table. If you had a really skinny entrance area these flip-down chairs would be great here too. They'd have to look really pretty though!
@@Kt-cn2rq I bought some old school movie chairs- co-joined in groups of four- about 25 years ago. They weren't for myself, they were a donation to a local hall. They were pretty cheap at the time. If I had the chance to use some in my home, I'd definitely be up for the gorgeous pink/purple upholstered ones at the Sydney Opera House. I've had my eyes on those since I first started going there back in high school. I'm pretty sure I'll be dead by the time they ever go up for auction. They seem to be keen on saving the planet as they refurbish them every decade or so.
I really appreciate design information that takes into account how people live in the real world. A lot of us really want and need furnishings that are practical and easier to keep clean but still look nice.
I completely agree with all your points Nick. I love the natural fiber rugs too and have a bunch of new jute, seagrass, etc., all rolled up and in storage. Why? Well...cats. They would absolutely LOVE it if I put those rugs on the floor so they could scratch on them...and barf on them. It wouldn't take long at all for those rugs to be destroyed, leaving an even bigger mess to clean up. I dream of the day when I can use them but realize they will likely become wall decor instead of floor rugs. 🙄
I used to have chairs with woven seagrass backs. It didn't take long before they became scratching posts. Same thing previously happened to chairs that had seagrass seats. I couldn't blame the cats and, finally!, it was a lesson learned 😂
My friend got a jute rug. She has two cats and a dog. She says the cats scratch it and don't scratch the sofa as much thanks to the rug 😶 this is why we can't have nice things -> 🐈❤
Agreed .. When my contractor said that we were going to have Berber carpet, I said, no.. We are not .. Had seven cats at the time .. We settled on ceramic tile throughout .. No regrets .. A mop & a broom .. They are as bright as when first installrd .. TgT
@@tomgcooktown5019 Agree 100! I had ceramic tiles in a previous home. At that time I also had numerous cats. A lightweight vaccuum and a steam mop made cleaning a breeze (or at least less of a chore 😅).
My parents got us kids a dining bench with the sole purpose of not having a chair back anymore that we could slouch on while eating. We hated it first but got used to it really quickly. When we were eating away from home we often got complimented on our great posture while eating 😂
I have three jute rugs: two with tight designs, and one with big cushy loops. They are beautiful and all feel fantastic with bare feet, so it depends on the kind you get. One had a coffee stain on it, that I did not see when I bought it off the showroom, but I put a big bowl under the rug and poured Oxyclean solution through it, then water, then air dried, and it was good as new.
I absolutely love the look of the benches, but decided when I was like 5 that I would never have one because my grandma did and it was such a pain as a kid. If I was sitting next to adults, I was too far from the table, and if it was tucked under the table it was too big for me to move on my own. Plus it was hard to climb on without a back to hold onto. If I was staging a house, I'd totally use one. Put one in my own house? Not gonna happen.
exactly, might as well get rid of all flat surfaces, tactile controls, and only cook outside, cleaning is just a part of life, if you love how something looks you'll learn to live with the extra work
Agree! I've worked as a cleaner so my space is pretty much all put together with the idea of how easy it is too clean. Furniture that a vacuum can get underneath and space in between. Limiting surfaces.
Seating: My question is always "Think about the duration of time in which yourself and guests will be sitting in that area". For entry ways, mud rooms, and certain exterior areas a backless (farm style) bench is perfectly functional. Because of the duration in which one will use it to sit. Usually entry ways and mud rooms you want an open bench like seating option because you have things in your hands and you want to take shoes off or put them on quickly. Outside it's functional to have this in spaces where you might want to sit for a short time (like by a play area as you will get up often and help kids with things on it). As for a kitchen breakfast nook or dining area people sit longer (eating, talking). So you want something with a back to it (a chair or a bench). It makes it more comfortable to stay and sit for a while having back support. Rugs: Same with a Rug. In a living room, bedroom, or play area you want a rug that feels good to sit on and walk barefoot on. The entry/mudroom can have a Jute or harsh material rug because you are less likely to interact with it barefoot or sit on it. Anything can be practical if it's used in the right spaces (always be aware of how spaces are going to be used and plan to that).
Just ensure your bench (the one that will be used for a longer period) has a sloping backrest as a totally upright rest will actually propel you slightly forward. Think about how you position the backrest in your car. It's unlikely that most people want it fully upright. The second consideration is something I see people doing incorrectly all the time when making built-in seating: The section below the edge of the seat needs to be either sharply slanted or built several inches back from the seat edge. When we sit on a bench, we tend to put our feet slightly under our chair. If the bottom part of the bench is at a right angle to the seat, this will feel really uncomfortable. See- you can do built in seating as benches but there are ways to do it right. You just have to be observant and test out some models.
