Byline: Jennifer Hiller
Oct. 8--Ever wonder what happened to the formal living room?
It kicked off its shoes and went out to the backyard for a beer.
Outdoor living areas -- ignore the heat and the mosquitoes -- are the hottest trend in home building.
Meanwhile, the formal living room has virtually vanished (or been banished) from home construction.
"The second living area of the house is the outside," said San Antonio custom-home builder Mike Hollaway.
Builders such as Hollaway are adding elaborate outdoor living rooms to new homes, with features such as granite countertops, stone fireplaces, flagstone floors and stained wood ceilings that rival the ...