Home. Few words in the English language have such a special meaning. Home is a place where you can relax, kick back and just be yourself. Just about everyone has a strong opinion of what makes a house a home. And for most people in America, home should be, above all, comfortable.
家，在英文中沒有幾個字有這樣特別的意義。 家是一個你可以放松、只要做你自己的地方。大概每個人對于如何把一間屋子變成一個家都非常有主見。對大多數(shù)的美國人來說，家最重要的應(yīng)該是舒適。
Americans like their homes to reflect their personal tastes. Many do-it-yourselfers enjoy fixing up their house and making it more "livable." They often try to create a cozy atmosphere so that when they're at home, they'll really feel "at home." Sofas and lounge chairs may be heavily padded and arranged in groupings conducive to relaxed conversation. The bathroom even receives special attention. Carpeted floors, scented soaps, colorful wallpaper and decorative curtains adorn the "comfort room" in many homes. And on average, Americans have more bathrooms than any other people in the world.
美國人喜歡讓家反映出他們個人的品味。許多喜歡自己動手做的人沉醉于修補(bǔ)他們的房子并讓它更「適于居住」。他們常試著營造一個溫暖而舒適的氣氛，這樣當(dāng)他們待在家時(shí)，會真的感覺到「毫無拘束」。沙發(fā)及安樂椅可能會被鋪上厚厚的墊子，并運(yùn)用不同空間組合的擺設(shè)，讓坐的人可以輕松的談話。甚至連浴室也頗費(fèi)心思：鋪有地毯的地板、香氣四溢的肥皂、彩色的壁紙及裝飾窗簾，如此就打扮出了許多家庭的「舒服之地」。平均來說，美國人擁有的浴室比世界上其它的人都多。
Lisa Marie Odegard, an interior designer in Bozeman, Montana, comments that "a home is a haven. People want an open, easy feeling to make their homes comfortable." For that reason, many new homes now have big, open kitchens and vaulted ceilings.
蒙大拿州柏斯曼的一位室內(nèi)設(shè)計(jì)師麗莎?區(qū)迪嘉談到：「家是一個避難所。人們想要一個開放、輕松的感覺來讓他們的家變得很舒適。」因?yàn)檫@個原因，現(xiàn)在許多新房子都有大而開放的廚房以及拱形的屋頂。
Americans try to make the most of their space, too. The majority of homes have built-in closets and shelves, and people spare no pains to add dressers, filing cabinets and closet organizers to maximize their storage space. Although keeping the house neat is often a constant battle, Americans feel it's a battle worth fighting.
美國人也試著將空間做的利用。大多數(shù)的家庭都有壁櫥以及架子，人們也不辭辛勞的添加櫥柜、文件柜以及壁柜分隔架來加大儲藏空間。雖然讓房子維持整潔像是一場永無止盡的長期戰(zhàn)役，美國人覺得這是一個值得打下去的戰(zhàn)役。
People in America keep an eye on the latest trends in interior design. In the 80s, the "country" look dominated the home decorating scene. Rustic furniture and shelves full of old-fashioned knick-knacks created a homey atmosphere reminiscent of rural America several generations back. The 90s have brought in another longing for the past: the retro 50s and 60s look--plain and simple furniture with square backs and arms and block-style legs.
美國人也會注意室內(nèi)設(shè)計(jì)的最新時(shí)尚。八○年代，「鄉(xiāng)村」風(fēng)貌主導(dǎo)了家庭裝潢；擺滿舊式風(fēng)格的小擺設(shè)的質(zhì)樸家俱及架子，創(chuàng)造出一種會令人想起幾世代以前以農(nóng)業(yè)為主的美國之家庭氣氛。九○年代又帶入另一個懷舊情愫：回溯到五○及六○年代風(fēng)貌--有四方形靠背、把手以及有方正桌腳的樸素、簡單的家俱。
Some parts of the country have their own regional preferences. In the western United States, homeowners favor the Navajo Indian style of the Southwest or the cowboy look. In contrast, Easterners prefer French Country or more "fussy" styles.
