I watch a lot of HGTV, that is the Home & Garden channel. There are lot of redecorating/remodeling shows. It seems that the trend today is the "Open Floor Plan", that is where your kitchen, dining room and living room is all one big open area. Apparently, the idea is that when you have guests over they can all hang out around you while you are cooking their meal. This is not for me! To me having guests for dinner is like having a baby, I don't want people hanging around for the conception (preparation of the meal) (especially if they are going to offer advice.) I don't want people there at the birth (setting the table) although people are welcome to ooh and aah over the baby (the meal) later. Besides, my guests don't need to know what goes on in my kitchen, this is for the protection of their sensibilities as well as mine. I want to eat in a dining room, totally separate from the kitchen, there's a lot of bodies on that battlefield! (Yes, that is me in the picture)