At 16, I was seated on a piano bench because we had a large gathering of guests around the table and ran out of chairs. Someone said something funny, and I leaned way back in laughter and fell right off the bench back onto the floor. Everyone thought it was hilarious - except the shy 16 year old girl who had been adulting with all her might in front of the guests.
I agree on the back support issue- I hate that at restaurants as well. Some restaurants & bars only have standard stools and I can’t stand it. I want to be comfortable during my meal or drink
Yep, I get that they’re trying to increase turnover, and it’s their business decision to make. I’m glad other business owners make the decision to provide comfortable seating from which I choose to spend my money.
I would add mirrored surfaces to the chrome handles and switches. I love the look of my mirrored coffee tables but they show dust 4 seconds after cleaning them, which I have to do every other day! So impractical. Also despite using coasters and mats they have accumulated scratches so quick, no idea how! They are gorgeous though
You know, I hear you on the bench, but I still love my kitchen dining benches! I'm from Norway (living in France) and the benches give a lovely warm communal eating feel that harks back to a cultural Scandinavian memory of eating at long tables (although they're actually in an industrial modern style to go with the apartment) 😊 Also, our apartment although large for Paris is tiny by American standard and being able to push the benches under the table when not in use is incredibly practical, giving that much more roaming space. We evened it out with chairs on the ends of the table and when we have large events we pull the table out and add more chairs, usually only seating two adults per bench 😊
I'm looking at getting a bench. I also live in small condo (809sqft) with my husband and two young kids. We are looking at an expandable bench and table with chair combination. The ability to manage space with a bench is desirable in a small space. I hear your rational.
Agreed on the space saving. This is why we have a bench table as well. Our house really doesn’t have a dining area so we had to go as small as possible.
@@Isabelle-ve9oq the best for you would be a bench with storage against a wall. Also, kids can slide under the table instead of asking someone to shuffle. That's what my brother and I did.
I‘ve got a numberless wall clock in my bathroom because I always take too long in the morning, and this allows me to take a quick glance at the rough time. Love it!
Do more "roasting my subscriber's homes" videos?! I learned a lot from hearing your tweaks on rearranging/rethinking. I can't not see my home the way I have seen it for 40 years but getting your impressions on real rooms helped. That was the best!
@Nick ⊕①⑦①⑧⑨⓪⑤④⑧⑤⑦ I have enough shame to realize that some style messes are too hot to be helped. You know how ladies clean the house before the cleaning service comes to clean house? Yeah. Something like that. But instead of dirty we’re talking outdated. For now I’ll let other subscribers’ homes be proxies for me to hide behind. Thanks for taking the time to reply!
In your next round of impractical furniture, you should touch on teeny tiny side/coffee/bedside tables! As a person who always has a book on the go, and a glass of water, and possibly also a cup of tea, I loath tiny tables
See, I'm over here trying to find the tiniest bedside table ever because of how our bed is recessed into the built in closets. Currently I have to just put my things on the floor and it drives me crazy, but I only have like 5" of room between the bed and the wall!
@@SLorraineE I'm not sure I understand the way your bed is situated, but I'm wondering if you need a shelf mounted on the wall instead of a tiny table.
@@kclark7067 wondering the same thing, or if there's clearance for a C shaped table that goes over and under the bed? or maybe more of a vertical magazine rack than a table? 5" is small for even a tiny drinks table. Likely have to build something custom (1"x6" lumber) no matter what.
To add a different perspective on benches, as an autistic person I vastly prefer benches to chairs. I don't know is a penchant for benches specifically is a common autistic experience, but difficulty sitting "normally" definitely is. For example preferring to sit on the floor rather than on a sofa. Obviously this doesn't affect most people, but I thought it was worth mentioning.
Yes! My son likes to sit like a gargoyle, and I like to sit with a leg tucked under me. So a bench is better for people who prefer sitting atypically. 👍🏻
Personally, I still like back support when sitting all crooked though, so I try to find wider chairs that can accommodate me sitting sideways or cross legged or whatever
I think the bench solves the 'problem' (for some) of too many legs, where it looks busy under the table and is hard to clean. But even so, there are still good options of chairs that have less legs, or finer legs, so they are easier to clean.
Add wooden kitchen counter tops to the impractical list. They stain, and start growing black fungus around the sink no matter what you do or how "dry" the sink is.
