Another Place at the Table by Kathy Harrison

And there are plenty of outlets for electronics like laptops and videogame consoles. Some have multiple TV screens for parallel broadcasts or social media, such as a live Twitter feed about an ongoing episode or electoral race.

Thin, high-definition screens hang on the wall like paintings and can disappear at the click of a button. Now, automated, light-blocking window shades and improvements in anti-glare, flat-screen TVs allow the rooms to be more versatile. In the past, a big screen required a projector, which in turn required a dark room. And the kitchen refrigerator is here, so we can get a drink or adult beverage.'įueling the shift is better technology. We both have our computers here, so we can do work while watching TV. 'With the old home-theater setup, you’re in a dark room, on a lower level away from everything,' says Mr.

More: Statement Screens for Any Smart Home

The room features high ceilings, a cozy fireplace and serene lake view-but also an 85-inch, ultra high-definition, anti-glare TV screen and a theater-quality audio system, with powerful speakers and subwoofers hidden in the walls and ceiling. When they built their modern, 9,000-square-foot home in Indianapolis, Mark and Kathy Harrison skipped a traditional home theater in favor of a media room in their main living space. Michal Czerwonka for The Wall Street Journal Game-watching at the Dubin house in Los Angeles includes, from left to right, Julia Zimmerman, Justin Dubin, Matthew Dubin, Steve Dubin and Brenda Ellerin.

Another Place at the Table by Kathy Harrison