Living and dining rooms are both creations of an archaic
residential paradigm responding to the formal nature of affluent
living. Traditionally, living rooms were a formal setting for
conversation between family members or guests, serving as part
of the progression of more public receiving spaces beginning
with entry at the front door (another traditional component that
suffers from dwindling use). Dining rooms once served as the
primary place for families to eat given that kitchens were
smaller and only occupied by service staff. Today, few
households function on the historical models of family living.
For many of us the role of the kitchen and the people we design
it for has changed not only because it now serves as the primary
place for dining, but it also stands as a social center in many
homes. Cooking is no longer a removed event to be hidden but
something that can be enjoyed. As a result kitchens are larger
with eating tables of their own and often opened to other rooms
so that the person cooking can i