Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa’s Home Has Fans Sounding Off

As the hosts of HGTV’s The Flipping El Moussas, Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa are no strangers to buying, remodeling, and selling homes. But when they spotted a 3,000-square-foot home in Newport Beach, California, they wanted to keep it for their growing family. After a year-and-a-half of renovations, the dynamic duo gave HGTV Magazine a sneak peek of their space. However, fans of the El Moussa family aren’t vibing with the couple’s new digs. If we’re being honest, they actually have some… well, harsh feedback.

Most fans of the HGTV power couple took issue with the home’s moody-yet-neutral color palette. When the couple decided to forgo their flipping plan and call this property home, they wanted to put their unique spin on it. “When we first saw this house, the interior was completely white, so we had to put our own flair on it,” Heather said to the magazine. From the textured wallpaper surrounding the fireplace to the home’s dark exterior—which is painted in Tricorn Black by Sherwin-Williams—the couple revved up the drama in their beach abode.

However, when Heather posted the big reveal on Instagram, fans wished the space had more personality. One follower wrote: “A lot of black, gray, and white. I think it needs warmer tones like the bedroom has just to give it a more cozy feeling. But that’s just my opinion.” Another fan said there was “far too much black,” and recommended adding some blue to nod to the nearby ocean. Meanwhile, other commenters offered less-than-constructive feedback, calling their home tacky. (Ouch!)

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As the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder—and interior design is no exception. While not everyone is on board with the El Moussa family’s darker and bolder abode, the couple spent a half-and-a-half—and overcame two house floods—to reimagine the home in their vision. “After all that, the house means so much to us now,” Heather added. While we love a design hot take as much as the next person, a home that reflects the owner trumps any shady comments. Or, as one commenter wrote: “Sometimes black and white is harsh, not homey. But if you’re happy no one else’s opinion should matter.”

Kelsey Mulvey is a freelance lifestyle journalist, who covers shopping and deals for Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health, and ELLE Decor, among others. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.