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The very point of hiring a professional designer is to get the job done right. Or so we’d like to think. But it seems sometimes the best laid plans can go down the drain, along with your vision of the perfect execution. Fortunately, shaming bad designs has become a favorite pastime of the internet. From the crazy, to the confusing, the downright dangerous or just plain stupid, there’s no shortage of pics on the proverbial "Design Fails Wall of Shame".

If you’re looking for inspiration on what you probably don’t want around you, you should check out the Design Fails Insta account. It has hundreds of posts of epic interior design and architecture fails. Some might make you laugh, others could make you want to cry. Then there are those that just hurt your eyes.

We've put together our personal favorites. Keep scrolling for a feast of fabulous fails, and  upvote the ones that leave you stunned. Don't miss the chat Bored Panda had with Eric Dillman, the interior designer behind the account, and the host of the Pro Series with Eric Dillman podcast.

#1

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The amount of skill it took to do this is insane

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    The brains behind the Insta page is actually a qualified interior designer. Eric Dillman has a few social media accounts, and a podcast. Dillman got his Bachelor's degree in Interior Design from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. And started his first design account in 2018.

    "I was a year into my career and due to being a very inexperienced designer I wasn’t getting the leads I wanted from the firm I was working at. So I decided to market myself and get my own leads," he told Bored Panda during our interview.

    The designer said he started by reposting and giving shout-outs to his favorite brands and manufacturers. "After two weeks I hit my first customer from my Instagram account and after that it was full force posting almost everyday. I’ve done everything since, introduced my podcast, and so much more. It has allowed me to level up in my career in a way I didn’t think was possible."

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    Dillman's podcast “Pro Series with Eric Dillman” sees him interview professionals from the design, construction, and real estate industries, as well as stars from home design television shows.

    #5

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    Everyone kept hitting their heads as they walked down my stairs, so I hung a sign as a warning

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    #6

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    Someone said this faucet looks like the squirrel from Ice Age and now I can't unsee it

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    He set up the the Design Fails Insta page in 2021. "Being in and out of customers homes for years I have seen some very questionable designs and construction. These 'Design Fails' are always a hit topic between design friends and we always share them with each other," said Dillman. "I post these bad designs on the page for other designers to enjoy."

    #7

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    Imagine forgetting that Gramma's on the porch

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    Carl Roberts
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Seems kinda photo-shoppy. There's no driveway, and the grass doesn't look worn from vehicles driving on it.

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    #8

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    A hotel in Germany uses 3D carpets to keep guests from running in the hallway.

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    Much like many of the rest of us, Dillman wasn’t expecting the events of 2020. On top of the disaster that was Covid, the content creator had to deal with his Instagram account being hacked. It was a turning point in his journey.

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    Dillman was working from home in June of 2020, when he got an email saying his orginal account was hacked. He had around 15,000 followers at the time. At first, he thought it was a joke but soon realized the gravity of the situation. After an uphill battle to get his account back, he eventually hired someone to help him.

    #10

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    Imagine being drunk walking into this bathroom

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    #11

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    This is why I have trust issues

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    Jrog
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Vinyl bricks. They are not supposed to be used outside...

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    #12

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    In this bathroom I would not know whether to wash my hands or open the chamber of secrets

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    Dillman said he knew his brand meant something to him. But he didn’t know just how much until he almost lost it. The whole experience made the content creator realize he needed to "up his game" on social media, and pour even more into his passion.

    #14

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    Gonna turn this Pizza Hut into a Pizza Home

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    #15

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    Home remodeling is my passion

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    Will Cable
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh dear a bowling ball just happened to fall from a great height, I think it fell from the ISS and smashed my worktops so here is my insurance claim.

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    Up until then, he hadn’t really featured on his own podcast. It was merely professionals answering the questions he put to them. Dillman discussed his turning point during an interview with Bold Journey. “Once 2020 came, I knew I needed to put myself more on my content,” he revealed. He decided to turn his podcast into an IGTV show, and released a new episode every few weeks.

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    “I was lucky enough to have a lot of HGTV stars, and some very high up people in the design industry on in the very early days of this show. At the end of 2021 I had some requests to make this into a podcast given its already in that format,” he said.

    #17

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    Some personal news: We're replacing our countertops tomorrow and I'm so excited, mainly because we get to remove this abomination of a kitchen sink

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    arthbach
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is a 'double-basin corner sink'. The bad design not putting in a corner location!

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    #18

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    I have so many questions

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    Dillman has continued to push himself and branch out. In 2023, he added a second episode of the week called “Off Topic”. As the name suggests, the host talks tackles topics that aren't related to design. In June this year, Dillman hit 100,000 "listens".

    He told Bored Panda while he has other interests, he's been obsessed with all things design since he was a child. "It all stems from my parents custom-building the house I grew up in when I was 8. Going to all the showrooms and seeing the house go from ground up just made me fall in love with the industry at a very young age."

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    The interior designer and content creator describes himself as an introvert. He says social media has helped him come out of his shell. And has given him a much-needed confidence boost. Since his one page showcases design fails, we were curious to know if Dillman has any flops of his own. ​

    "I’m a designer who likes to give my professional advice but there are some clients that want it exactly their way," he revealed. "It’s hard to work for those clients cause you know it isn’t functional design but you do it for the client cause it’s their money and space. Those are usually the ones I just doesn't photograph."

    #22

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    I need an explanation to why this was a thing

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    #24

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    That’s what I call a “throne”

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    So what screams epic design fail to the brains behind this Insta account? "I feel like with home renovation shows being so popular, it has taught people that anyone can do these designs and renovations," said Dillman.

