Large contemporary enclosed living room in New Orleans with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

The living room is the same size as it was originally, but we moved a door opening from the far wall (where the colorful painting is) to the other side of the fireplace (not shown). This change made arranging furniture much easier because all the circulation is along one side of the room. Featured Project on Houzz http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/19481561/list/One-Big-Happy-Expansion-for-Michigan-Grandparents Interior Design: Lauren King Interior Design Contractor: Beechwood Building and Design Photo: Steve Kuzma Photography

Warm, elegant and modern
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Other with white walls, no fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv, grey floor and marble floors.

Photo of a contemporary formal living room in Paris with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv, beige walls, a brick fireplace surround and white floor.

Fanny Prat & Alexandra de Brem, Appartement à Paris, photo © StudioChevojon
Photo of a contemporary open concept living room in Toulouse with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and beige floor.

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in New York with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

National Hardwood Flooring's French Galerie SL#308005, Deep Smoked Oak. Grade ABCD, Light hand scraped, carbonized (HS), brushed, white washed, randomly distressed on surface and edges, UV oil Room X Room Photography

Dylan Lark - Photography
Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with concrete floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Photography by J. Tom Archuleta
Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Los Angeles with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a concealed tv.

(Additional room with a fireplace and television) great for taking a break and relaxing by the fireplace.
Mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Fraser Marsden
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in Melbourne with a library, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Design ideas for a contemporary open concept living room in Perth with white walls, light hardwood floors, a corner fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Burlington with a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, laminate floors and multi-coloured walls.

Sean Litchfield
Photo of a contemporary living room in New York with a brick fireplace surround.

With a passion for DJ-ing and a desire to entertain, the decks were an important feature. Carpentry was designed to fit the existing record decks
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Sussex with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

A neat and aesthetic project for this 83 m2 apartment. Blue is honored in all its nuances and in each room. First in the main room: the kitchen. The mix of cobalt blue, golden handles and fittings give it a particularly chic and elegant look. These characteristics are underlined by the countertop and the terrazzo table, light and discreet. In the living room, it becomes more moderate. It is found in furnitures with a petroleum tint. Our customers having objects in pop and varied colors, we worked on a neutral and white wall base to match everything. In the bedroom, blue energizes the space, which has remained fairly minimal. The denim headboard is enough to decorate the room. The wooden night tables bring a touch of warmth to the whole. Finally the bathroom, here the blue is minor and manifests itself in its indigo color at the level of the towel rail. It gives way to this XXL shower cubicle and its almost invisible wall, worthy of luxury hotels.

Contemporary living room in Kansas City with a brick fireplace surround and concrete floors.

This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered. Before: Larkhall Crescent Home: Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative. Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind. After: Warm & Cozy Family Room: Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen. Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible. Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston. We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice. Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking… Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living: This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends. On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise… A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard. To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated. Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting. Praise from Our Clients: It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say? “Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations. Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!” In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)

We absolutely love the natural finish of this maple flooring. New hardwood flooring was installed throughout the main floor and carried through on the stairs & railings. Highlighted with new interior doors and accents with black door handles & spindles on the stairs. There are so many gorgeous details in this interior design project – it’s hard to pick a favourite. What is your favourite detail in this design?