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 eozy atmospehre so that when they're at home, they'll really feel "at home".
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”。
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.
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，让坐着的人可以轻松地谈话。甚至连浴室也破费心思：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”。
And on average, Americans have more bathrooms than any other people in the world.
平均来说，美国人拥有的浴室比世界上其他的人都多。
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·玛丽·德加德谈到：“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，人们也不辞辛劳地添加橱柜、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境的长期战役，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 reminscent of rural America several generations back .
美国人也会注意室内设计的最新时尚。20世纪80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具及架子，创造出一种会令人想起几世纪以前以农业为主的美国之家庭气氛。
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.
90年代又带入另一个怀旧情愫：回溯到50及60年代风貌——有四方形靠背、把手以及有方正桌脚的朴素、简单的家具。
英语词汇整理：
1. cozy adj.舒适的
eg: He lives in a cozy little room.
他住在一个舒适的小屋里。
短语：
cozy up to 奉承，取悦
play it cozy [美国俚语]小心行事
2. conducive adj. 有助的，有益的
eg: Regularity ought to be observed, as regularity is very conducive to health.
生活应遵守规律，因为规律对健康有益。
短语：
be conducive to 有助于......
conducive evidence 最终证据
3. scented adj. 有香味的，洒有香水的
eg: The white flowers are pleasantly scented.
那些白色的花芳香怡人。
短语：
scented tea 花茶，花果茶
scented soap 香皂
4. decorative adj. 装饰的，装饰性
eg: The curtains are for purely decorative purposes and do not open or close.
那些窗帘纯粹用于装饰目的，不能开合。
短语：
decorative design 装饰设计
decorative lighting 装饰照明；装饰灯具
decorative art 装饰艺术；装饰性艺术饰品
decorative glass 装饰玻璃；镶嵌玻璃
5. interior adj. 内地的，国内的，内部的 n. 内部，内在
eg: The interior walls were painted green.
内墙被漆成了绿色。
短语：
interior design 室内设计；室内装饰
interior decoration 室内装饰；内部装饰
interior wall 内墙
6. haven n. 港口，避难
eg: All the boats were in the haven at night.
夜里，所有的船只都停泊在港口。
短语：
safe haven 安全港
new haven 纽黑文市（美国康涅狄格州港市）
tax haven 避税场所
7. vaulted adj. 有圆顶的，圆顶的，拱形的
eg: For that reason, many new homes now have big, open kitchens and vaulted ceilings.
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。
短语：
pole vault 撑竿跳，撑杆跳高
vaulted roof 拱形屋顶
8. closet n. 壁橱，衣帽间，密室 adj. 隐藏的，不公开的 vt. 把......关在房间里
eg: I'll clear out that closet and then you can hang your clothes there.
我把那个小衣橱清理出来,你可以把衣服挂在那里。
短语：
water closet 厕所；抽水马桶
cloth closet 衣橱
closet consultation 秘密磋商
9. constant adj. 不变的，经常的 n. 常数，恒量
eg: In our world nothing seems constant.
在我们这个世界上似乎没有东西是永恒不变的。
短语：
constant temperature 恒温；定温；等温
constant pressure 恒压
constant speed 恒速；等速
10. dominate v. 支配，占优势，俯视
eg: She must dominate her passions.
她必须控制自己的情感。
短语：
dominate the market 欺行霸市
dominate over 控制
11. reminiscent adj. 怀旧的，引人联想的 n. 回忆者， 回忆录作者
eg: I don't know why I am in such a reminiscent mood.
不知为何我这般怀旧。
短语：
reminiscent of 令人回忆起；引起联想
佳句采摘：
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".
蒙大拿州柏斯曼的一位室内设计师丽莎·玛丽·德加德谈到：“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。” |