國內(nèi)某些地方的人們有他們自己地區(qū)性的偏好。在美國西部，屋主們喜歡西南部印地安拿佛和族或是牛仔式的風(fēng)格。相對的，東部人喜歡法國鄉(xiāng)村或是更漂亮的形式。
家，在英文中沒有幾個字有這樣特別的意義。 家是一個你可以放松、只要做你自己的地方。大概每個人對于如何把一間屋子變成一個家都非常有主見。對大多數(shù)的美國人來說，家最重要的應(yīng)該是舒適。
Americans like their homes to reflect their personal tastes. Many do-it-yourselfers enjoy fixing up their house and making it more "livable." They often try to create a cozy atmosphere so that when they're at home, they'll really feel "at home." Sofas and lounge chairs may be heavily padded and arranged in groupings conducive to relaxed conversation. The bathroom even receives special attention. Carpeted floors, scented soaps, colorful wallpaper and decorative curtains adorn the "comfort room" in many homes. And on average, Americans have more bathrooms than any other people in the world.
美國人喜歡讓家反映出他們個人的品味。許多喜歡自己動手做的人沉醉于修補(bǔ)他們的房子并讓它更「適于居住」。他們常試著營造一個溫暖而舒適的氣氛，這樣當(dāng)他們待在家時(shí)，會真的感覺到「毫無拘束」。沙發(fā)及安樂椅可能會被鋪上厚厚的墊子，并運(yùn)用不同空間組合的擺設(shè)，讓坐的人可以輕松的談話。甚至連浴室也頗費(fèi)心思：鋪有地毯的地板、香氣四溢的肥皂、彩色的壁紙及裝飾窗簾，如此就打扮出了許多家庭的「舒服之地」。平均來說，美國人擁有的浴室比世界上其它的人都多。
Lisa Marie Odegard, an interior designer in Bozeman, Montana, comments that "a home is a haven. People want an open, easy feeling to make their homes comfortable." For that reason, many new homes now have big, open kitchens and vaulted ceilings.
蒙大拿州柏斯曼的一位室內(nèi)設(shè)計(jì)師麗莎?區(qū)迪嘉談到：「家是一個避難所。人們想要一個開放、輕松的感覺來讓他們的家變得很舒適。」因?yàn)檫@個原因，現(xiàn)在許多新房子都有大而開放的廚房以及拱形的屋頂。
Americans try to make the most of their space, too. The majority of homes have built-in closets and shelves, and people spare no pains to add dressers, filing cabinets and closet organizers to maximize their storage space. Although keeping the house neat is often a constant battle, Americans feel it's a battle worth fighting.
美國人也試著將空間做的利用。大多數(shù)的家庭都有壁櫥以及架子，人們也不辭辛勞的添加櫥柜、文件柜以及壁柜分隔架來加大儲藏空間。雖然讓房子維持整潔像是一場永無止盡的長期戰(zhàn)役，美國人覺得這是一個值得打下去的戰(zhàn)役。
People in America keep an eye on the latest trends in interior design. In the 80s, the "country" look dominated the home decorating scene. Rustic furniture and shelves full of old-fashioned knick-knacks created a homey atmosphere reminiscent of rural America several generations back. The 90s have brought in another longing for the past: the retro 50s and 60s look--plain and simple furniture with square backs and arms and block-style legs.
美國人也會注意室內(nèi)設(shè)計(jì)的最新時(shí)尚。八○年代，「鄉(xiāng)村」風(fēng)貌主導(dǎo)了家庭裝潢；擺滿舊式風(fēng)格的小擺設(shè)的質(zhì)樸家俱及架子，創(chuàng)造出一種會令人想起幾世代以前以農(nóng)業(yè)為主的美國之家庭氣氛。九○年代又帶入另一個懷舊情愫：回溯到五○及六○年代風(fēng)貌--有四方形靠背、把手以及有方正桌腳的樸素、簡單的家俱。
Some parts of the country have their own regional preferences. In the western United States, homeowners favor the Navajo Indian style of the Southwest or the cowboy look. In contrast, Easterners prefer French Country or more "fussy" styles.
國內(nèi)某些地方的人們有他們自己地區(qū)性的偏好。在美國西部，屋主們喜歡西南部印地安拿佛和族或是牛仔式的風(fēng)格。相對的，東部人喜歡法國鄉(xiāng)村或是更漂亮的形式。