A family room is an informal, all-purpose room in a house similar to a living room. The family room is designed to be a place where family and guests gather for group recreation like talking, reading, watching TV, and other family activities. Often, the family room is located adjacent to the kitchen, and at times, flows into it with no visual breaks. A family room often has doors leading to the back yard and specific outdoor living areas such as a deck, garden, or terrace.

The distinction between a family room, a living room, and a recreation room may be fluid. In homes with more than one, the living room is usually the more formal room, often reserved for guests, special occasions, and the display of items such as antiques or artwork. The recreation room is typically in the basement and used for games and playtime. In homes with only one, the terms are generally synonymous. It is not uncommon for someone who grew up calling such a room by only one term to have no idea of the distinction between the two.^{[citation needed]} In floorplans, a "great room" is where the living room and family room are combined into one high-ceilinged room adjacent to the kitchen.

Colonel Mark L. McDonald, Sr., a Kentucky native, came west as captain of a wagon train in the early 1850s. Trained in engineering, he first built roadways servicing gold and silver mines. His early successes allowed him to buy a seat on the San Francisco Stock Exchange, during which time he joined the ranks of the rich and powerful, including George Hearst, Leland Stanford and Charles Crocker.

By the late 1860s, McDonald had begun to apply his wealth, influence and entrepreneurial spirit to new business opportunities in Santa Rosa. These included purchase and subdivision of 160 acres (0.65 km²) of land in what was known as McDonald’s Addition. During the 1870s, the new development flourished and McDonald Avenue became the premier residential street of Santa Rosa. The neighborhood’s popularity was enhanced by a range of amenities including gas and water service, a new streetcar line established by Colonel McDonald, and an extensive tree planting program implemented with the assistance of famed local horticulturist Luther Burbank.