Photography by Bernard Russo
Large country loft-style family room in Charlotte with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a freestanding tv.

The family room fireplace tile and mantel surround were heavy and dark. A multicolored ledge stone lightens up the space and adds texture to the room. A reclaimed wood mantel was hand selected to give this fireplace a cool, rustic vibe. New carpet in a subtle pattern adds warmth and character to this family room refresh.

Inviting family room leading to kitchen and refreshment bar pass through. Made for entertaining.
Design ideas for a large country family room in Cincinnati with medium hardwood floors, a stone fireplace surround and exposed beam.

Great room with gas fireplace and large sliding doors to patio.
This is an example of a large country family room in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Les grandes baies vitrées du salon sur un panorama exceptionnel. @DanielDurandPhotographe
Photo of a large country open concept family room in Lyon with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

Large country open concept family room in Toronto with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Jeanne Morcom
Design ideas for a large country open concept family room in Detroit with brown walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Inspiration for a large country open concept family room in Paris with a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and no tv.

Inspiration for a large country family room in Other with light hardwood floors.

Richly stained beams, a concrete look fireplace and double french doors in a dark hue lend an industrial yet warm style.
Large country open concept family room in Atlanta with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Remodeled living room. New fireplace and facade, engineered wood floor with lighted stairs, new windows and trim, glass window to indoor pool, niches for displaying collectables and photos

Photo of a large country enclosed family room in Boston with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv.

This is an example of a large country open concept family room in Orange County with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

Large country enclosed family room in New York with multi-coloured walls, dark hardwood floors, no tv, beige floor, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Connie White
Large country open concept family room in Phoenix with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Rodwin Architecture and Skycastle Homes Location: Boulder, Colorado, United States The design of this 4500sf, home….the steeply-sloping site; we thought of it as a tree house for grownups. Nestled into the hillside and surrounding by Aspens as well as Lodgepole and Ponderosa Pines, this HERS 38 home combines energy efficiency with a strong mountain palette of stone, stucco, and timber to blend with its surroundings. A strong stone base breaks up the massing of the three-story façade, with an expansive deck establishing a piano noble (elevated main floor) to take full advantage of the property’s amazing views and the owners’ desire for indoor/outdoor living. High ceilings and large windows create a light, spacious entry, which terminates into a custom hickory stair that winds its way to the center of the home. The open floor plan and French doors connect the great room to a gourmet kitchen, dining room, and flagstone patio terraced into the landscaped hillside. Landing dramatically in the great room, a stone fireplace anchors the space, while a wall of glass opens to the soaring covered deck, whose structure was designed to minimize any obstructions to the view.

These clients reached out to Hillcrest Construction when their family began out-growing their Phoenixville-area home. Through a comprehensive design phase, opportunities to add square footage were identified along with a reorganization of the typical traffic flow throughout the house. All household traffic into the hastily-designed, existing family room bump-out addition was funneled through a 3’ berth within the kitchen making meal prep and other kitchen activities somewhat similar to a shift at a PA turnpike toll booth. In the existing bump-out addition, the family room was relatively tight and the dining room barely fit the 6-person dining table. Access to the backyard was somewhat obstructed by the necessary furniture and the kitchen alone didn’t satisfy storage needs beyond a quick trip to the grocery store. The home’s existing front door was the only front entrance, and without a foyer or mudroom, the front formal room often doubled as a drop-zone for groceries, bookbags, and other on-the-go items. Hillcrest Construction designed a remedy to both address the function and flow issues along with adding square footage via a 150 sq ft addition to the family room and converting the garage into a mudroom entry and walk-through pantry. - The project’s addition was not especially large but was able to facilitate a new pathway to the home’s rear family room. The existing brick wall at the bottom of the second-floor staircase was opened up and created a new, natural flow from the second-floor bedrooms to the front formal room, and into the rear family hang-out space- all without having to cut through the often busy kitchen. The dining room area was relocated to remove it from the pathway to the door to the backyard. Additionally, free and clear access to the rear yard was established for both two-legged and four-legged friends. The existing chunky slider door was removed and in its place was fabricated and installed a custom centerpiece that included a new gas fireplace insert with custom brick surround, two side towers for display items and choice vinyl, and two base cabinets with metal-grated doors to house a subwoofer, wifi equipment, and other stow-away items. The black walnut countertops and mantle pop from the white cabinetry, and the wall-mounted TV with soundbar complete the central A/V hub. The custom cabs and tops were designed and built at Hillcrest’s custom shop. The farmhouse appeal was completed with distressed engineered hardwood floors and craftsman-style window and door trim throughout. - Another major component of the project was the conversion of the garage into a pantry+mudroom+everyday entry. The clients had used their smallish garage for storage of outdoor yard and recreational equipment. With those storage needs being addressed at the exterior, the space was transformed into a custom pantry and mudroom. The floor level within the space was raised to meet the rest of the house and insulated appropriately. A newly installed pocket door divided the dining room area from the designed-to-spec pantry/beverage center. The pantry was designed to house dry storage, cleaning supplies, and dry bar supplies when the cleaning and shopping are complete. A window seat with doggie supply storage below was worked into the design to accommodate the existing elevation of the original garage window. A coat closet and a small set of steps divide the pantry from the mudroom entry. The mudroom entry is marked with a striking combo of the herringbone thin-brick flooring and a custom hutch. Kids returning home from school have a designated spot to hang their coats and bookbags with two deep drawers for shoes. A custom cherry bench top adds a punctuation of warmth. The entry door and window replaced the old overhead garage doors to create the daily-used informal entry off the driveway. With the house being such a favorable area, and the clients not looking to pull up roots, Hillcrest Construction facilitated a collaborative experience and comprehensive plan to change the house for the better and make it a home to grow within.

Modern farmhouse living area with stacked stone fireplace, beams and sliding glass doors in open space living.
Inspiration for a large country open concept family room in Dallas with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor and vaulted.

TEAM Developer: Green Phoenix Development Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors Interior Design: LDa Architecture & Interiors Builder: Essex Restoration Home Stager: BK Classic Collections Home Stagers Photographer: Greg Premru Photography