Ballard + Mensua Architecture was featured in Good Housekeeping in the article “Designers Share the Most Overrated Home Features,” highlighting design trends that often fall short of expectations.

Reflecting on more than three decades in luxury residential design, principal architect Seth Ballard offered candid observations about features clients frequently regret:

• Large Primary Bedrooms with Sitting Areas
  “We have renovated over 50 former large primary bedrooms to create smaller rooms that fit a king-sized bed and end tables, giving clients more closet space,” Ballard explained. Oversized bedrooms can feel uncomfortable, lack intimacy, and often become clutter magnets.
• Dedicated Home Theaters
  While home theaters seem appealing, Ballard finds most homeowners benefit more from a large, multifunctional space with ample seating. “It is only in very large homes over 10,000 square feet where we add this on top of a Super Bowl party space,” he noted.
• Overly Smart Homes Without Reputable Consultants
  Complex home automation can quickly become a headache if the installer goes out of business. “We have removed systems because no one knows how to manage the brains of the house,” Ballard said, emphasizing the importance of working with trusted firms or opting for simpler technologies.
• Pot Fillers
  “Other than for Italian chefs, we have found that pot fillers do not get used,” Ballard shared.
• Appliance Lift-Up Shelves
  Though these seem clever, Ballard explained they rarely last, suggesting homeowners create storage space without relying on delicate hardware.

This perspective underscores Ballard + Mensua’s focus on creating spaces that are both beautiful and truly functional over the long term.

Read the full article on Good Housekeeping:
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/decorating-ideas/g65011484/most-overrated-home-features/