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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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'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).
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 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.
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 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 😅).
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
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! ❤️🙏🏻
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.
Idea for conversation starter clock - framed sheet music of a meaningful song (wedding dance, personal theme, etc) with the battery pack clock hands mechanism
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 😂
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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’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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
@@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.
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.
Totally agree with a lot of your points.. Eg bench and chrome👍. I do not agree with the clock issue.. If there are some kind of digits to mark where the numbers would normally be on your clock, that is enough. Even my 9yr old can read such clocks because he knows a clock has evenly spaced numbers from 1 to 12... And he knows 12 is at the top. The advantage of such clocks is they do not produce so much visual noise. Numbers are like letters.. So would be the same as having signs on your walls.
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 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..
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.
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!
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.
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....
I agree with you about the dining benches even though my husband just made us a big new table and we put two benches at it! We only did it because it was as a stretch to fit the table in the space in the first place and being able to tuck in the benches makes it work. (But everything you say about them is true.)
I needed to see this 6 months ago. I love the texture and natural color of a jute rug and they are inexpensive so I got one. I am regretting it. I will look for a good rug in similar colors and chunky weave in something that can be cleaned.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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…🤨
I have a metal bench with a pleather cushion and it really solves our space issue when hosting in our small dining area. But I do understand the critiques of them.
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
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.
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
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 🇺🇸
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
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.
You are SO right about the open glass pendants! Not only do they get regular dusty but if located in/near the kitchen, they get cooking grease which is a dust magnet. If possible, get ones with removable glass for cleaning. Mine, from Pottery Barn, have glass that cannot be removed. I just ordered replacement pendants from Wayfair with removable glass. Finally! (Love the channel Nick!)
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 (:
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.
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 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
Lol I have a dining bench. But I did buy it for my kids though. Because I got tired of scrubing messes off chairs i find mine much easier to clean. As they get older i plan to switch back to chairs.
I just went & cleaned all my brushed Ni door handles; they were pretty smudge-y!!! And I have a "date" with my bathroom counter top & medicine cabinet for later tonight! But my day old clothes hang on a coat rack, my seasonal wardrobe hangs outside my closet on a wardrobe rack, and my scarves are layered on an accordion wall rack. They form a sort of triangle of coordinated colors that pleases my fashion sensibilities (& there's no one I care to invite into my boudoir at this time!)
Just started viewing your vid’s; have a dining bench (for yrs); it has practical application for me as a gardener; table doubles as sitting, produce prep area; space to place things beside me is very useful. But I have a farmhouse-ish vibe (w/o the cute words or fake distress); maybe should call the style GARDEN CORE😉
Nick, I thoroughly enjoy watching your videos. Regarding glass pendants, I used to have the ridged glass pendants (5 small ones per fixture). I finally decided to load them in the dishwasher and run them all through at once. It was still a pain, but it beat having to clean them by hand individually.
Agree that benches for the sake of looks are impractical, but in small spaces are extremely practical. I have one 42" long that lives as a foot stool/coffee table in front of a small sleeper sofa in the office, also works as a weight bench and adds 2 seats to the dining area when needed on occasion. Also great at the foot of the bed or entry for changing shoes.
Agree wholeheartedly about the farmhouse benches. Hate them in restaurants also. Always wonder why people put some combination of these benches in corners of their kitchens. Just don't find them comfy.
I agree about the bench! We are a big family. Expecting our 5th kido soon. My husband thinks dinning bench is the was to go, but I think they're terrible for all those reasons. I think we'll just need to get a million chairs, to sit our large fam.
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.
We had a church pew wedged against the windows/wall... which fit 4 of us kids. So the two in the center never had to get up to run all the errands (grabbing condiments, clearing or collecting dishes, run/fetch). I do want an older pew for my entry hall, but would never use one like that for dining!
We have a kitchen table with a dining bench because we thought it would help fit more kids. It really only fits three kids at most, in our experience. Also, kids like to climb on them and the bench can easily flip (and ours is heavy!). We just moved and we are getting a new kitchen table to accommodate the different dining area and I'm a-ok with that!
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 !!!
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 see you dining bench lovers! Agree to disagree on this one! 😂
For a picnic outside, no problem! right?
Hate them too but love your channel 💜🇮🇱❤️
I'm with you on this! Bench the bench!!!
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!
“You know. Those kids are always going to fall off the back anyways.” 😂💀
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.
Haha I figured they would want to scratch it but somehow never considered this 😆 keeping this in mind because so true
Same with dogs and jute rugs!
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!
That's a good idea for a video @NickLewis design tips for pet owners
Coir carpet all house and incontinent elderly dog
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
Totally!!!
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.
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.
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.
