A rustic and cozy living room highlighted by a large stone fireplace built from stones found on the property. Reclaimed rustic barn timbers create ceiling coffers and the fireplace mantle.

Starr Homes
Large country open concept living room in Dallas with beige walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv and beige floor.

Winner of the 2018 Tour of Homes Best Remodel, this whole house re-design of a 1963 Bennet & Johnson mid-century raised ranch home is a beautiful example of the magic we can weave through the application of more sustainable modern design principles to existing spaces. We worked closely with our client on extensive updates to create a modernized MCM gem. Extensive alterations include: - a completely redesigned floor plan to promote a more intuitive flow throughout - vaulted the ceilings over the great room to create an amazing entrance and feeling of inspired openness - redesigned entry and driveway to be more inviting and welcoming as well as to experientially set the mid-century modern stage - the removal of a visually disruptive load bearing central wall and chimney system that formerly partitioned the homes’ entry, dining, kitchen and living rooms from each other - added clerestory windows above the new kitchen to accentuate the new vaulted ceiling line and create a greater visual continuation of indoor to outdoor space - drastically increased the access to natural light by increasing window sizes and opening up the floor plan - placed natural wood elements throughout to provide a calming palette and cohesive Pacific Northwest feel - incorporated Universal Design principles to make the home Aging In Place ready with wide hallways and accessible spaces, including single-floor living if needed - moved and completely redesigned the stairway to work for the home’s occupants and be a part of the cohesive design aesthetic - mixed custom tile layouts with more traditional tiling to create fun and playful visual experiences - custom designed and sourced MCM specific elements such as the entry screen, cabinetry and lighting - development of the downstairs for potential future use by an assisted living caretaker - energy efficiency upgrades seamlessly woven in with much improved insulation, ductless mini splits and solar gain

Spacecrafting Photography
Large traditional formal enclosed living room in Minneapolis with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor and exposed beam.

Design ideas for a large contemporary living room in New York.

-Front Living Space/Fireplace- Completing this open space is a mahogany sideboard with decorative front panels complimenting the Foyer credenza, which is visible from this Front Living Space. A large rectilinear silver framed mirror accents the wall above the sideboard pulling the eye up towards the ceiling and fireplace. Another delicate silk flower arrangement adorns the top of this sideboard.

Builder: PIllar Homes
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Minneapolis with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

The focal point of this room is the floor to ceiling marble fireplace surround. Specialty white marble clads the fireplace and is flanked by custom white bookshelves on each side. A custom gray sectional provides the perfect spot to watch TV or read. The television is recessed into the fireplace wall allowing no protrusion from the fireplace. Two bowtie lamps rest on the double console tables. Stephen Allen Photography

Crisp white and navy velvet with gold accents. Warm woods with Cambria Britannica Gold quartz countertops and backsplash.
Inspiration for a large transitional formal open concept living room in Other with light hardwood floors, white walls, no fireplace and beige floor.

Gorgeous Living Room By 2id Interiors
Photo of an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Miami with multi-coloured walls, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and ceramic floors.

In a row home on in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington DC needed a convenient place for their laundry room without taking up highly sought after square footage. Amish custom millwork and cabinets was used to design a hidden laundry room tucked beneath the existing stairs. Custom doors hide away a pair of laundry appliances, a wood countertop, and a reach in coat closet.

This is an example of a mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Brisbane with white walls, vinyl floors and brown floor.

Foto: FIZZ FOTO:GRAPHY
Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Berlin with blue walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Photography by Andrea Calo
Inspiration for a small country formal open concept living room in Austin with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and grey floor.

Bright open space with a camel leather midcentury sofa, and marled grey wool chairs. Black marble coffee table with brass legs.
Mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Hunter Douglas Skyline® Gliding Window Panels & Designer Roller Shades provide a contemporary look and style!
Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in San Diego with white walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

This summer cottage on the shores of Geneva Lake was ready for some updating. Where the kitchen peninsula currently sits was a wall that we removed. It opened up the room to the living and dining areas. They layout is perfect for summertime entertaining and weekend guests.

This home, set at the end of a long, private driveway, is far more than meets the eye. Built in three sections and connected by two breezeways, the home’s setting takes full advantage of the clean ocean air. Set back from the water on an open plot, its lush lawn is bordered by fieldstone walls that lead to an ocean cove. The hideaway calms the mind and spirit, not only by its privacy from the noise of daily life, but through well-chosen elements, clean lines, and a bright, cheerful feel throughout. The interior is show-stopping, covered almost entirely in clear, vertical-grain fir—most of which was source from the same place. From the flooring to the walls, columns, staircases and ceiling beams, this special, tight-grain wood brightens every room in the home. At just over 3,000 feet of living area, storage and smart use of space was a huge consideration in the creation of this home. For example, the mudroom and living room were both built with expansive window seating with storage beneath. Built-in drawers and cabinets can also be found throughout, yet never interfere with the distinctly uncluttered feel of the rooms. The homeowners wanted the home to fit in as naturally as possible with the Cape Cod landscape, and also desired a feeling of virtual seamlessness between the indoors and out, resulting in an abundance of windows and doors throughout. This home has high performance windows, which are rated to withstand hurricane-force winds and impact rated against wind-borne debris. The 24-foot skylight, which was installed by crane, consists of six independently mechanized shades operating in unison. The open kitchen blends in with the home’s great room, and includes a Sub Zero refrigerator and a Wolf stove. Eco-friendly features in the home include low-flow faucets, dual-flush toilets in the bathrooms, and an energy recovery ventilation system, which conditions and improves indoor air quality. Other natural materials incorporated for the home included a variety of stone, including bluestone and boulders. Hand-made ceramic tiles were used for the bathroom showers, and the kitchen counters are covered in granite – eye-catching and long-lasting.