Our clients approached us with what appeared to be a short and simple wish list for their custom build. They required a contemporary cabin of less than 950 square feet with space for their family, including three children, room for guests – plus, a detached building to house their 28 foot sailboat. The challenge was the available 2500 square foot building envelope. Fortunately, the land backed onto a communal green space allowing us to place the cabin up against the rear property line, providing room at the front of the lot for the 37 foot-long boat garage with loft above. The open plan of the home’s main floor complements the upper lofts that are accessed by sleek wood and steel stairs. The parents and the children’s area overlook the living spaces below including an impressive wood-burning fireplace suspended from a 16 foot chimney. http://www.lipsettphotographygroup.com/

Oxbow Ridge

Elevation Design Studio

This was taken for an article in the May 2012 Western Living issue.
Small country open concept family room in Other with yellow walls and slate floors.

Middleton Farm

Acanthus Architecture, PA

Photography by Lissa Gotwals
Photo of a large country sunroom in Other with slate floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a skylight and grey floor.

North Bay

Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects

Photographer: Jay Goodrich This 2800 sf single-family home was completed in 2009. The clients desired an intimate, yet dynamic family residence that reflected the beauty of the site and the lifestyle of the San Juan Islands. The house was built to be both a place to gather for large dinners with friends and family as well as a cozy home for the couple when they are there alone. The project is located on a stunning, but cripplingly-restricted site overlooking Griffin Bay on San Juan Island. The most practical area to build was exactly where three beautiful old growth trees had already chosen to live. A prior architect, in a prior design, had proposed chopping them down and building right in the middle of the site. From our perspective, the trees were an important essence of the site and respectfully had to be preserved. As a result we squeezed the programmatic requirements, kept the clients on a square foot restriction and pressed tight against property setbacks. The delineate concept is a stone wall that sweeps from the parking to the entry, through the house and out the other side, terminating in a hook that nestles the master shower. This is the symbolic and functional shield between the public road and the private living spaces of the home owners. All the primary living spaces and the master suite are on the water side, the remaining rooms are tucked into the hill on the road side of the wall. Off-setting the solid massing of the stone walls is a pavilion which grabs the views and the light to the south, east and west. Built in a position to be hammered by the winter storms the pavilion, while light and airy in appearance and feeling, is constructed of glass, steel, stout wood timbers and doors with a stone roof and a slate floor. The glass pavilion is anchored by two concrete panel chimneys; the windows are steel framed and the exterior skin is of powder coated steel sheathing.

Mountaintop Modern Log Estate

Judge + Associates

Photo of an expansive country living room in Denver with slate floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Lake Ariel Residence

DxDempsey Architecture

Photo of a contemporary living room in Other with a stone fireplace surround and slate floors.

Grant Creek

Heliotrope Architects

Lara Swimmer
Photo of a contemporary open concept living room in Seattle with white walls and slate floors.

Villa for Four

GUISE

Brendan Austin
Design ideas for a large scandinavian formal open concept living room in Stockholm with white walls, slate floors, a wood stove and no tv.

maison

aEa - agence Engasser architecture

SMITH
Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in Paris with slate floors, a wall-mounted tv, black walls and no fireplace.

Wohnhaus C1

Dettling-Architekten

Daniel Vieser, Karlsruhe
Design ideas for an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Berlin with a music area, white walls, slate floors, a ribbon fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Living Design Ideas with Slate Floors

The best room for gathering with your family and friends in a cosy environment is your living room or family room. You want to hang out where the lounge furniture is the most comfortable and sofas or chairs create a sense of homeliness. Filling this important space with cheap furniture is unlikely to bring you the same long-lasting comfort as a quality chaise lounge or a couch. These choices will directly affect the quality of your evenings as you wind down from the daily grind. While planning a renovation or redesign, weigh up the priorities of seating, heating, an entertainment unit and bookcases. Identify your main activity in the room and and design around that. Many living rooms aren't complete without a fireplace, but if you can't accommodate that, invest in built-in or furniture that suits your home. Common trends include Danish furniture and other kinds of Scandinavian furniture. Plush sofas, recliner chairs and sofa beds will always be popular. Finally, when the big components are planned out, think about what colour scheme and decor will best suit you and your family. If needed, an interior designer can help here.

Should I include a fireplace in my living room or family room?

Depending on your climate, a fireplace might be a great way to add warmth and interest to your living space. Even if your location is warm year-round, you can always add a faux fireplace or nonfunctioning fireplace as part of your decor. There are many options to choose from, so be sure to check them out. A wood-burning fireplace gives an authentic experience, though a gas one still emits heat without the mess. A double-sided or corner unit strays from the ordinary, or you can go with a wood stove fireplace if you're looking for a piece of art. If you want a contemporary touch, veer away from the traditional wood or tile mantel by going with stone, concrete or metal instead.

What kind of built-ins should I add to my living room?

Although it might not seem glamorous, having enough storage is instrumental when it comes to keeping the room organised and practical. Built-in bookcases, shelves and cabinets are a great way to add hidden, functional storage for all the knickknacks you accumulate. Movie and gaming buffs will love a custom entertainment centre, with enough cabinets for movies, speakers and electronic accessories; you can even create a media room with a projector and lounge chairs! If you still have room to spare, include a booth for homework or craft projects.

How do I decorate my home interiors?

When it comes to decorating, neutrals are always the safe option because they look good and never go out of style. They also give any artwork you hang enough breathing space. If you do want to try out a bolder colour scheme, add colour with walls and accessories. That way, if you get sick of a colour, you can quickly repaint the walls and find new knickknacks, instead of having to replace your sofas every time trends change. Popular colours include blue, green and grey, but don't be afraid to try bright colours like red or yellow, even if it's just on an accent wall. Finally, make sure there is plenty of light. Recessed or track lighting are great ways to hit every corner — better yet, add more natural light by installing additional windows or a skylight.