Chocolate box cottage

Why do we still use that phrase? There must be at least 2 generations who wouldn't have a clue as to what it means.
25 years ago I worked in the crown court and today I decided to pop in to reminisce. Not surprisingly everything had changed. Our courtrooms were oak panelled but now they are all glass and chrome. Our barristers were weighed down with piles of files but today they were using laptops!!!
I did see a woman I worked with. I didn't like her then so I didn't acknowledge her although a flicker of recognition crossed her face. Maybe she is sitting there tonight thinking 'who the heck was that woman?'