Interesting question...

[cloudsinvenice]

What's going to die out in the next twenty years because the younger generations simply have no attachment to it?I've been reading this Reddit thread on and off for the past 48 hours; towards the end it repeats a lot as more people just come in going, "cursive" or "cable TV" over and over, but the first, say, 10 subthreads are fascinating. I think

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[semyaza]

Twenty years ago it was a matter of no one being interested in buying and owning china dinner services. I think the rot set in much earlier because that's how I came by my vintage Wedgwood service in the '70s. The owner's daughter didn't want it. At that time there was a move towards earthenware. Now I think it's more a question of women not collecting household linens and other items before marriage - because they don't marry or they marry late by which time they have everything they need as was the case with my niece.

Completely separate dining rooms belong to the early part of the last century but it wasn't until the 80s - at least here - that the dining room ceased to be a discrete space of some sort and became an extension of the family room or living room. It remained separate in the sense that you would have the dining room furniture at one end of the space and other furniture at the other end but it was one space.

My current house was built in 2000. The living room and dining room are separated by stairs (with a pony wall on either side of them) and there's a wall between the kitchen and the dining room but with an open entrance. I like this arrangement because I don't want to be anywhere near my guests when I'm in the kitchen. My impression from looking at other houses in this area is that 'open plan' is a little less open plan than it used to be. The dining room may be on a different level (as in my brother's house which he built in the mid-90s) or set off at an angle or separated by decorative woodwork (very arts & crafts).

Sending cards takes time and most people don't have it. I'm not sure what part FB plays. No one in my family is active on FB and none of them send cards. :D

[cloudsinvenice]

Oh, I like the pony wall idea! Nice way to preserve a feeling of spaciousness while still creating a useful barrier. Suddenly remembering that the (probably 60s) house I lived in as a toddler had a serving hatch between the kitchen and the dining-room-end-of-the-living-room/dining-room/thing...

[semyaza]

I had a friend in London whose townhouse, built in the 60s, had a serving hatch with glass doors.