Weather House is a bespoke home for a young, nature-loving family on a quintessentially compact Northcote block. Our clients Claire and Brent cherished the character of their century-old worker's cottage but required more considered space and flexibility in their home. Claire and Brent are camping enthusiasts, and in response their house is a love letter to the outdoors: a rich, durable environment infused with the grounded ambience of being in nature. From the street, the dark cladding of the sensitive rear extension echoes the existing cottage!s roofline, becoming a subtle shadow of the original house in both form and tone. As you move through the home, the double-height extension invites the climate and native landscaping inside at every turn. The light-bathed lounge, dining room and kitchen are anchored around, and seamlessly connected to, a versatile outdoor living area. A double-sided fireplace embedded into the house’s rear wall brings warmth and ambience to the lounge, and inspires a campfire atmosphere in the back yard. Championing tactility and durability, the material palette features polished concrete floors, blackbutt timber joinery and concrete brick walls. Peach and sage tones are employed as accents throughout the lower level, and amplified upstairs where sage forms the tonal base for the moody main bedroom. An adjacent private deck creates an additional tether to the outdoors, and houses planters and trellises that will decorate the home’s exterior with greenery. From the tactile and textured finishes of the interior to the surrounding Australian native garden that you just want to touch, the house encapsulates the feeling of being part of the outdoors; like Claire and Brent are camping at home. It is a tribute to Mother Nature, Weather House’s muse.

Rathfarnham family home - rear extension and refurbishment

Carton Interiors

Ailbe Collins
Inspiration for a large transitional open concept living room in Dublin with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a hanging fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a concealed tv.

For the Love of MCM

Sklar Studios

Everywhere you look in this home, there is a surprise to be had and a detail worth preserving. One of the more iconic interior features was this original copper fireplace shroud that was beautifully restored back to it's shiny glory. The sofa was custom made to fit "just so" into the drop down space/ bench wall separating the family room from the dining space. Not wanting to distract from the design of the space by hanging a TV on the wall - there is a concealed projector and screen that drop down from the ceiling when desired. Flooded with natural light from both directions from the original sliding glass doors - this home glows day and night - by sun or by fire. From this view you can see the relationship of the kitchen which was originally in this location, but previously closed off with walls. It's compact and efficient, and allows seamless interaction between hosts and guests.

Valor - L1 Linear

Classic Fireplace and BBQ Store

Photo of a large modern formal open concept living room in Toronto with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a concealed tv and a metal fireplace surround.

Los Altos Hills

Mark English Architects, AIA

Misha Bruk
This is an example of a large contemporary open concept living room in San Francisco with a library, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a concealed tv and brown floor.

Lake Travis View

Danze & Davis Architects, Inc.

G. Russ
Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in Austin with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concealed tv and a metal fireplace surround.

Laneway House

Julie Powers Design

ASHLEY CAPP
This is an example of a modern living room in Toronto with white walls, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a concealed tv.

Parabola

Hawk & Co.

Silk velvet pillows accent a Minotti Sofa with contemporary concrete contemporary sculpture in the niche beyond. Flos skim-in cove lights pattern the ceiling plane and give ambient light below.

Ultimos trabajos

Isabel Bistué

Isabel Bistué Prieto
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in Madrid with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a concealed tv.

Telegraph Hill Home

Niche Interiors

Low, modern furniture and warm walnut woods mix in this San Francisco home with an expansive view of Bay. Niche Interiors used latex foam wrapped in organic wool to create an eco-friendly, green sofa with no harmful chemicals. Thomas Kuoh Photography

Courtyard Cottage, Flinders

Wolveridge Architects

Derek Swalwell
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in Melbourne with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a concealed tv.

PerfPad

NORTHBOURNE Architecture + Design

Tatjana Plitt
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in Melbourne with a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a concealed tv.

Flood Damaged Remodel

HMH Architecture + Interiors

The fireplace in the living room was relocated and cladded in patina steel. A lift raises and lowers a large metal panel that hides the TV. Furniture and light fixtures were selected to compliment the modern, elegant room. © Andrew Pogue Photo

Dramatic living space with panelled wall

Broswick Builders Ltd

Living room cabinetry feat. fireplace, stone surround and concealed TV. A clever pocket slider hides the TV in the featured wooden paneled wall.
Mid-sized modern formal open concept living room in Auckland with black walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a concealed tv, brown floor and planked wall panelling.

barrio historico house

HK ASSOCIATES

Bill Timmerman
Photo of a small modern open concept living room in Other with white walls, concrete floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a concealed tv.

Alma Residence

Frits de Vries Architect Ltd.

Photo of a small contemporary open concept living room in Vancouver with white walls, concrete floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a concealed tv, grey floor and wood.

Hightech Wohnen in der Villa

Smart Homes

Den Wohnbereich dominiert ein dunkler Stahlkamin mit integriertem Flatscreen-TV, der Dielenboden ist aus bayerischer Eiche Lars Pillmann für Gira
Photo of a large contemporary open concept living room in Essen with medium hardwood floors, a hanging fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a concealed tv and beige walls.

Contemporary Living Room

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in San Francisco with white walls, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a concealed tv.

Design TV Möbel

Livarea

Hängende TV Box Lowboard mit Wandpaneel und Bücherregal. Schmales Butterfly Regal und geschlossenen Hängeschränke.
Large modern formal open concept living room in Other with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a concealed tv and brown floor.

Telegraph Hill Home

Niche Interiors

Thomas Kuoh Photography
Design ideas for a large transitional enclosed living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a concealed tv, a standard fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

Living Room Design Photos with a Metal Fireplace Surround and a Concealed TV

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.