Benches: totally agree for those exact reasons. Clear light fixture also agree. The jute rug was the worst disappointment. We had one for 4 years in a lightly used living room and loved it. Then we moved and put it in a bedroom only to find out that it still sheds like CRAZY. Even after another 2 years, every black sock or pair of pants that touches it comes back hopelessly covered in fibers. So does the black dog who sleeps in there and ate a hole through it as a puppy. Sigh.
Thank you. I nearly bought a jute rug and bailed at the last minute. I'm glad I did because as someone who has tile floors I can't imagine having something on the floor that can't be thoroughly washed. I also thought it looked kind of raggedy from close up. The points you raised, which I hadn't considered, made me feel even better for not getting one. Rugs are pretty but I can't imagine only vacuuming and not washing.
I need to discuss ceiling fans….. I live in south Florida and have them in the family room, dining room(where we often move the table and do Irish square dancing) , in the kitchen and bedrooms, and both porches. Some mornings I get hot flashes while feeding the cats. Don’t need them in the winter for the most part. Sometimes between seasons it’s too warm but not warm enough for A/C so they come in handy. I think they look tropicaly charming like you often see in 40’s movies. They’re staying, Darling, no matter what you say.
Most 3 year olds need a booster chair anyway. I don’t like those benches at all, I am totally with you on that one 😊 I have three clocks on the same wall, they are very pretty with wood and real marble but I have them with different times, Florida time, El Salvador time and my time here in Abbotsford , super useful When you have family all over the place.
I have a cat. Everything that the cat is allowed to scratch is made of jute/sissel. If I got a rug made of jute or sissel, I'm a very stupid person, lol, I include wicker and cane anything in this list too. Besides, they aren't that comfortable underfoot. Function over form more often than not takes precedence in my place, I'd love if the things I got had both, but budget and space sometimes doesn't let you just have aesthetic for aesthetic purposes. My mother-in-law had these cane dining chairs she wanted to give us (they were beautiful but not very comfortable, and probably not sturdy either, here in France when we have people over for dinner they tend to be long drawn out sitting at the table sessions, I need a comfy dining chair where my feet touch the floor if I'm gonna endure that, lol, and my partner, her child, needs sturdy chairs because they are super animated when they talk and have been known to break a few chairs, lol), I said no to her for the simple fact that they were cane chairs and we have a cat
When I was buying a glass light fixture for my laundry area, I specifically made sure that it was easy to clean because I love the look of clean glass (though my 3 kids and 2 dogs insist that the glass in my house must be dirty). And "chrome" fixtures are the bane of my existence. We live in an area with hard water and I am slowly replacing all of the shiny metal with brushed. So much easier to keep it clean.
Whenever I want to have fun, I enjoy watching you. This is great. I’m guilty of several of these (open pendants, jute rugs)and I agree! At 50 I still haven’t entirely moved beyond ‘fashion over function’. Lol
@@653j521 it can be scary when you change the light bulbs to find all the debris that collects inside even those closed glass ceiling lamps! I have never had any bugs fall out, though.
The only reason I have a bench for my dining table is because it can be against the wall (with enough room to have a seat) and then I have two dining chairs on the opposite side. I need room for 4 seats and this is the only way I've been able to do it in my space and still have a walking path between my chairs and island bar stools. This is the best solution I've come up with but I'm always open to new ideas if they come up. If I had the room I'd love 4 matching chairs. Whenever we have guests, we take the bench since its more awkward and the guests get the nice chairs lol. Benches are more impractical than chairs but more than anything my space is kind of impractical and I have to work with it haha.
Indoors, the lack of back support for benches is perfect. It means people get uncomfortable quick and so the dinner parties will end at a reasonable time haha.
Totally agree with benches being a no go! They always make me think of picnic shelters at parks, and I did not spend all this money on my house for it to give “public park cookout” vibes.
I’ve always said this about benches. I never got it. It’s either a place that doesn’t need a seat or my poor back needs a chair instead. I’m so so happy you justified this.