I'd get a jute rug specifically for my cat 😂
I’m getting a used jute rug in hope that my cat will leave my expensive sofa and chairs alone 😅
Ha! I find that a feature, not a bug - and switch out the rugs frequently once the cat enjoys it for a while.
Add bar stools without backs to the same categories as benches. Hate not having a place to lean back onto.
Benches - irritating. Backless bar stools - evil.
Yes! I'm 32...I want to rest my back on something dang it
I've walked out of restaurants and bars with backless stools. Nope.
Yes! Especially the metal ones. Why are those so trendy
@@22rajiboo Im 32 as well - I loathe the sofas with low backs ,backless stools /chairs for eating .
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.
I think the same every time I see one put in on a home show. They look great but who wants extra cleaning?
Agree! Silly trend. Same was those raised sinks. So now I have to clean the outside of the sink too? No thanks 😆
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.
are those even common anymore,
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.
My jute rug lasted two days before my husband spilled some coffee on it. I was never able to get the stain out. We now use outdoor rugs inside. 😆
I love outdoor rugs in the house!
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!
Sigh....my cat means that we can never have thick, fluffy throw rugs....or bath mats.
Do you have white carpet and white cloth furniture?
Nick just said there’s an element of farmhouse that he likes so I’m just going to need a minute to regroup and digest this information.
Yeah, I had an Oprah moment: WHAAAT?
I’m guessing that he likes actual farm houses.
Not a condo or new build in the city,styled as a farm house.
He did say that he likes farmhouse style tables, just not the bench seats 😁
Whaaaaa?
🤣🤣🤣
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.
Before I choose any piece of furniture or decor I always consider how easy it will be to clean.
Lol me too!
Yes, Deedy! That will be one of my main considerations if I ever by a house.
Yep, same with shoes and clothing. I think we all learn the hard way with that.
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).
@@wt_9026 💗
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.
*covers the entire house in jute rugs*
That's brilliant hahaha
there are soft jute rugs. Stumbled upon some recently and couldn't get my hands off them - sooo soft!
So kid repellent rugs? ;)
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
I'm with you on that, I'm very sensitive to light and hate the trend of exposed bulbs so much!
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 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.
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!
@@loverlyme love old school theater chairs like that. Seen some but they are expensive
@@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 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 😂
Rugs in general can be so beautiful but I can't get one because my cat will throw up on it and it will be harder to clean than the hardwood floors are
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 😅).
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
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! ❤️🙏🏻
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.
Not to mention it is harder to separate fighting kids..
Solid agree. Don't make me climb!
@@madusonkeeper Didn't knew that was an issue. My mom would just look at us and fight would die.
We’d crawl under the table if possible but sometimes there is a crossbar running the length of the table….trapped.
@@madusonkeeper this is my life right now 🤦♀️😑 #irishtwins
Idea for conversation starter clock - framed sheet music of a meaningful song (wedding dance, personal theme, etc) with the battery pack clock hands mechanism
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 😂
As someone who used to houseclean full time and still does it part time as a second job.. MOST items in a house are not practical for cleaning imo 🤭
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
@@rz1974 omg it's not that serious ....
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.
@@the_eerie_faerie_tales sarcasm
@@rz1974 sure ...
I agree about the benches, uncomfortable
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!
exactly, I agree on the Jute rugs I hung mine on the wall as decore instead.
That's a creative idea to think about. Thanks for mentioning it!
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.
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
There's a restaurant nearby that I just won't go to because all of their chairs are stools with no backs. No thank you.
They don’t want you to feel comfortable. They want you to leave asap so they can serve more customers and get more $$$
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.
Also with benches some people need the bench closer to the table and some need it further back to eat comfortably.
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!
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.
So true about jute rugs. I love mine but the first time I lifted up the one in my front hall to sweep I was horrified by how much debris there was.
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’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 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.
OMGosh you NAILED all of these!!!
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’m glad you get right into what you have to say and speak fast. 👏🏻
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.
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 😊
You're the only valid bench owner in the world.
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.
@@monikanagyova8834 kids are smart. Thanks for the input. It's appreciated.
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.
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.
Totally totally agree on open glass light fixtures !! Been there done that and never again!!! Glass No!
Closed glass still manages to collect bugs over time. Do dead bugs fall out of open glass onto your surfaces?
@@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.
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.
Totally agree with a lot of your points.. Eg bench and chrome👍.
I do not agree with the clock issue.. If there are some kind of digits to mark where the numbers would normally be on your clock, that is enough. Even my 9yr old can read such clocks because he knows a clock has evenly spaced numbers from 1 to 12... And he knows 12 is at the top. The advantage of such clocks is they do not produce so much visual noise. Numbers are like letters.. So would be the same as having signs on your walls.