    "You can tell when a designer does it, compared to someone who thinks they can do it because they saw someone on tv do it. Most of the time it’s not functional at all, doesn’t go with the rest of the house, or the materials used are completely wrong and aren’t used properly."

    But at the end of the day, we should probably still thank those who "think they can do it". If it weren'y for them, we'd never get to enjoy the epic and hilarious design fails featured here.

    #26

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    When Boomers wana talk about how stupid millennials are... Just remember what generation covered real hardwood floors with linoleum

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    Lynn Donovan
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's a bit harsh... Hardwood floors are really expensive to maintain. Maybe they just wanted to be practical. And I'm saying this as a hardwood floor lover myself.

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    #28

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    If you thought you did something dumb today…….. at least you’re not the person who did this

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    DEW
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm sure the dog can't figure out there is a hole on the right side to get out. I'm sure a burglar doesn't see the hole on the right side and won't want to climb the fence. I'm sure you're safe.

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    #29

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    My shower broke so my landlord came over... look wtf he done put tf up

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    Ace
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One hopes that this was a very temporary fix until he could visit his local DIY store.

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    #31

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    Her: "babe, I want a castle in the sky"
    Me: "say no more"

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    #32

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    Why hire a professional when you can do……. Nvm

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    #33

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    Some might think this is the beauty of this type of tile but the unevenness bothers the sh*t out of me

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    #35

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    My neighbor recently had some work done to his house. Definitely not gonna use his contractor

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    #37

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    So does someone actually hang out there?

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    #42

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    You do know there is a cover for that dude?!

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    #43

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    That’s a lot of cuts

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    #45

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    So much HOW/WHY on the left

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    B Hobbs
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "I was trained and hired as a plumber. plumb-er. One who installs and maintains pipes and fittings. Boss said to lay bricks. Told him I was a plumber, not a brick layer. Boss said to do what he says. So I did what he said. Go yell at the boss, not me."

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    #46

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    This reads a very frugal person who collects tiles from all the shops in town and installs it to save some money

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    Moë
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This reads as a rental with a landlord who saves everything

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    #48

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    Nice open kitchen, with a perfect working triangle

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    #49

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    Rachel Pelz
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not so bad. If it works, it works. (Honey, I finally used these screws I'd been keeping for decades! Don't you ever suggest throwing parts away that I might still need "sometime"!!)

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    #50

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    Top tier tile work

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    #52

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    arthbach
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I like it! I don't like it enough to have it in my home, but I like it.

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    #54

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    Whoever did this tile work needs a map, a compass, and a lesson in basic geometry!

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    #55

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    Well now that’s different

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    #59

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    So many things wrong here

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    #62

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    Something off here

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    arthbach
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's important to know the difference between a 'tread' and a 'riser'. In the UK, the tread must be 22-30cm, the riser, 15-22cm, and the angle of the stairs can't be greater than 42 degrees. Perhaps, just perhaps, um, definitely, these stairs have been installed the wrong way around. The bottom riser should have been the top tread.

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    #65

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    When you know a guy who's way cheaper!

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    #67

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    What would you even do with this room?

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    Spencer's slave no longer
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fill in the gaps/window spaces, add shelves, books, comfy chair, lamp and lockable door. Mini library. Oh, and wine and cat. Sorted.

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    #72

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    B Hobbs
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A little drywall mud will take care of that. Well, maybe a lot of mud.

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    #74

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    When the contractor take the door swing clearance on the blueprint too literally

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    #75

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    So how you getting up there?

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    Tyranamar Suess
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Seems people really don't know what to do with these weird spaces in houses. I never thought about it when I'd see them. But now it makes sense. What to do with a weird little staging area?

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    #76

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    Not sure which paint job is worse

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    #78

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    arthbach
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm seriously hoping the person did indeed find the stud, and the television remains on the wall.

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    #79

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    Jrog
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's an hotel in Rome built in a renaissance palace. This kind of stair arrangement was not unusual.

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    #81

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    I guess you get what you pay for

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    Emma London
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Reminds me of when my relative dropped a heavy men's perfume bottle in the sink. Guess which one broke?

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    #82

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    Great way to get people to not shop in your store

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    #83

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    Not event the same molding

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    Rachel Pelz
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Speaking from experience, if you own an old house and want to make amends, you are likely not to find the exact same thing.

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    #84

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    DEW
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nope!! It doesn't seem to have a break off point. So do you just pull it down and wipe then pull it so the next person can use a clean part? Then when it's all on the floor you take it to wash? I don't even like sharing a toilet.

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    #87

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    I need to talk to the designer on this one…..also introduce them to some spec books

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    #89

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    It took the tile person more time to cut to fit the pipe than it would to furr out the wall

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    L Norton
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nice tile work. Plumber should buy tile installer lunch...... for a week or two

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    #90

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    DEW
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nobody can reach the upper cabinets without a ladder. Where do youclean the ladder when not in use?

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    #91

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    Kit Black
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If this was in NYC, there'd be a tiny counter with a microwave to the right of the shower, the door would be the front door, and the toilet would be down the hall & shared with at least 3 other 'apartments' - and it would go for 2k/mnth and listed as 'spacious' studio apt!

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    #92

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    arthbach
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cabinets like these are useful for things that are used once a year. It might be you have a set of plates only used for thanksgiving, Diwali, Hanukah, Christmas... Store them in this cupboard. They are not in anyone's way for the rest of the year, but can be accessed for celebrations.

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    #95

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    Francois
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not sure that is failure. Likely the water comes out in spout on the pavement. The bent is there to slow the velocity of the falling water.

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