No one can really argue with the concept. In most homes, the place for gathering typically is the great room that - over recent years - has replaced a formal living room. And even more recently, the kitchen has become the second hottest spot for hardwood flooring installations. The parameters of the kitchen area have been expanded to include the breakfast nook and, in some instances, an adjacent hearth room. In such settings, the warmth of hardwood flooring just seems to glow in harmony with the fireplace while also providing an excellent "projection reflection" of any big-screen TV.
Prior to 1965, hardwood floors and resilient tile were mandatory under Federal Housing Administration (FHA) qualifying guidelines for federally backed mortgage loans. Hardwood floors were considered the standard in new home construction. The typical entrance through the front door was considered to be within the confines of the living room.