(The fact is that only 7% of UK homes are without central heating and the average temperature in a home is 22°C, compared with 18°C in the 1950s. This has completely changed the way people in the UK live. Gone are the cosy little rooms, that were easy to keep warm, and the open plan living / dining / kitchen areas are in. Of course with the increase in fuel prices, we may be rebuilding all those partition walls pretty soon.)