Books: 100 Best Living Rooms
July 13, 2012
Last year, a National Association of Homebuilders
report projected that by 2015, living rooms may be extinct.
It got me thinking about the history
of this room...you know the whole
evolution since the 1920's of 'death room'
and 'parlor' to the modern living room.
It is a tad nutty that we continue to
refer to the most formal (in many cases)
space in the house as the room in which we live.
Semantics aside, no matter what the fate of this space,
I think we can agree the lovely ones here
are all breathing life.
The space above and those below
were designed by brilliant architects
and designers in Belgium featured in
The 100 Best Living Rooms (100 Best (Beta Plus))
(ACC Distribution)
from the Beta-Plus series.
report projected that by 2015, living rooms may be extinct.
It got me thinking about the history
of this room...you know the whole
evolution since the 1920's of 'death room'
and 'parlor' to the modern living room.
It is a tad nutty that we continue to
refer to the most formal (in many cases)
space in the house as the room in which we live.
Semantics aside, no matter what the fate of this space,
I think we can agree the lovely ones here
are all breathing life.
The space above and those below
were designed by brilliant architects
and designers in Belgium featured in
The 100 Best Living Rooms (100 Best (Beta Plus))
(ACC Distribution)
from the Beta-Plus series.
Sanctuary comes to mind more than
'living room' in these examples, if you ask me.
Would love to drone on philosophizing
about such matters, but I need more time with
the glorious pages of
The 100 Best Living Rooms (100 Best (Beta Plus)).
And do you suppose formal dining rooms
may be extinct before long as well?
Peace to you right where you are.
about such matters, but I need more time with
the glorious pages of
The 100 Best Living Rooms (100 Best (Beta Plus))
.And do you suppose formal dining rooms
may be extinct before long as well?
Peace to you right where you are.
Hello Lovely at times partners
with companies I love and think may interest you.
15 comments
I hope that both live on! I know that we have become a more casual society, but I adore my living room and dining room! As my kids get older I can see us enjoying and adult space while entertaining while the kids/teens are in the family room - still close by, but not all piled on top of each other. Plus the decorating styles are different too and I don't want to lose out on that either! Fingers crossed...I'm keeping mine! :)
ReplyDeleteI know most of us, me included hardly ever use our living room but i cannot imagine a home wihtout a formal living room!! Ditto the dining room....if not just to stop and pause and admire like work of art, and enjoy on special occasions:) Though I vow to use mine much more in this house than in the last...for a room that we typically put such effort into! The book likes like a good one. Have a great weekend Michele!
ReplyDeleteI still love the living room and the dining room. So mine will stay. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteInteresting, I never thought about in Victorian times it was a parlour which was used for wakes and such. From death to living room, makes perfect sense now. Thanks for putting some light on this subject,
ReplyDeletexo Kathysue
Wow! This is news to me .. interesting indeed. I can see expanding the main living area into a great room but I would feel sad to eliminate the living room. I guess many of us keep more formal - perhaps for special occasions. Over the years I tried to make mine more user friendly in hopes of utilizing the space more.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend Michele :)
Leslie
imagine generations from now:
ReplyDeleteHEY, LOOK AT THIS LISTING HONEY. IT'S GOT THIS COOL FRONT ROOM CALLED A LIVING ROOM LIKE FOLKS USED TO BUILD EM.
my own living room is my quiet room so it's doubtful i'll ever give it up.
:)
Oh how i love the way you make me think about things...
ReplyDeleteI most certainly "get" that the formal living room could become a thing of the past... i mean, where do most people hang out anyway, the kitchen! My house is small, so we really do live in our living room, and in just a few steps is the kitchen and dining room, all well lived in. I think houses may become smaller... and it will all evolve naturally into something kind of wonderful...
Cindy
can't even think of such a thing !! specially with all this wonderful inspiration you've got here.
ReplyDeletenice meeting your adorable blog and congrats on your new book =)
Hello Michele,
ReplyDeleteYes indeed , I do know a lot of the designers and the this Beta Plus book is gorgeous, as all titles are!
Have a wonderful weekend Michele!
xx
Greet
Hallo Michelle, ik heb net je blog ontdekt en al dit moois wil ik graag volgen!
ReplyDeleteIk heb nog uren te lezen en te kijken en te genieten!
Maar nu moet ik eerst aan het werk!
Liefs
Lia
Oh, I love our livingroom - one of the best rooms of our home. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think if we ever moved or built a home, I would not have a formal living or dining room because we never use them. If we did, maybe I would have them both as one room. I do love that book!!
ReplyDeleteI love living rooms! I love a space where I can just sit and talk to friends in peace and quite, while my children are off taking over the rest of the home. These images are gorgeous!! I'm off to get this book! Thank you once again for all the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes my dear!
Desiree
I think the dining rooms will disappear first! We really live in our living room, and it looks it! These are wonderful large spaces that you show. Ours is more snug. Lots more. So nice to know you stopped by my place! Have a terrific weekend!
ReplyDeleteThese are some beautiful images! I'm pinning this page so I can take a look back since we actually live in our living room and I could use the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteYour comments add to the beauty...thanks in advance for your kindness.