7 high-profile remodels that aged terribly

Trends can make a remodel feel fresh at the time, but they don’t always hold up once the excitement fades. Even celebrity homes and HGTV-famous makeovers aren’t immune to choices that go out of style fast — or worse, don’t function well in real life.

From impractical materials to design fads that looked great on camera but not so much afterward, these remodels prove that flashy upgrades don’t always mean timeless design.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s minimalist mansion

When Kim and Kanye revealed their all-white, ultra-minimalist mansion, it made headlines for its “monastery” look. The clean lines and endless beige seemed sophisticated — for a while. But over time, the lack of warmth and livability became impossible to ignore.

What once felt sleek now reads sterile. The house’s echoing halls and impractical finishes are a reminder that homes meant for real life need texture, comfort, and personality to age well.

Chip and Joanna Gaines’ all-shiplap phase

For a few years, every Fixer Upper project featured walls covered in white shiplap. It became a defining design move for the Gaines brand — and quickly spread everywhere. But as the farmhouse trend hit saturation, the look lost its charm.

Too much shiplap now feels dated and overdone, especially in newer homes trying to replicate that rustic “Waco” look. Even Joanna has since moved toward warmer tones and more refined finishes.

The Property Brothers’ gray-everything makeovers

The Property Brothers helped popularize the all-gray palette that dominated homes through the 2010s. Walls, floors, cabinets — everything went the same shade of greige. It looked clean and modern back then but quickly became lifeless and cold.

Now, most designers are bringing color and contrast back into rooms. That monochrome look, once considered sleek, now makes spaces feel flat and uninspired.

Christina Hall’s glam farmhouse kitchens

Christina Hall (formerly El Moussa) made a name for herself with big, glossy kitchen remodels full of bright whites, polished marble, and chrome fixtures. They photographed beautifully — but they don’t wear well in real life.

All that high-shine and light stone shows every scratch, stain, and fingerprint. Homeowners who copied the look quickly realized upkeep costs were anything but glamorous.

Tarek El Moussa’s hyper-modern flips

Tarek El Moussa went heavy on slick, modern finishes during his Flip or Flop days — flat-panel cabinets, LED strip lighting, and glass stair railings everywhere. It looked high-end on TV but often felt more like a showroom than a home.

Many of those flips now feel dated, victims of a style that leaned too hard into the “modern” label without much warmth or character. The resale value didn’t always hold up either.

Kylie Jenner’s bubblegum interiors

Kylie Jenner’s remodel featured neon lights, pink walls, and mirrored furniture — a reflection of her early brand image. It was eye-catching, but it didn’t age gracefully. The aesthetic feels more like a pop-up event than a long-term living space.

Designers today lean toward natural textures and balanced tones. That over-the-top glamour phase serves as a cautionary tale about decorating for trends instead of timelessness.

Jeff Lewis’ over-customized flips

Jeff Lewis became famous for his high-end flips, often packed with built-in features tailored to his exact taste. While they sold well at first, many of those homes aged poorly because they were too specific — and too expensive to update.

Buyers now prefer flexibility and function over ultra-custom details. The lesson? What looks unique in the moment can quickly become dated when the market moves on.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.