“Immediately upon seeing the space, I knew that we needed to create a narrative that allowed the design to control how you moved through the space,” reports Kimberly, senior interior designer. After surveying each room and learning a bit more about their personal style, we started with the living room remodel. It was clear that the couple wanted to infuse mid-century modern into the design plan. Sourcing the Room & Board Jasper Sofa with its narrow arms and tapered legs, it offered the mid-century look, with the modern comfort the clients are used to. Velvet accent pillows from West Elm and Crate & Barrel add pops of colors but also a subtle touch of luxury, while framed pictures from the couple’s honeymoon personalize the space. Moving to the dining room next, Kimberly decided to add a blue accent wall to emphasize the Horchow two piece Percussion framed art that was to be the focal point of the dining area. The Seno sideboard from Article perfectly accentuated the mid-century style the clients loved while providing much-needed storage space. The palette used throughout both rooms were very New York style, grays, blues, beiges, and whites, to add depth, Kimberly sourced decorative pieces in a mixture of different metals. “The artwork above their bureau in the bedroom is photographs that her father took,” Moving into the bedroom renovation, our designer made sure to continue to stick to the client’s style preference while once again creating a personalized, warm and comforting space by including the photographs taken by the client’s father. The Avery bed added texture and complimented the other colors in the room, while a hidden drawer at the foot pulls out for attached storage, which thrilled the clients. A deco-inspired Faceted mirror from West Elm was a perfect addition to the bedroom due to the illusion of space it provides. The result was a bedroom that was full of mid-century design, personality, and area so they can freely move around. The project resulted in the form of a layered mid-century modern design with touches of luxury but a space that can not only be lived in but serves as an extension of the people who live there. Our designer was able to take a very narrowly shaped Manhattan apartment and revamp it into a spacious home that is great for sophisticated entertaining or comfortably lazy nights in.

Walloon Lake Residence | Modern Waterfront

W. Pearsall Construction Inc.

This modern waterfront home was built for today’s contemporary lifestyle with the comfort of a family cottage. Walloon Lake Residence is a stunning three-story waterfront home with beautiful proportions and extreme attention to detail to give both timelessness and character. Horizontal wood siding wraps the perimeter and is broken up by floor-to-ceiling windows and moments of natural stone veneer. The exterior features graceful stone pillars and a glass door entrance that lead into a large living room, dining room, home bar, and kitchen perfect for entertaining. With walls of large windows throughout, the design makes the most of the lakefront views. A large screened porch and expansive platform patio provide space for lounging and grilling. Inside, the wooden slat decorative ceiling in the living room draws your eye upwards. The linear fireplace surround and hearth are the focal point on the main level. The home bar serves as a gathering place between the living room and kitchen. A large island with seating for five anchors the open concept kitchen and dining room. The strikingly modern range hood and custom slab kitchen cabinets elevate the design. The floating staircase in the foyer acts as an accent element. A spacious master suite is situated on the upper level. Featuring large windows, a tray ceiling, double vanity, and a walk-in closet. The large walkout basement hosts another wet bar for entertaining with modern island pendant lighting. Walloon Lake is located within the Little Traverse Bay Watershed and empties into Lake Michigan. It is considered an outstanding ecological, aesthetic, and recreational resource. The lake itself is unique in its shape, with three “arms” and two “shores” as well as a “foot” where the downtown village exists. Walloon Lake is a thriving northern Michigan small town with tons of character and energy, from snowmobiling and ice fishing in the winter to morel hunting and hiking in the spring, boating and golfing in the summer, and wine tasting and color touring in the fall.

Malibu Home

State College Distributors

Inspiration for a large modern open concept living room in Orange County with a home bar, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Nuova casa e la ricerca di uno stile fresco ed originale - Progetto in corso

Liadesign

Liadesign
Inspiration for a small contemporary open concept living room in Milan with a home bar, multi-coloured walls, dark hardwood floors and a built-in media wall.

Reserve at Holmdel

Toll Brothers, Inc.

Transitional living room in Newark with a home bar, grey walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Custom Design - Great Room - New American Home 2015

Blue Heron

Photo of an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Las Vegas with a ribbon fireplace, a built-in media wall, a home bar, brown walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Sunset Cliffs Residence

Sanctuary Architects

James Brady
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary loft-style living room in San Diego with a home bar, beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Glen Oak

Luminosus Designs LLC

custom curved sofa, custom furniture, custom window treatment, custom-built-in bar & bookcase, custom area rug, custom window treatment, blue, cream, white, black, silver,

CT Pool House

Demetriades + Walker

Peter Peirce
Inspiration for a small modern open concept living room in Bridgeport with a home bar, white walls, dark hardwood floors and a concealed tv.

