Built on the beautiful Nepean River in Penrith overlooking the Blue Mountains. Capturing the water and mountain views were imperative as well as achieving a design that catered for the hot summers and cold winters in Western Sydney. Before we could embark on design, pre-lodgement meetings were held with the head of planning to discuss all the environmental constraints surrounding the property. The biggest issue was potential flooding. Engineering flood reports were prepared prior to designing so we could design the correct floor levels to avoid the property from future flood waters. The design was created to capture as much of the winter sun as possible and blocking majority of the summer sun. This is an entertainer's home, with large easy flowing living spaces to provide the occupants with a certain casualness about the space but when you look in detail you will see the sophistication and quality finishes the owner was wanting to achieve.

Weather House

Mihaly Slocombe

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.

Plymouth Estate

Francesca Owings Interior Design

Living Room
Inspiration for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Grand Rapids with medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige walls.

Mountain Village Ski Chalet - Telluride, CO

Designs West - Telluride, CO

Josh Johnson
Photo of an expansive modern open concept living room in Denver with medium hardwood floors, a metal fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Midvale Courtyard House

Bruns Architecture

Tricia Shay Photography
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Milwaukee with a metal fireplace surround, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

The Delhi Great Room

JayMarc Homes

The upstairs hall features a long catwalk that overlooks the main living.
Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Philbeach Gardens

FHI Design Ltd

Design ideas for a contemporary formal living room in Hampshire with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Town House remodel

GHOCHE ARCHITECTE

Modern interior remodel of a 1990's townhouse with the integration of a floating gas fireplace, completely suspended from the ceiling.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Montreal with white walls, ceramic floors, a hanging fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Rose Cottage

Hygge and Cwtch Design Studio

Design ideas for a small scandinavian open concept living room in Cornwall with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and exposed beam.

Open Shut House

WALA

The sunken Living Room is positioned next to the Kitchen with an overhanging island bench that blurs the distinction between these two spaces. Dining/Kitchen/Living spaces are thoughtfully distinguished by the tiered layout as they cascade towards the rear garden. Photo by Dave Kulesza.

Modern Retreat - Great Room View 3

Drewett Works

Modern Retreat is one of a four home collection located in Paradise Valley, Arizona. The site, formerly home to the abandoned Kachina Elementary School, offered remarkable views of Camelback Mountain. Nestled into an acre-sized, pie shaped cul-de-sac, the site’s unique challenges came in the form of lot geometry, western primary views, and limited southern exposure. While the lot’s shape had a heavy influence on the home organization, the western views and the need for western solar protection created the general massing hierarchy. The undulating split-faced travertine stone walls both protect and give a vivid textural display and seamlessly pass from exterior to interior. The tone-on-tone exterior material palate was married with an effective amount of contrast internally. This created a very dynamic exchange between objects in space and the juxtaposition to the more simple and elegant architecture. Maximizing the 5,652 sq ft, a seamless connection of interior and exterior spaces through pocketing glass doors extends public spaces to the outdoors and highlights the fantastic Camelback Mountain views. Project Details // Modern Retreat Architecture: Drewett Works Builder/Developer: Bedbrock Developers, LLC Interior Design: Ownby Design Photographer: Thompson Photographic

Surrey Newly Constructed Home

Unique Home Solutions Inc.

This gorgeous property just hit the market. I love the vaulted ceilings and original entranceway. Rather than sell this home without furniture, we brought all the accessories and furniture in to help purchasers feel at home as they imagine their own furniture in the spaces. Generally, homes with open concepts are more difficult for buyers to separate the living areas if they do not see actual furniture in the space. If you are thinking about selling your home, or you have just moved into a house and need help, give us a call if you live in the Montreal area. 514-222-5553

Modern Farm House in Cherry Hills

Haley Custom Homes

This elegant Great Room celing is a T&G material that was custom stained, with wood beams to match. The custom made fireplace is surrounded by Full Bed Limestone. The hardwood Floors are imported from Europe

Beaumaris Residence

STUDIOMINT Architecture & Interiors

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with black walls, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and medium hardwood floors.

Farmhouse Living Room

Photo of a country living room in Seattle with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, a metal fireplace surround and planked wall panelling.

Un hogar muy especial para una persona muy especial.

Estibaliz Martín

Las zonas tanto del salón como del comedor gozan de grandes ventanales por los que nunca falta la luz natural.
Mid-sized eclectic open concept living room in Bilbao with grey walls, carpet, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and grey floor.

THE RETREAT, BARNES. ROOF & SIDE INFILL EXTENSIONS

Paul Dean

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional enclosed living room in London with a library, grey walls, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding tv and brown floor.

Custom Living Room in Nantucket

J. Graham Goldsmith Architects

Susan Teare
Design ideas for a large beach style open concept living room in Boston with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, a metal fireplace surround, vaulted and wood walls.

Flat at 3303 Water Street

FORMA Design

The Living Room and Lounge areas are separated by a double sided custom steel fireplace, that creates two almost cube spaces on each side of it. The spaces are unified by a continuous cove ceiling finished in hand troweled white Venetian plaster. The wall is the Lounge area is a reclaimed wood sculpture by artist Peter Glassford. The Living room Pelican chairs by Finn Juhl sit atop custom "Labyrinth" wool and silk rugs by FORMA Design. The furniture in the Lounge area are by Stephen Ken, and a custom console by Tod Von Mertens sits under a Venetian Glass chandelier that is reimagined as a glass wall sculpture. Photography: Geoffrey Hodgdon

Mountain View

Maison Studio

Photo of a large transitional formal enclosed living room in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and a metal fireplace surround.

All TVs Living Room Design Photos with a Metal Fireplace Surround

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.