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Article: HOMEOWNERS FIND THEY CAN LIVE WITHOUT A LIVING ROOM Phasing out FORMALITY
- Article from:
- The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI)
- Article date:
- May 19, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1996 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Consider the living room, in too many homes a contradiction in
terms."Lifeless room" might be more accurate, given its cool
formality, its
hands-off furnishings and fussy knickknacks, even its remove from
the
family-centered kitchen.It barely registers a pulse except
for occasional gatherings over coffee,
cocktails or insurance forms.
It is an endangered species, in the eyes of some experts.
"The share of interior space devoted to what is formally called
the living room has been declining," reports Dan Mercer, research
economist for the National Association of Home Builders. "In
essence, what's happening is that the family room is expanding in
size and in share of total floor space ...