Robert Gigliotti and Ethan Gaskill became a hot topic after sharing their home decor “ix” on TikTok.
They told Business Insider that your kitchen doesn't need to be overly decorated.
It's time to stop taking on so many DIY projects, they added.
It's no secret that working from home has become much more common since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
More time at home, along with high interest rates and a sluggish housing market, has put a spotlight on home renovation and decorating projects, with Americans spending an average of $1,599 per year on decorating their homes, according to a 2024 Opendoor survey.
While the internet is full of sharing tips and hot takes on how to spend your money and incorporate the latest design trends into your space, Los Angeles-based content creators Robert Gigliotti and Ethan Gaskill are taking a different approach.
The friends and collaborators have taken to TikTok in a viral series called “home decor icks” by sharing the interior trends they hate, with videos featuring everything from food-themed decor and washable rugs to retro appliances and “quirky” art prints.
While Gigliotti and Gaskill are not designers, they are self-taught and have honed their design sensibilities through family experiences — Gigliotti's mother renovated homes when he was growing up, Gaskill's mother was a real estate agent and his father built custom homes — and their strong opinions have resonated with TikTok users, garnering more than 3.5 million views.
“Again, this is something we've done ourselves, or our siblings or parents have done, so I think it's stuff we can all agree with or relate to or laugh at,” Gaskill told Business Insider.
“We're not just saying, 'Don't buy this ugly chair, it's pathetic,' but we're trying to find ways to make everyone's life easier, create spaces that last, don't throw stuff away, are good for the environment and make people happy,” Gigliotti added.
Business Insider spoke with Gigliotti and Gaskill about what to avoid when decorating your kitchen, from overzealous DIY projects to perfectly finished countertops.
You don't need to have every appliance on display.
Kitchen appliances. Pixelshot/Shutterstock
“You don't need a Ninja CREAMi ice cream maker, an espresso machine, a microwave or an air fryer on your counter,” Gaskill says.
“Obviously, not everyone has the means to store everything, but I think a lot of people just leave their appliances out all the time, taking up counter space,” he added.
If you have the space, keep the appliances you use most often, like your coffee maker and toaster oven, and save the rest for when you actually need them.
Not everything needs to have its own unique “design moment.”
Yellow toaster and other kitchen utensils. Pixelshot/Shutterstock
Everything from squiggle-patterned outlet covers to lemon yellow toasters. can It's a curated design moment, but for Gigliotti, that doesn't mean everything should Become familiar.
“Objects don't need to be focal points, so if you have a microwave, choose one that blends into the space. It doesn't need to be bright pink and you can put cups or cookbooks on it,” he said.
“The microwave is just there and that's fine. I use it every day, but it's not the highlight of my room,” Gigliotti added.
This also means you won't have to buy fake vintage or retro appliances.
Retro refrigerator. Breezemaker/Shutterstock
Continuing the theme of unnecessary design moments, one of Gaskill's “hates” from the duo's first video was fake vintage or retro appliances.
Instead, opt for classics like stainless steel, which never go out of style, and add color and personality where they really shine.
Overdoing DIY projects can be costly and can make your kitchen look bad.
Peel and stick tiles may not be worth your time or money. Haven Jaya Nusantara/Shutterstock
One of the main themes emphasized by Gigliotti and Gaskill was the idea of leveraging what you already have.
“I think a lot of people try to do a Band-Aid fix on things they don't like, and unless they do it really well, it starts to attract negative attention,” Gaskill said. “Most of us are still learning, I mean, we're not all professional remodelers, so a lot of times we don't do it well, and then it becomes even more of an eyesore.”
“It's like leaving your white fridge white instead of painting it and putting peel-and-stick stuff all over it,” he added. “Just embrace it the way it is and aim for something different in your next location.”
Over-styling bar carts and open shelves can make the space look too staged.
Bar cart. John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images
“A room that's overly decorated, with six cookbooks stacked on top of each other and tiny jars that you'll never use or touch, feels unlived in,” Gigliotti says.
Instead, prioritize functionality and authenticity when styling by adding items that you will actually use often, such as dinnerware like cups and bowls, and various cooking utensils.
“I think our generation is now more like beige with beads cascading onto a tray on a coffee table with Pampas grass. If the wooden spoon you use every day is functional in the kitchen, it would look a lot better if it was real,” Gigliotti said.
After all, their favorite inspirations are the characterful homes in movies like Julie & Julia and Practical Magic.
“The home in Practical Magic is so cozy, so upscale, so unique,” Gaskill says. “I want my home to feel like that. I don't want it to feel like a place where people can just walk in and it's like a CB2 catalog. I want it to feel like, 'Oh, this is Ethan, this is his house.'”
