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美国人的家 

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。在英文中没有几个字有这样特别的意义。家是一个你可以放松、只要做你自己的地方。大概每个人对于如何把一间屋子变成一个家都非常有主见。对大多数的美国人来说，家最重要的应该是舒适。

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.

美国人喜欢让家反映出他们个人的品味。许多喜欢自己动手做的人沉醉于修补他们的房子并让它更「适于居住」。他们常试着营造一个温暖而舒适的气氛，这样当他们待在家时，会真的感觉到「毫无拘束」。沙发及安乐椅可能会被铺上厚厚的垫子，并运用不同空间组合的摆设，让坐的人可以轻松的谈话。甚至连浴室也颇费心思：铺有地毯的地板、香气四溢的肥皂、彩色的壁纸及装饰窗帘，如此就打扮出了许多家庭的「舒服之地」。平均来说，美国人拥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内设计师丽莎?区迪嘉谈到：「家是一个避难所。人们想要一个开放、轻松的感觉来让他们的家变得很舒适。」因为这个原因，现在许多新房子都有大而开放的厨房以及拱形的屋顶。

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.

美国人也试着将空间做最佳的利用。大多数的家庭都有壁橱以及架子，人们也不辞辛劳的添加橱柜、文件柜以及壁柜分隔架来加大储藏空间。虽然让房子维持整洁像是一场永无止尽的长期战役，美国人觉得这是一个值得打下去的战役。

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.

美国人也会注意室内设计的最新时尚。八○年代，「乡村」风貌主导了家庭装潢；摆满旧式风格的小摆设的质朴家俱及架子，创造出一种会令人想起几世代以前以农业为主的美国之家庭气氛。九○年代又带入另一个怀旧情愫：回溯到五○及六○年代风貌--有四方形靠背、把手以及有方正桌脚的朴素、简单的家俱。
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