"There is a whole new change in the way people look at luxury.  It's moving aways from being in-your-face, conspicuous consumption to how you feel in your environment."

- Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing, a consulting firm that studies consumer behavior.  She was addressing the trend towards smaller-scale homes and furniture.

I believe there are a lot of factors that influence this statement.  Obviously we can't overlook the economy being one.  But I think a lot of it has to do with simple Generational differences in priorities and methodologies to approaching life.