Modern Design v. Functionality

Teapots for me! Unfortunately you can’t try either before buying can you??

I was always convinced that hobs, especially gas ones, were designed by men. They didn't have to use them or clean them so all the twiddly corners didn't matter to them.

These days, with more men cooking and more women involved in design, it's probably a case of hobs being designed by people who don't cook.

Can't say that the designers don't use loos, but presumably they've never had to clean one.

Kettles for me, in particular those with the glass panel which shows the water level.
Fine if you're right handed.
Suppose you've guessed I'm not? grrrr.

Saucepans with a single lip that only works if you hold them in your right hand. I often hold pans left-handed.

Oven dishes that don’t have handles to help you lift them out of the oven ...

We have a couple of lovely looking (Denby - so not cheap) oven dishes, bought for us as gifts by family members, that are really difficult to manoeuvre out of a hot oven, because they have no handles.

Pantglas2 it depends where you buy them.
I had a shop assistant bring me a jug of water when I bought one a few years ago.
Just ask.

That’s marvellous NotSpaghetti......now we just need to sort the loo ?

Totally flat wooden or slate plates that have to be dragged to the edge of the table to be lifted up: really hard on waiters. As a plus, our kettle has a window on both sides: well done, Dualit.

The loo thing is ridiculous. I don't know about expensive toilets but my new cheap one was 2cms longer than advertised. I was told the style I bought could be "manufactured anywhere" and variations of plus or minus (I think) 7% was normal.
I never checked this but they said it was to allow for "kiln movement".
I sent it back and got them to find one in the warehouse that was the size I ordered. BUT if you can have 2cms longer and 2cms shorter, one of them is probably not properly "lined up" with the waste.

Would be really interested to know experiences with "expensive" loos (especially modern styles). They generally have been designed (and presumably run by an engineer) whereas mine is clearly a copy of a copy of a copy of a traditional style.

Yes, grumppa slate plates... ?

NotSpaghetti I have three 'expensive' lavatories. All by Villeroy & Boch. They are nine years old and have never given any problems. Very satisfied with them. I'm another who when purchasing a tea pot asks for a jug of water in order to find a 'good pourer'.

Thanks Aldom - I think there are now so many things made without proper and careful design.

I bought my newest wc to replace an ugly one put in by a plumber on ChristmasEve after an emergency (!). At that point, with over a dozen of us in the house I didn't care what was available. I think that one was around £70.

Regarding the replacement, bought entirely for style and size, (not the cheapest but still cheap-ish) there was a massive price jump if I had bought a similar looking one from a more upmarket brand. Luckily mine works ok.

I think mostly we get what we pay for. Good design takes time. We have to pay for it.

Am I the only person in the world who loathes Dyson vacuum cleaners?
I do not think James Dyson has ever personally had to empty one?
The first time I had to empty the thing, I couldn’t bear the risk of all the disgusting stuff inside the machine accidentally ending up back on the carpet, so I took it out onto the front step.
As I gingerly tipped the contents into a bin bag there was a light gust of wind and a whole lot of carpet filth blew back in my face.
My lovely Shark, on the other hand, is really easy to empty.