They say, practice makes perfect, and professionals know it to be true after spending years trying to master their craft. That’s why there's usually a clear distinction between an end result provided by a professional—or at least with the help from one—and an amateur, be it making desserts or building houses.
When it comes to the latter, it’s worth remembering that architecture-related decisions require knowledge in different areas, from engineering to design, and beyond. That’s why hiring a professional is usually the sensible thing to do, as they typically have years of experience, not to mention the value of education they go through.
Be that as it may, not all people opt for professional help when building something, which often results in disasters, such as the ones shared on ‘You Should Have Hired an Architect’ Facebook group. It is home to the best worst architectural ‘gems’, some of which you can find on the list below. Browse the pictures and see for yourself that they really could have benefited from some help from a professional.
#1 You Should Have Hired An Architect
Image credits: Heather Brown
#2 Failing At Tetris
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#3 You Should Have Hired An Architect
Image credits: Joe Lyon Jr
#4 I’ll Take Awkward Tub Placements For 300 Please, Alex
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#5 Studio For Rent. Haifa, Israel
Image credits: Tamara Gurevich
#6 Fine Until There’s An Overpass, I Guess
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#7 No Notes
Image credits: Daniel L. Weyant
#8 Help Me Out, Experts: Is It Doric Or Corinthian Columns For Dropped Basement Ceilings? I Always Get This Mixed Up!
Image credits: Gabrielle Sellei
#9 Maybe It's Just Supposed To Be "Art"?
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#10 You Should Have Hired An Architect
Image credits: Ari Dmstn
#11 Someone Really Loves Mantles
Image credits: Garet Donohoo
#12 Privacy Guaranteed!
Image credits: Adela Adela
#13 No Words
Image credits: Ken Alder
#14 Safety First! No-One Falls Off Our Balconies! Although We Have Lost A Few Tenants Who Were Trying To Get From Their Windows To The Balconies. Building Codes And Architectural Plans Are For Sissies!!!
Image credits: Doug Stone
#15 Client: I’d Like A Quarter Circle Window Over Each Garage Door. Architect: Say No More…
Image credits: Jeff Evangelist
#16 You Should Have Hired An Architect
Image credits: Stuart France
#17 My Interior Designer Came Up With The Most Awesome Idea...
Image credits: Ron Diebold
#18 This Hurts My Sense Of Balance
Image credits: Marilyn Dash
#19 I Don’t Understand How This Happens. I Think The Fireplace Is Trying To Run Away
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#20 I Think They May Have The Kitchen Inside Out
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#21 Send Help
Image credits: Katrina Whatley
#22 This Screened-In Porch/Room Caught My Eye In Chicago. (There Is A Glassed-In Room Above It.)
Image credits: Nancy Overman
#23 I Don't Even Know What To Say
Image credits: Ania Makarewicz
#24 Found On Linkedin With A Caption That Roughly Translate To "Open Staircase Custom Made For A Client. Classy And Stark In Its Simple Design." I Mean...
Image credits: Laura Gavinelli
#25 Whe You’re A Structural Engineer, But Your Side Hustle Is Being A Magician…
Image credits: Jeff Evangelist
#26 So Confusing. This Doesn’t Make Me Want To Spend Over 1.5mil
Image credits: Tina A. Jandrow
#27 Ouch. My Eyes
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#28 When The House Lights Go Down, Good Luck
Image credits: Arlo Dykstra
#29 This Is In Esslingen, Germany, A Town With Traditional Bell Towers And Pointed Roofs. But Someone Thought, “What If We Made A Home Look Like A Prison, But With A Moss Green Exterior?”
Image credits: John Mueller
#30 When You Miss Completely
Image credits: Lene Jensen
#31 I Don't Think Brutalist Architecture Is Something You Can Be Neutral On
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#32 Client: The Design Feels So Boxy. Can You Spice It Up A Little? Maybe Something A Little Jaunty Here And There. Architect: Say No More!
Image credits: Jeff Evangelist
#33 I Mean, What Could Go Wrong?