Aww, I just found your videos, and I find you absolutely adorable! I’m a Building Inspector and a commercial plumber by trade. I get the privilege to inspect all the new homes, all the new businesses and all the offices, in a very wealthy city. I get to see some pretty cool things, and am on the cutting edge of the latest trends that finally made it down the pike and into an actual space. What’s strange is that what may be a cutting edge trend now, won’t show up in any spaces for at least a year if not 2-3 years later. This is due to the permitting and review process, then the time it takes to actually build it. When you have a huge office building, by the time it gets to the finished work, the trends are well on their way to being out. But strangely, home decor follows the commercial. And now things that were trending years ago in the magazines, are now mainstreaming. Just today, I had to do an inspection at a fancy office for a phone company, and I saw for the first time that colorful Terrazzo you talked about a while ago. Chances are when it was trending, the interior decorators jumped on it, but this office was designed a few years ago. I love your videos, I use them to keep an eye on trends so I have a heads up on what may be coming from the builders, and hopefully stop some design trends that may not be code compliant before they take off, and I have every designer in the city screaming down my neck about why they can’t have a cement mop sink, even a traditional terrazzo one. 😂 Thank you for keeping your design advice on the practical side, I take that to heart for my own designing choices, especially as mom with 3 kids and pets, being practical is a necessity!! Again, thank you and please keep up the good work! You make my day so much better! God bless! ❤️🙏🏻
OMG I LOVE these videos. I have a more glam/modern taste but still want practical. There's nothing better than a clean home and nothing worse than having to clean. These videos are so helpful.
I have a seagrass rug and it's proved to be very good, as it's washable and easy to clean which is what I need with a young dog who still does have the odd accident. 👍🐕❤️🇬🇧
I can't thank you enough for this entire series of impractical furniture/décor items! Please continue doing these videos! I love them! I have seen interior designers in TV shows/magazines make some impractical décor choices that would drive me nuts if they were doing my house! I've rented an apartment where the bathroom floor had those really tiny tiles and a lot of grout. This made the experience of cleaning it a nightmare! Every time I was cleaning, I was swearing at whoever had the bad idea to put that type of flooring in a bathroom. Ugh!
Oh no, not the dining bench! I just decided to get one! Haha! In my defense, the bench will be sitting beneath the window as more of a decor piece, and only used on the rare occasion that we need more seating. I am with you on the jute rugs, my mom had one in our Living Room, and she would not let us walk on it with our shoes! We ended up not going in there very often, which maybe was her plan all along! She walked on it barefoot, but none of us kids could stand it, even with socks.
I must have an ultra keen eye, but I will never understand why adults need numbers on clocks. WHAT? I have jute rugs everywhere and have sensitive feet, it is NO problem, and they are so easy to clean. They vacuum better than any other rug, and at times I just give them a shake outside. Cleaning entails just hosing them off, then give them a shake and dry in the sunlight. They would not be comfy for a baby though. One word of caution, careful not to get light colored binding on the margin of the rug, that does show dirt. Scotchguard only on the binding helps a lot. Or you could just use a darker fabric paint. I have never had any trouble with them "shedding", maybe it just depends? Mine are Sav... and have a slip proof backing.
I'm so glad you brought up the jute rugs because they really do leave a big mess on your floors. I've been using bamboo rugs as an alternative...I absolutely love them !!!
We bought an old church pew (~1950s) to use on one side of our dining table for 2 main reasons: to bring in some more historic elements in the decor (I have an MA in history and my husband is history nerd), and more importantly because I didn't want 3 or 4 chairs constantly banging against the wall whenever someone takes a seat on that particular side of the table. I see that it's not super practical, but I still prefer it in terms of style and function for our particular dining space (:
Idea for conversation starter clock - framed sheet music of a meaningful song (wedding dance, personal theme, etc) with the battery pack clock hands mechanism
We love our dining bench - my husband built it and it’s incredibly sturdy. With 5 kids, it’s incredibly practical for us space wise, and durability wise.
this is funny. This was the video that I intended to comment on your clock, before watching what you said about it. Love the content, always agree with your take on stuff, and aesthetic. Love your sense of humor.
I’ve had jute rugs in my office and they’re great for that, because you can roll an office chair over them easily. The key, i’ve found, is to get one of the ones with the fabric border and the rubber backing. You won’t be able to get dog accidents out of them 100%, but they generally protect the floor underneath, and they’re usually not so expensive you can’t afford to replace them every year or two when they get unsightly. I sourced my last couple from World Market.
I agree sooo much with the dinning bench how uncomfortable, plus we use ours to play games and do other projects don’t want anyone to be miserable while they sit..
I'm so glad none of these are my style 😂. I always thought the clock wasn't real, like its a green screen. Please do a video on design tips for pet owners. I don't know if/how I can make a cat tree look good in living room. I love your videos.
I think Nick stated in a fairly recent video, that you just can’t make a cat tree look good. Its a choice you just decide to make. 😁😆 I made the same choice too: cats get the tree.
