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Berlin Living Rooms

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Re: Berlin Living Rooms

#51

Post by tonyedgecombe »

hx87 wrote: post #48
krzyk wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's just a different style. Some prefer rococo style (late Baroque) and some more modern minimalism presented by e.g. Ikea. I prefer the later, and most of my generation also. Our parents prefer the former.

My problem with Ikea isn't the design--their products are pretty good in that regard. My problem is with their awful construction quality. Particleboard does not belong in furniture. Fiberboard and plywood sure, oriented strand board maybe, but particleboard? Hell no.

and I thought you were just being a snob.

Re: Berlin Living Rooms

#52

Post by ghaff »

hx87 wrote: post #49
colmvp wrote: post #2

Having looked at some of the photos, one of the things that I notice is a lack of televisions which I see amongst sometimes with my friends. I find when I go to my friends living room with a PS4 and tv, we generally chat for a few minutes before diving into games or videos. Or if I go to another friends place, they feel obligated to entertain instead of allowing one another to be he entertainment. And while I certain…

In my experience it's a generational thing. I'm 29, and whenever I'm with people around my age sometimes the TV will be on, but only if we're actually watching or playing something. Otherwise the TV is off. Whenever I'm with people of my parents' generation though, the TV is always blaring even if they're not actually watching anything, and since they always watch live TV instead of streaming services the advertising…

In years past when I'd be on group trips and sharing a room with one or more people, there were definitely those who would turn on the TV as soon as they walked into the room. Always drove me crazy to be honest.

I'm certainly open to believing it's a generational thing. If you grew up watching whatever happened to be on I could see you more accustomed to TV-as-background than something you turned on to watch a specific thing.

On the other hand, in airports/bars/etc. I see no shortage of TVs blaring today. Maybe this is driven by the preferences of an older generation but I'm a bit skeptical.

Re: Berlin Living Rooms

#53

Post by sotojuan »

linkmotif wrote: post #31
colmvp wrote: post #2

Having looked at some of the photos, one of the things that I notice is a lack of televisions which I see amongst sometimes with my friends. I find when I go to my friends living room with a PS4 and tv, we generally chat for a few minutes before diving into games or videos. Or if I go to another friends place, they feel obligated to entertain instead of allowing one another to be he entertainment. And while I certain…

Nothing like a television to make your room look garish! Or to ruin the potential to hang out or go on and do something else.

Agreed. I'd rather have a projector in the living room than a TV.

Re: Berlin Living Rooms

#54

Post by sotojuan »

hx87 wrote: post #48
krzyk wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's just a different style. Some prefer rococo style (late Baroque) and some more modern minimalism presented by e.g. Ikea. I prefer the later, and most of my generation also. Our parents prefer the former.

My problem with Ikea isn't the design--their products are pretty good in that regard. My problem is with their awful construction quality. Particleboard does not belong in furniture. Fiberboard and plywood sure, oriented strand board maybe, but particleboard? Hell no.

How long does IKEA furniture last? My parent's home IKEA furniture has been fine for 10-15 years. I realize "real" furniture would probably last hundreds, but so far neither them nor us have had any problems.

Anyway, IKEA is a god-send for just out of college people like me :-) One day I'll be able to afford more high quality stuff.

Re: Berlin Living Rooms

#56

Post by rconti »

throwaway287391 wrote: post #43
santaclaus wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Internet connectivity and screen size are fairly orthogonal.

This. It's crazy to me that my entire generation loves to say "I don't own a TV" while staring at videos on their tiny laptops (or even phones ) all day. You don't need cable or any other subscription to get a lot out of a TV.

Similarly, I have a MASSIVE TV on my living room wall, but it's off most of the time. In these days of flat-screen TVs, very few concessions have to be made to have a large TV. It's not like when we needed huge entertainment centers to hold a television. It does not exist at the exclusion of anything (except money, I suppose). It doesn't take away from anything when it's off. It doesn't necessitate cable/satellite television (we have neither). To me, it's sort of like when people complain about Facebook/smartphones/24x7 connection to the office/whatever being an addiction and such a burden in their lives. shrug I use it to enhance my life, and when I don't want it, I don't partake.

I don't invite people over often, but typically when friends are over we're not watching television or youtube videos, unless that's the point of the gathering (watch a sporting event together, or whatever).

Re: Berlin Living Rooms

#57

Post by dmitrij »

shaqbert wrote: post #12

Berliner here.... the sad truth is that most living rooms are dominated by Ikea furniture and are nowhere near like the stylish and classical ensembles presented in the article.

Why sad truth? I just looked at my Ikea sofa (in a Berliner Wohnzimmer, for the record) and noticed, that it lived longer with me than any of my partners. That may be sad, but it's not the sofa's fault.

Re: Berlin Living Rooms

#58

Post by _delirium »

sotojuan wrote: post #54
hx87 wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My problem with Ikea isn't the design--their products are pretty good in that regard. My problem is with their awful construction quality. Particleboard does not belong in furniture. Fiberboard and plywood sure, oriented strand board maybe, but particleboard? Hell no.

How long does IKEA furniture last? My parent's home IKEA furniture has been fine for 10-15 years. I realize "real" furniture would probably last hundreds, but so far neither them nor us have had any problems. Anyway, IKEA is a god-send for just out of college people like me :-) One day I'll be able to afford more high quality stuff.

Varies, IKEA sells a range of products with a range of materials. I'd be surprised if the stuff that still is in good shape 10-15 years later is made of particleboard. But they have lots of more solidly built pieces.

Re: Berlin Living Rooms

#59

Post by eru »

throwaway287391 wrote: post #43
santaclaus wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Internet connectivity and screen size are fairly orthogonal.

This. It's crazy to me that my entire generation loves to say "I don't own a TV" while staring at videos on their tiny laptops (or even phones ) all day. You don't need cable or any other subscription to get a lot out of a TV.

TV comes with advertisement and having to watch on other people's schedules.

By the way, almost nobody has a subscription for TV in Germany. Pay TV is not really a thing there.

Re: Berlin Living Rooms

#60

Post by eikenberry »

colmvp wrote: post #2

Having looked at some of the photos, one of the things that I notice is a lack of televisions which I see amongst sometimes with my friends. I find when I go to my friends living room with a PS4 and tv, we generally chat for a few minutes before diving into games or videos. Or if I go to another friends place, they feel obligated to entertain instead of allowing one another to be he entertainment. And while I certain…

> Having looked at some of the photos, one of the things that I notice is a lack of televisions[...]

Living room == formal entertainment room (ie. no TV) Family room == casual family entertainment room (ie. TV)

Source; 2 sets of German grandparents.

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