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#34 Seeing Things Like This Absolutely Ruins My Day
Image credits: Rob West
#35 You Should Have Hired Anyone That Understands Gravity
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#36 Sure, Why Not
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#37 I'm Not Convinced That Kentucky Is A Great Shape For An Island
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#38 Architects Looking At Bad Architecture…
Image credits: Nikki Galea
#39 When You Have To Add A Two Story House Over An Existing High Rise
Image credits: Jorge Gonzalez
#40 Columns Are Such A Feature
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#41 Window Views Are Overrated
Image credits: Chaotic
#42 Because Everyone Needs A Shower In The Kitchen…
Image credits: Karen Sal
#43 I Think This Is A Kitchen
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#44 "I Love Balconies, But I Hate Being Outdoors." "Say No More!" Replied The Architect. (This Is Apparently Student Housing At Virginia Tech In Blacksburg, Va)
Image credits: Doug Stone
#45 Maybe It's Awesome On The Inside?
Image credits: Will Turano
#46 When You See It...
Image credits: Customikes
#47 They've Got A Whole Archipelago
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#48 Open Concept Kitchen?
Image credits: Keli Keely
#49 What Going On
Image credits: Edith Van Dyck
#50 You Should Have Hired An Architect
Image credits: Matthew Seipel
#51 You Should Have Hired An Architect
Image credits: Lani Dane
#52 Which Came First, The Balcony Or The Wall?
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#53 You Should Have Hired An Architect
Image credits: Toni Alger
#54 When You Have To Add Another Set Of Stairs Two Weeks Before Going Out To Bid
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#55 Well, I’m Just Going To Leave This Here
Image credits: Rahul Phillip
#56 Be Careful What You Put On The Drawings
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#57 That’s An Odd Use For Carpet
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#58 This Belongs Here
Image credits: Christopherson Michael
#59 Admittedly, The New Staircase May Effect At Least One Tenant In A Less Than Desirable Manner
Image credits: Doug Stone
#60 Yikes
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#61 You Should Have Hired An Architect
Image credits: Michael Curran
#62 At Least There Are Outlets, I Guess
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#63 Let There Be Light
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#64 Just Wondering Who’s Going To Be Using Those Plugs And USB Port?
Image credits: Toni Cunha
#65 You Should Have Hired An Architect
Image credits: Budget101
#66 “I’ve Always Wanted A Fountain Under My Stairs!” Said No One, Ever
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#67 Confused
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#68 This Isn’t Even The Worst Thing About My House, Just What Is Bothering Me At This Moment
Image credits: Kait Smith
#69 A Basement Suite In A Local House For Sale. That’s A Nope From Me
Image credits: Monique Welsh
#70 Should Have Hired A Better Framer
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#71 Vip
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#72 Double Fireplaces Is An Interesting Choice
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#73 You Should Have Hired An Architect
Image credits: Angela Nguyen
#74 If You're Not Going To Build A Balcony, Don't Pretend Like You Built A Balcony
Image credits: Steven Wheelers
#75 We Made A Trip To Bad Schandau, Germany. The Roof Is Just Awesome!
Image credits: Vanessa Groot
#76 This Could Be A Fun Game
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#77 Why ??
Image credits: Civil Engineering Daily
#78 I Have Questions
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#79 Seems Like A Lot For Something You Poop In
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#80 Sometimes You Just Get What You Pay For In Building Design And Construction
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#81 The Mind Reels
Image credits: Janice Ferri Esser
#82 Oops
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#83 Just Needs A Flashing & Job Done ✅ We Love Tools
Image credits: Total Tools
#84 I’m Not Fancy Enough To Bathe Here
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#85 And It’s Only A Half Mill
Image credits: Tina A. Jandrow
#86 Please Shame Our Local Amusement Park’s “Eiffel Tower.”
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#87 I Won’t Be Specifying This Carpet Anytime Soon
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#88 Everything Makes Me Think Of This Group
Image credits: Lindsay Rowe
#89 Greece
Image credits: Adela Adela
#90 Either Do Industrial Or Don’t
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie
#91 The Door In The Photo Is The Main Front Entry Door. There Is No Door On The Bathroom. First Thing You See When You Walk Into The House Is The Toilet. That Is One Way To Welcome Your Guests
Image credits: Evan Ziegler
#92 Saw This In Another Thread And Thought It Really Belongs Here
Image credits: Josh Ramya
#93 I Mean
Image credits: Matt Bush
#94 Well, That's One Thing You Can Do With The Space Under Your Stairs
Image credits: Allison Beer McKenzie