I know that Jackson Galaxy recommends just finding a corner/less seen place for a cat tower if you don’t like the aesthetics of it as there’s no real way to make it “look good.” There’s some cutesy ones you can find but a tall cat tower like the one I have is just gonna be what it is. A giant sign that tells your guests you own cats lmao
@@TunefullyPolished Jackson Galaxy is also who I got the idea for cat shelves. I just couldnt remember his name at the time I commented. He is amazing w cats! I used to watch his show on animal planet every week when we had cable.
My 3 year old loved our dining bench and no one has ever fallen off lol!!!! Bonus my pretty upholstered dining chairs are still clean because my kids prefer the bench
My mom would clean the glass light fixtures in the dishwasher. She would towel dry them to get the spots off. Though it takes time to remove the shade, it's the best way to clean them.
100% agree about the glass pendants! And nobody ever talks about it! They’re beautiful but they are so difficult to clean and even when you clean them there’s still some dust left. The best thing I’ve found is using a completely lint free cloth dampened with a little water
This is the first time I’ve ever heard anyone address the issues with jute rugs!!! Personally, I really DESTEST them- but my beef with jute is the comfort- or lack thereof. Not only am I barefoot in my home 98% of the time, but if you ever have to actually be ON the floor (playing with the dogs or doing yoga or even cleaning…) then these rugs are hell on earth. Like the fibers poke through your clothes and are sharp! Dispite being durable and cheap, save up for a more versatile and welcoming material! I’ve always felt the rugs should increase the comfort and functionality of a space- jute does neither of these things for me!
I just love your sense of humor and honesty about all the products that you reviewed. Make sense a lot of them -- definitely dislike those farm bench - especially in restaurant when I always felt bad when I need to get up and everyone else do too!! Never realize about chrome as fingerprint magnet...but definitely will tuck that piece of advice when renovating.
I love open light pendants (preferably where you can fit your hand in as you say), over closed because, and maybe this is just an Australian thing, but no matter how closed they are, they still always get bugs in them! And I hate having to frequently get on a ladder and clean out dead bugs. Lol. Fun video as always x
I love your videos. I have to come for you with the benches. You’re just wrong!! I grew up with that kind of table and have one for my family now. We had a regular table and chairs for many years and with children those are impractical for so many reasons. The bench is large enough that children can get up without disturbing their neighbors. Easy to wipe down. Can’t tip like a chair. Can fit more children than a single chair. Lord, I could go all day!! Love your videos. Love your recommendations. This is the hill I die on.
Sometimes hard to fight the impulse to buy something knowing it’s going to be impractical . (It’s the latest in home design item after all). Good to have these types of videos and hindsight to help with decisions.
Your clock issue I found funny because,I recently had my 20 year old niece and my 11 year old niece over at the same Time and I have a rather large that is analog clock. The 11 year old knew how it worked and very meticulously explained it it to the 20 year old…love them both but was so surprised that one could not read the clock…🤨
We had a dining bench growing up and it was so fun especially for big family gatherings when we didn’t need it we just pushed it to the side against the window when we weren’t using it and it made for great extra seeing or places to play in the dining room
You absolutely crack me up! My dining table was purchased specifically for the bench that came with it. We often have a lot of children around and the bench helps them all be seated and eat food. As an adult sitting on it the thing is horrible! We recently replace our light fixtures and it was so difficult because of the glass covers! Having one that you can fit your hand in is so important for cleaning. I don't understand why they make such pretty but impractical things!
I love the simplistic look of a jute rug. My question is where would I find a practical, soft, non shedding and easy to clean area rug that has the same look as a jute rug?
So do you think people go for jute rugs because of its simple and natural look or the material? If there was a rug that had the looks of a jute rug but made of soft material would you buy that?
I use an outdoor rug that is a fake woven jute /w border in my LR. Matching smaller one on my patio, off the LR. Both hose off, no shedding, softer, use pad under.
I love you Nick! I wanted to mention that my mother's family home in Newfoundland (12 kids, mental, right!) had a farmhouse style table and bench. The reason for no back on the bench was so those sitting that had to leave could do so by turning around or standing to leave without everyone having to get up....
Please make a series on your channel where you explain the most practical and not practical decor, it would be a great help for those of us that want the easiest to keep clean most practical but beautiful decor possible and always wonder what’s best for that
Hello Nick! This is the first time I wrote a comment on your channel. I love the way you explain things and wish you are my brother :) I just wanted to tell you. I always enjoy watching your videos. ♡♡ From New Jersey in 🇺🇸
Benches are for the park not for the dining room. But last year, you did a video with other designers about what to save or splurge on. Would love to see another video like that about things that are dating your home.
I had a dining bench when my kids were young and I loved it. It did have a back though. No one had to get up though. I usually only sat two on it. It was much easier to keep clean.
