Zen Den (Family Room)
Photo of a modern open concept family room in Dallas with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and wood.

Family oriented farmhouse with board and batten siding, shaker style cabinetry, brick accents, and hardwood floors. Separate entrance from garage leading to a functional, one-bedroom in-law suite.

Photo of a mid-sized country open concept family room in Austin with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Photo of a traditional open concept family room in Portland with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Inspiration for a traditional open concept family room in Boston with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, wood walls, a game room and a brick fireplace surround.

A handcrafted wood canoe hangs from the tall ceilings in the family room of this cabin retreat.
Large traditional open concept family room in Louisville with a game room, brown walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a concealed tv.

Large country open concept family room in Burlington with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a freestanding tv.

Gwin Hunt
This is an example of a traditional family room in DC Metro with brown walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional enclosed family room in Chicago with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Lower level pub and pool room. Used reclaimed wood as well as brick and warm lighting to create this cool hangout.
Design ideas for a large country enclosed family room in Charlotte with a game room, brown walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and beige floor.

Multifunctional space combines a sitting area, dining space and office niche. The vaulted ceiling adds to the spaciousness and the wall of windows streams in natural light. The natural wood materials adds warmth to the room and cozy atmosphere. Photography by Norman Sizemore

Design ideas for a mid-sized country open concept family room in New York with brown walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Overthinking a situation isn’t always a bad thing, particularly when the home in question is one in which the past is suddenly meeting the present. Originally designed by Finnish architect Olav Hammarstrom in 1952 for fellow architect Eero Saarinen, this unique home recently received its first transformation in decades. Still in its 1950s skin, it was completely gutted, inside and out. It was a serious undertaking, as the homeowner wanted modern upgrades, while keeping an eye toward retaining the home’s 1950s charm. She had a vision for her home, and she stuck to it from beginning to end. Perched on a rise of land and overlooking the tranquil Wellfleet Herring Pond, the home initially appears split, with the guest house on the left, and the main house of the right, but both ends are connected with a breezeway. The original home’s bones were in good shape, but many upgrades and replacements were necessary to bring the house up to date. New siding, roofing, gutters, insulation and mechanical systems were all replaced. Doors and windows with metal frames were custom made by a company in Long Island that fabricates doors for office buildings. Modern heating and cooling systems were added, and the three bathrooms were all updated. The footprint of the home remained unchanged. Inside, the only expansion was more closet space. The attention to detail in retaining the 50s-style look took a lot of online searching, from handles and knobs to lighting fixtures, with bits and pieces arriving from all over the world, including a doorstop from New Zealand. The homeowner selected many of the fixtures herself, while a very detail-oriented foreman exhaustively researched as well, looking for just the right piece for each and every location. High-end appliances were purchased to modernize the kitchen and all of the old cabinetry was removed, replaced and refaced with NUVACOR, a versatile surfacing material that not only provided a sleek, modern look, but added convenience and ease of use. Bare, wood-beamed ceilings throughout give a nod to the home’s natural surroundings, while the main living area (formerly a fisherman’s cabin), with a brick fireplace, was completely trimmed in walnut, while multiple windows of varying sizes welcome sunlight to brighten the home. Here, the sheetrock ceiling with faux rafters provides an interesting and room-brightening feature. Behind the house sits the serene pond, which can now be enjoyed from the stunning new deck. Here, decking material was not laid out side by side, as it typically is but, instead, meticulously laid out on edge, creating an unusual and eye-catching effect. A railing of tempered glass panels allows unobstructed views of the surrounding natural beauty, and keeps consistent with the open, airy feel of the place. A new outdoor shower is accessible via the deck and left open to the wilderness and the pond below, completing the bold yet sophisticated feeling of this retro-modern home.

Jonathan Miller
Photo of a large transitional open concept family room in DC Metro with brown walls, light hardwood floors, a hanging fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

New furniture, accessories, rugs, paint scheme and overall design makes this traditional house a real unique gem. Leather, fabric, wool rugs and a mix of furnishings make this interior a design success as well as comfortable to live in.

Lower level pub and pool room. Used reclaimed wood as well as brick and warm lighting to create this cool hangout.
Design ideas for a large country enclosed family room in Charlotte with a game room, brown walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and beige floor.

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional open concept family room in Nashville with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

This is an example of a large country enclosed family room in Charleston with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Family oriented farmhouse with board and batten siding, shaker style cabinetry, brick accents, and hardwood floors. Separate entrance from garage leading to a functional, one-bedroom in-law suite.