Thank you for talking about lighting!
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 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..
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.
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!
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.
With the glass pendants, I take mine off the fixture and put them in the dishwasher. Works like a charm.
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....
I agree with you about the dining benches even though my husband just made us a big new table and we put two benches at it! We only did it because it was as a stretch to fit the table in the space in the first place and being able to tuck in the benches makes it work. (But everything you say about them is true.)
I needed to see this 6 months ago. I love the texture and natural color of a jute rug and they are inexpensive so I got one. I am regretting it. I will look for a good rug in similar colors and chunky weave in something that can be cleaned.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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…🤨
I have a metal bench with a pleather cushion and it really solves our space issue when hosting in our small dining area. But I do understand the critiques of them.
Totally with dining bench... my entire childhood nightmare. Thank you
Your dining bench commentary definitely had me chuckling! So on point!!
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
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.
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
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 🇺🇸
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
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.
You are SO right about the open glass pendants! Not only do they get regular dusty but if located in/near the kitchen, they get cooking grease which is a dust magnet. If possible, get ones with removable glass for cleaning. Mine, from Pottery Barn, have glass that cannot be removed. I just ordered replacement pendants from Wayfair with removable glass. Finally! (Love the channel Nick!)
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 (:
Love the jute but impractical and hard to clean. Recommend a natural wool rug woven in many different designs, same look but feel amazing underfoot.
When we change the door handles of our home, we picked satin finish because we wanted something that would be fingerprints free.
Brushed chrome works fine.
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.
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.
I'm also autistic and also prefer sitting unusually
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
Love the "impractical" series! ☆
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
2:26 need link to table and chairs ! Soooo cute
Lol I have a dining bench. But I did buy it for my kids though. Because I got tired of scrubing messes off chairs i find mine much easier to clean. As they get older i plan to switch back to chairs.
Love Kitchen table benches. Functional clean look.
Danya
His point entirely, that these things look good, they are just not practical.
I just went & cleaned all my brushed Ni door handles; they were pretty smudge-y!!! And I have a "date" with my bathroom counter top & medicine cabinet for later tonight! But my day old clothes hang on a coat rack, my seasonal wardrobe hangs outside my closet on a wardrobe rack, and my scarves are layered on an accordion wall rack. They form a sort of triangle of coordinated colors that pleases my fashion sensibilities (& there's no one I care to invite into my boudoir at this time!)
Just started viewing your vid’s; have a dining bench (for yrs); it has practical application for me as a gardener; table doubles as sitting, produce prep area; space to place things beside me is very useful. But I have a farmhouse-ish vibe (w/o the cute words or fake distress); maybe should call the style GARDEN CORE😉
Nick, I thoroughly enjoy watching your videos. Regarding glass pendants, I used to have the ridged glass pendants (5 small ones per fixture). I finally decided to load them in the dishwasher and run them all through at once. It was still a pain, but it beat having to clean them by hand individually.
Agree that benches for the sake of looks are impractical, but in small spaces are extremely practical. I have one 42" long that lives as a foot stool/coffee table in front of a small sleeper sofa in the office, also works as a weight bench and adds 2 seats to the dining area when needed on occasion. Also great at the foot of the bed or entry for changing shoes.
Thank you for this Mr. Nick, in midst of remodel and buying furniture, lighting etc now, so this info was very helpful!
Agree wholeheartedly about the farmhouse benches. Hate them in restaurants also. Always wonder why people put some combination of these benches in corners of their kitchens. Just don't find them comfy.
I love my jute rugs, esp. for high traffic areas. Easy to clean and maintain.
I use my jute rug on the covered porch outside. No worries about the jute fibers outside.
I agree on the negative comments on bench seating at a dining table!!
When I see your face/watch your videos, I'm immediately happy!
😄♡
I agree about the bench! We are a big family. Expecting our 5th kido soon. My husband thinks dinning bench is the was to go, but I think they're terrible for all those reasons. I think we'll just need to get a million chairs, to sit our large fam.
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.
Agree
Always a pleasure watching your videos so real
We had a church pew wedged against the windows/wall... which fit 4 of us kids. So the two in the center never had to get up to run all the errands (grabbing condiments, clearing or collecting dishes, run/fetch). I do want an older pew for my entry hall, but would never use one like that for dining!
We have a kitchen table with a dining bench because we thought it would help fit more kids. It really only fits three kids at most, in our experience. Also, kids like to climb on them and the bench can easily flip (and ours is heavy!). We just moved and we are getting a new kitchen table to accommodate the different dining area and I'm a-ok with that!
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 !!!
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.
Yeeessssss I need this today...need your humour...love your opinions...