An American woman who moved to the UK has listed the five things she loves about British houses, that she wishes homes in the US had.
Brittany Hayes, who’s originally from Florida, moved to Birmingham, where she is undertaking a renovation with her fiancé.
She goes by @thebrickhousechronicles on TikTok and has previously racked up views for revealing the things in British homes that ‘make no sense to Americans’ – it now has been seen by more than seven million people.
So, the TikToker decided to make another video where she listed the things she likes and she believes American houses could benefit from.
She told viewers ‘So these are things in British houses that I think we need in the US’ – read on for her full list.
Electric kettles
First up on Brittany’s list are electric kettles – a staple household item that you would struggle to find a British house without.
She explained ‘Now, I know some Americans who are obsessed with tea, will have a kettle, but they are definitely not the standard.
‘If we wanna heat up water, we do it on the stove or in the microwave, which honestly feels insane now that I’ve had a kettle for years’.
One shocked viewer questioned ‘Do they really not have kettles in America??’ to which someone from the US replied ‘We actually do have them, people just prefer the old fashion metal kettles you put on the stove top and wait to whistle when it’s done’.
Others added ‘No kettles in America ?? Wow’ and ‘electric kettle. wait till you try a boiling tap’.
Another chimed in with ‘Kettles are old school, We now have instant boiling water taps’.
Meanwhile, an American defended their lack of kettles by explaining ‘why do Americans need one more kitchen appliance if they’re not big tea drinkers? Instant coffee isn’t the standard here’.
Conservatories
The TikToker continued ‘Next is conservatories, which are just little glass walled rooms on the back of people’s houses.
‘These things are little boxes of warm magic, I love taking a nap in my fiancé’s parents’ conservatory when it’s all nice and toasty.
‘Though, I’m pretty sure if we had these in Florida where I’m from, they would get so hot you’d combust if you went in there’.
However, one Briton in the comments disagreed, writing ‘The conservatories are a nightmare, cold in winter and saunas in summer.. no one uses them’.
Someone else wrote ‘conservatory’s are good until the winter in the morning’.
Doors to every room
Third on Brittany’s list is having doors to every room, rather than an open plan house.
She told viewers ‘This next one is one I never thought I’d be into but British houses seem to have doors for every room rather than an open plan style which is popular in the US.
‘I have to say, I like the separation, particularly of the kitchen because it means the food smells stay in there.
‘Does anyone else have traumatic memories of your mom roasting peppers and you basically needed a gas mask to avoid the burn? This would have helped with that’.
Someone penned ‘The doors aren’t to separate rooms ,it’s to prevent fires spreading’.
Another added ‘And keep the heat in when the heating is on’.
Letterboxes on doors
Something Brits take for granted is having post delivered directly to their front doors, rather than having to walk somewhere to collect it.
Brittany revealed ‘I’m also a big fan of letterboxes on the doors here, we definitely have these in the US but it’s also really common to have a group mailbox for your neighbourhood.
‘These things are so ugly and I remember ours being so far away when I was a kid and hating having to trek to go get the mail.
‘So this is my official request for the US to only use letterboxes in the door – I know mail delivery people are probably yelling at the screen right now’.
Toilet flushing options
Finally, the American praised a bathroom feature that is common in the UK – the ability to do a ‘little’ or ‘big’ flush on the toilet.
She said ‘Lastly, big flush, little flush – this is genius. You pee, you do a little flush, you poo, you do a big flush.
‘In the US, everything is big so we do a big flush and we waste water with a big flush – please give us a little flush’.
Although, a Brit in the comments advised ‘Every plumber I’ve ever met has said to not use the ‘small flush’ button as it’s actually not good for the plumbing. Especially in older homes’.
Commenters were shocked by some of the things Brittany revealed most American homes don’t have, with one viewer penning ‘I live in the uk and hearing what the us doesn’t have my brain is,’ alongside a shocked emoji.
Another realised ‘so that’s why there two buttons on the toilet,’ meanwhile someone else questioned ‘do Americans actually microwave water…?’
