Changing rooms, changing lives
DID your childhood home have a pantry or larder? How about a
dining room or utility room? Open fireplace or bookshelves?
All familiar features in older homes but many of them are now
missing from contemporary layouts, according to homeowners who
replied to the Britain at Home survey.
Today's householders are much more likely to make space for
modern essentials like the home office − 28% of those surveyed
for Lloyds Bank Insurance say they now have one − or a
flat-screen TV (86%) that's ideal for Xbox or PlayStation gaming as
well as watching the latest blockbuster movie or talent show.
More than half say they had an open fireplace in their childhood
home − but not in their current home − and 48% had a
pantry. Other features lost since growing up are a living room
display cabinet (31%) and bookshelves (13%).

The findings come as no surprise to Bromford Homes Head of Sales
Alan Bradley. "They reflect the many social changes and technical
innovations that have transformed the way we live our lives, what's
important to us − and what is not," he says.
"For instance, a living room-diner or kitchen-diner (pictured
below) is usually at the heart of the typical Bromford home −
and you will almost always find a downstairs cloakroom as well as
the family bathroom upstairs.

"Instead of the traditional fireplace, a large flat-screen TV is
the focal point of most modern living rooms. But who's to say that
will continue? Some people have already switched from their TV to
streaming programmes on a laptop or iPad − and, of course,
many householders use all of part of their second or third bedroom
as a home office. Some even convert their understairs cupboard by
slotting in a desk if it's big enough!
"One thing is sure − these changes will continue. We are
always talking to first-time buyers about the layout of our homes
and what they regard as the must-have features. A lot of care and
creative thinking goes into every new home with the aim of making
sure that buyers can get on with their busy lives − now and in
the future."

Alan highlights our three-bed Rosedale at Mulberry Gardens,
Meriden, as a fine example of contemporary layout (pictured above)
that suits modern family living. The kitchen-diner has plenty of
room for a breakfast/dining table, with an L-shaped range of
stylish kitchen units at the front of the house and a door leading
into the garden at the back.
A downstairs cloakroom and stairway separate the kitchen-diner
from a spacious living room with bay window at the front and french
windows leading into the garden.
"Walk into a home like this and it's easy to imagine how life
would be," says Alan. "You could be sitting down to breakfast
together, cooking a meal while the kids do their homework behind
you, entertaining friends on a fine summer evening with the garden
door open, or all of you relaxing in the living room with a movie
or maybe a music game on the Xbox or PlayStation. The Rosedale
(below) is a fine example of modern family-friendly room
layout."

OUT − what else has gone the way of the pantry?
- VHS player and cassettes collection
- Living room display cabinet (to store the VHS tapes?)
- Twin-tub washing machine − popular in 1960s and early
70s
IN − a few modern must-haves
- Wi-fi hub, laptop and games console
- Coffee machine
- Bread maker
To find out more about Mulberry Gardens and our other shared
ownership developments, call 0845 60 10 878. You
can also register
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08 October 2014