Bethenny Frankel recently clapped back at critics of her home decor, highlighting her successful career in flipping houses.
The former star of ‘Real Housewives of New York City’ has a new home in Florida that was featured in Architectural Digest, which characterized it as a “streamlined, modern take on classic Florida design.”
In collaboration with designer Lauren Lindner, Frankel incorporated various elements into her home, ranging from a nearly $1,000 marble trash can to more affordable finds from Amazon.
“Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad, baby,” Frankel shared with the magazine regarding her decor choices. “There are so many fun things to mix and match that no one knows where they came from.”
However, social media reactions weren’t very kind. The top comment on an Architectural Digest Instagram post jokingly asked, “What’s going on here at HomeGoods?”
Another user sarcastically noted, “Chinese ducks are now featured in Arch Digest.” Someone else chimed in, saying, “It’s not that it tastes bad, it just lacks flavor.” Various commenters took issue with Architectural Digest for including her home in their feature.
One commenter expressed concern over the choices made, questioning if it was appropriate for Architectural Digest, while others criticized the decision to feature her home at all.
In an Instagram post, Frankel revealed she had made over $12 million flipping houses throughout her career. She addressed the criticism by clarifying that while her home wasn’t filled with products from HomeGoods or Wayfair, she didn’t diminish those brands, acknowledging their massive market presence.
Frankel described her approach to home design as an investment strategy rather than something precious. She explained, “I paid $4.20 million for this house,” which came with a significant discount due to foreclosure. She emphasized her goal of neutral tones appealing to a broad audience.
Additionally, Frankel dismissed any notions of being overly sentimental, stating, “I’m not the kind of person who would take bones out of China and bury them in the floor.” She concluded by addressing her critics directly, suggesting that a hefty profit from her home might earn them a coffee outing.
She also related her controversial inclusion in Architectural Digest to notable past choices made by the magazine, like featuring celebrities. “AD is a business,” she remarked. “They want to give people something to aspire to, entertain, engage and hopefully achieve.” In closing, she playfully hinted, “If I make $3 million in this house, I might invite you out for a latte.”