Fire Line Automatic by Planika

Planika Fires

Design ideas for a modern open concept living room in New York with a home bar, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Full House Remodel

Christie's Design Build Remodeling

This dated 1970s home was begging to be brought into the 21st century. We broke up the boxed-in kitchen, rearranged the unfunctional master bathroom, and modernized the house as a whole to give our clients the home of their dreams.

Colorado Dude Ranch Dining Room

Design Associates Inc

TEAM //// Architect: Design Associates, Inc. //// Builder: Beck Building Company //// Interior Design: Rebal Design //// Landscape: Rocky Mountain Custom Landscapes //// Photos: Kimberly Gavin Photography

His & Hers Sanctuaries, Wandsworth

Yoko Kloeden Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in London with a home bar, white walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and no tv.

not your grandmother's ranch

30E design + architecture

Matthew Delphenic
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Boston with a home bar, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Yip

Guy Lubroth, Architect

Mid-sized asian open concept living room in San Francisco with a home bar, blue walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv.

Four Seasons Place - Private Residence

Pauli & Uribe Architects

Greg Premru
Design ideas for a large transitional open concept living room in Boston with a home bar, grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Transitional Ranch Home

Charco DESIGN & BUILD Inc.

Martin Mann
This is an example of an expansive transitional open concept living room in San Diego with a home bar, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Tetherow - Hosmer Lake

Pacwest Builders LLC

Ross Chandler
Large country open concept living room in Other with a home bar, grey walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and dark hardwood floors.

Mayfair Estates Lot #49

Perry Custom Homes

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Atlanta with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, a stone fireplace surround, a home bar and no tv.

Cozy Corners

Landmark Homes

Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic open concept living room in Denver with a home bar, grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Living Room Design Photos with a Home Bar and Dark Hardwood Floors

A living room, often referred to as a lounge room in Australia and New Zealand, is the hub of the home. If you only have one living room in the house, it’s likely to serve multiple purposes: be it a place to watch TV, play games, spend quality time with family or hang out with friends. If you have the luxury of two living areas, one is usually a formal living room or lounge room, reserved for reading, relaxing and entertaining. A successful living room design is inviting, has enough seating for the whole clan – a comfortable couch is a must – and encourages conversation. Browse photos on Houzz for living room layouts, furniture and decor, and strike up a conversation with the interior designers or architects of your favourite picks. For even more living room ideas, check out the Stories section on Houzz.

Which living room layouts will work best for you?

Every living area will have design challenges. A long, narrow lounge room, for example, risks looking like a hallway if furniture is lined up against the walls. Instead, opt for small furniture items, like a cosy two-seater couch, and create various focal points throughout the space. In square living rooms, a symmetrical layout encourages a formal setting. Place seating on either side of the room, with a focal point in the middle to pull the room together. For a truly intimate vibe, replace your couch with some occasional chairs positioned around a coffee table or ottoman. This will make the main focus conversation. An open-plan home – one where the lines are blurred between kitchen, dining and living – may require a layout that focuses on definition. You’ll want to make sure furniture doesn’t block the flow between spaces, and instead use something like an area rug to create zones.

How can you decorate your living room?

The living room can be a place in which to show off your personality, but if you want a timeless living room scheme, stick to neutral walls, couches and ottomans. Colour can be added through accessories, and is a lot more interchangeable! Rugs, cushions and throws are great for adding colour, while mirrors, lamps and ceiling lights will set the mood. Make your living room unique by including family heirlooms and photos. For a polished look, try creating a coffee table vignette – you could use books as pedestals or group items together on a tray. Try adding a vase, a mixture of round and rectangular objects and some books.

What are some small living room ideas?

Small living room designs can be tricky to work with, but aren’t doomed to fail. Often, you just have to get creative with furniture. An open-back chaise can create a sense of spaciousness, while small side tables paired together can substitute a coffee table. Even better, an ottoman can be used as a footrest, coffee table or extra seating. Big furniture items like the couch are best kept in light colours, and if there’s room for a coffee table, a glass-top one is best. If you have two spaces in one – perhaps your living room sits in front of a single-wall kitchen – make sure they are connected by decor, colour and style. For definition, just add area rugs, or use your couch as a dividing wall. It’s worth having a few furniture pieces, whether a bookshelf, couch or entertainment unit, in the same colour as the walls, too, so they blend into the room and visually expand the space.

Is open-plan living for you?

Today’s homes often embrace open-plan living, whereby the living room runs off the kitchen and/or dining areas. Open-plan living allows greater functionality, but can risk creating a vast, soulless space if not done right. To avoid a cavernous feel in an open-plan design, define areas with furniture, rugs and lighting, or consider using a wall divider. Also be sure to keep flooring, lighting and materials consistent throughout, for cohesiveness. Noise may be an issue – someone banging pots and pans while you’re watching TV, for example – so include lots of soft furnishings, such as rugs, curtains and couches to help absorb the noise. You will also need to factor in plenty of storage, so mess is kept at bay.