I’m an American – these are the things in British homes that we NEED in the US
An American woman who moved to Britain has listed the five things she likes about British homes and would like to have in homes in the US.
Brittany Hayes, originally from Florida, has moved to Birmingham where she is renovating with her fiancé.
She goes by @thebrickhousechronicles on TikTok and has previously racked up views for revealing things in British homes that ‘don’t make sense to Americans’ – it has now been seen by more than seven million people.
So TikToker decided to make another video listing the things she likes and thinks American homes could benefit from.
She told viewers: ‘These are things in British homes that I think we need in the US’ – read on for her full list.
An American woman who moved to Britain has listed the five things she likes about British homes and would like to have in homes in the US
Electric kettles
First on Brittany’s list are kettles – a staple household item that you’d be hard-pressed to find a British home without.
She explained, “I know some Americans who are obsessed with tea will have a kettle, but they are definitely not the standard.
“When we want to heat water, we do it on the stove or in the microwave, which honestly feels crazy now that I’ve had a kettle for years.”
One shocked viewer wondered: ‘Do they really not have kettles in America??’ to which someone from the US replied: ‘We do have them, people just prefer the old-fashioned metal kettles that you put on the stove and wait for you to whistle when it’s done.’
Others added: ‘No kettles in America?? Wow’ and ‘kettle. just wait until you try a boiling tap’.
Another said: ‘Kettles are old fashioned, we now have taps with instant boiling water.’
Meanwhile, an American defended their lack of kettles by explaining ‘why do Americans need another kitchen appliance if they aren’t big tea drinkers? Instant coffee is not the standard here.’
Brittany Hayes, originally from Florida, has moved to Birmingham where she is renovating with her fiancé
First on Brittany’s list are kettles – an important household item that you’d be hard-pressed to find in a British home without
Conservatories
The TikToker continued: ‘The next step is conservatories, which are small rooms with glass walls at the back of people’s houses.
‘These are little boxes of warm magic. I love taking a nap in my fiance’s parents’ conservatory when it’s all nice and warm.
“Although I’m pretty sure if we had these in Florida, where I’m from, they would get so hot that you would combust if you went in there.”
However, one Brit in the comments disagreed, writing: ‘The conservatories are a nightmare, cold in winter and saunas in summer… no one uses them.’
Someone else wrote ‘conservatories are good until winter in the morning’.
Doors to every room
Third on Brittany’s list is having doors to every room, rather than an open house.
She told viewers: ‘This next one is one I never thought I would like, but British homes seem to have doors for every room rather than an open plan style that is popular in the US.
She told viewers: ‘This next one is one I never thought I would like, but British homes seem to have doors for every room rather than an open plan style that is popular in the US’
‘I have to say that I like the separation, especially in the kitchen, because the food smells linger there.
“Does anyone else have traumatic memories of your mother roasting peppers and you actually needed a gas mask to prevent the burn?” This would have helped with that’.
Someone wrote: ‘The doors are not intended to separate rooms, but to prevent fires from spreading.’
Another added: ‘And keep the heat in when the heating is on.’
Mailboxes on doors
Something Brits take for granted is having their mail delivered straight to their front door, rather than having to walk somewhere to collect it.
Brittany revealed ‘I’m also a big fan of mailboxes on the doors here, we certainly have those in the US, but it’s also very common to have a group mailbox for your neighborhood.
“These things are so ugly and I remember as a kid ours were so far away and hated having to trek to get the mail.
“So this is my official request to the US to only use door mailboxes – I know postal workers are probably shouting at the screen right now.”
Brittany revealed: ‘I’m also a big fan of mailboxes on the doors here, we certainly have those in the US, but it’s also very common to have a group mailbox for your neighborhood’
Finally, the American praised a bathroom feature common in Britain: the ability to flush the toilet “small” or “large”
Toilet flush options
Finally, the American praised a bathroom feature common in Britain: the ability to flush the toilet “small” or “large.”
She said, ‘Finally, big flush, little flush – this is genius. You pee, you rinse a little, you poop, you do a big rinse.
“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 rinse.”
Although one Brit advised in the comments: ‘Every plumber I’ve ever met has said not to 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 that most American homes don’t have, with one viewer writing: “I live in the UK and hear what the US doesn’t have, my brain,” alongside a shocked emoji.
Another realized ‘so that’s why there are two buttons on the toilet’, while someone else wondered: ‘Can Americans actually put water in the microwave…?’