Hot Takes: Unpopular Home Design Opinions From an 18-Year-Old

I spend a lot of time in houses. I've developed opinions. Some of them are going to make people mad.

By Addyson Vining  |  The Vining Group at eXp Realty  |  Fort Mill, SC

I haven't been doing this forever — honestly, it wasn't that long ago that I started working full-time with my mom at The Vining Group at eXp Realty. But when you're suddenly touring houses constantly, building mood boards for real clients, and sitting in on build meetings with your mom who can read a blueprint faster than most people read a menu — you absorb a lot, fast. And apparently I've developed some opinions along the way. Strong ones. Consider this my official hot take list. If you disagree, that's fine — but I promise I have reasons for all of these.

Hot Take #1: Open Floor Plans Are Overrated

I know. I know. Everyone wants open concept. But hear me out — there is something really special about a home that has intentional, defined rooms. A dining room that actually feels like a dining room. A living room with walls that make it feel cozy instead of like an airport terminal.

The homes I'm most obsessed with right now have what I'd call "connected separation" — spaces that flow into each other but still have their own identity. A kitchen open to a breakfast nook, but a proper dining room with a door around the corner. I'd take that over one giant room where the TV is visible from every corner of the house, every single time.

Hot Take #2: Matching Everything in a Room Is Actually Boring

The perfectly coordinated furniture set. The nightstands that are identical twins of each other from the same collection on the same website. The throw pillows that match the rug that matches the curtains that match the accent chair. I understand the appeal — it feels safe, it feels cohesive, it feels like you can't get it wrong. But rooms that match too perfectly feel like a showroom floor, not a home someone actually lives in.

The rooms that stop me when I'm building a mood board are the ones with tension in them. A vintage wood dresser next to a sleek modern bed frame. A chunky linen sofa with a thin metal coffee table. Matte walls, gloss trim, honed stone counters. It's the contrast that makes a space feel intentional and alive rather than just assembled from a catalog. Mix the metals. Mix the wood tones. Mix the eras. Do it with intention and it looks elevated every single time — and that's something I've noticed across every build I've had the chance to sit in on with my mom.

Hot Take #3: Staging an Empty Home Is a Mistake

Empty houses do not show well. I don't care how beautiful the finishes are — most buyers cannot mentally furnish a space on the spot. An empty room with vaulted ceilings just looks cold. An empty primary bedroom looks like a sad gym. Staged homes sell faster and for more money. Full stop.

My dad Ken Vining — our lead realtor — has seen firsthand what happens to days-on-market when a home is staged versus empty. The gap is not small. If you want to know what else buyers actually notice (and what makes them walk right back out), read Red Flags I Look For When Touring a House. Understanding buyer psychology helps you sell smarter.

Hot Take #4: Accent Walls Should Come Back

The design world canceled accent walls around 2018. And I get it — a half-painted room with one random dark feature wall done badly looks terrible. But an intentional, architecturally logical accent wall? Behind a bed? In a dining room? On a fireplace wall? Stunning. I've been putting them back in mood boards and clients are obsessed every time.

The key is that it has to feel deliberate — not like you ran out of paint. The wall you choose needs to be the one your eye naturally lands on when you walk into the room. Do it right and it's a design move. Do it wrong and it's a 2009 rental apartment. The difference is intention.

Hot Take #5: Your Builder Should Push Back Sometimes

A builder who just says "yes" to everything without pushing back is not doing their job. The best builds I've seen come from a collaboration where the builder brings real expertise to the table — not just labor. My mom will absolutely tell a client if something won't work structurally, won't photograph well, or will hurt resale. That's not her being difficult. That's her protecting your investment.

Hot Take #6: Trends That Aged Badly Should Be a Warning Sign for the Next Trend

Shiplap. All-white everything. Barn doors on every room. Subway tile on every surface of every bathroom in every house built between 2015 and 2022. These things were everywhere — and now they are the first things to get ripped out during renovations. I actually wrote a whole post specifically about this: Home Trends That Were Everywhere 5 Years Ago — That We're Actually Removing Now. It's a cautionary tale.

The lesson isn't "don't follow trends." The lesson is: build with intention and classic bones, then use trends as accents — not as the entire design direction. That's how you build a home that still feels beautiful in fifteen years.

Addyson Vining | The Vining Group at eXp Realty
📧 addyvining@icloud.com
🌐 teamvininggroup.com
📱 Instagram: @KristinVining

Frequently Asked Questions

Are open floor plans still popular in Fort Mill SC new construction in 2026?
Open floor plans remain common but luxury custom home buyers are increasingly requesting defined spaces with intentional flow. The trend in high-end builds is "connected separation" — rooms that relate to each other without blending into one giant space.

Is gray still a good paint color for homes in 2026?
Yes — warm and nuanced grays remain strong in luxury builds. The problem was never the color itself, it was using flat, cool-toned gray in poorly lit rooms. Understanding undertones and sheen makes all the difference.

Does staging a home really help it sell faster in Fort Mill?
Absolutely. Staged homes sell faster and closer to asking price. Most buyers can't visualize furniture in empty rooms, which creates hesitation. The Vining Group advises sellers on staging strategy for every listing in Fort Mill and the Charlotte area.

Who builds custom homes in Fort Mill SC?
OZ Custom Homes, in partnership with The Vining Group at eXp Realty led by Kristin Vining, builds luxury cus