The document discusses different aspects of living spaces, including what makes a house feel like a home, preferences between houses and flats, future-proofing a dwelling, interior design trends, using recycled materials in design, and types of holiday accommodations. It also includes questions about enjoying staying in, inviting people over, furnishing rented spaces, room makeovers, sharing accommodation, using small spaces efficiently, and decluttering.

1. Let’s talk about
HOUSE and
HOME

2. Let’s get into the mood!
Do you believe that we can tell a lot about a person by the
place they call home?
What can we say then about the owners of these
dwellings?

3. • furnishings
• household appliances
• facilities in the house and in
the area
• a sense of ease and
belonging
• the social element (a sense
of communality and
conviviality)
• safety
What is essential
for you to call a
house your home?

4. What is the type of dwelling you’ve
lived in the longest?
Are you happy about it?
Talk about advantages and disadvantages
of living in houses and flats.
Given a choice, what would you opt for?
economical • cheap/costly to heat • cozy •
low security risk • conveniently located for
public transport • in close proximity to … •
easy/expensive to maintain • poky • offer
no privacy • thin walls • noisy • lack
individuality • lots of storage space •
pleasant surroundings • good investment,
roomy • being walled in • isolated

5. Aspects to consider when future-proofing:
• giving birth to children and adapting to
their needs as they get older
• things you might need as a senior citizen
• changing fashions in interior design
• opting for design elements that are easy
to maintain
• ensuring sustainability of your home
and eco-friendly living
What are the ways of future-proofing your
dwelling?
How concerned are you about future-proofing?

6. Look at some of these interior design
trends. Which ones do you think are on
their way out and which are going
soar in popularity this year? What
else is also in vogue right now?
shades of grey
modern organic
bold unexpected colours
modernist curves
massive lighting fixtures
accent walls
vintage furniture
floating shelves

7. The world is moving towards
sustainability…
Do you believe that recycled materials
have a great potential to unlock when it
comes to interior design?
What do you think of designs executed
with the help of such materials?
reclaimed wood vs virgin wood
fibrous byproducts
bio-degradable materials
push designers down the path of reusing sth
durable and reliable
leftovers from the construction of sth
assembled without using glue or nails
prone to wear and tear
indestructible
add more flavor to the an-already daring design
change the face of interior design
offer depth to the interior design
character acquired through use and time
Read more about these designs here

8. Your neighbours are planning their holidays and have asked
for your opinion on where to stay. The father is a nature lover,
the mother would like a holiday without housework, and the
two children want to be near entertainment facilities. Here are
some possible suggestions.
• How suitable would each type of holiday accommodation be
for your neighbours?
• Which two places would be the best choices for them?
Exam practice

9. More questions
Do you ever feel the joy of staying in? What makes
staying in so agreeable?
How long should you know a person for to invite
them to your place?
What’s the use of furnishing and decorating your
dwelling if you rent it for a short period of time?
Why are people so keen on room makeovers?
Have you always had an own room? What are the
upsides and downsides of sharing
accommodation?
Do you think you can make good use of a small
space? If so, can you share a couple of tips?
How often do you declutter your flat?