Custom gas fireplace, stone cladding, sheer curtains
Contemporary formal open concept living room in Canberra - Queanbeyan with carpet, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, white walls, a freestanding tv and beige floor.

The owners of this stunning Mosman Park home decided the only way was up when it came to their dream home, opting to add a modular second storey rather than buying an existing home or starting from scratch.

Country open concept living room in Melbourne with no tv, white walls, ceramic floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, grey floor and vaulted.

Graced with character and a history, this grand merchant’s terrace was restored and expanded to suit the demands of a family of five.
This is an example of a large transitional living room in Sydney with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Inspiration for a contemporary living room in Sydney with white walls, a stone fireplace surround, grey floor and a standard fireplace.

Mid-sized transitional living room in New York with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

Inspiration for a transitional living room in Minneapolis with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Lake Front Country Estate Living Room, designed by Tom Markalunas, built by Resort Custom Homes. Photography by Rachael Boling.
Photo of a traditional formal open concept living room in Other with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Angie Seckinger
Inspiration for a large traditional enclosed living room in DC Metro with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and vaulted.

Embrace the essence of cottage living with a bespoke wall unit and bookshelf tailored to your unique space. Handcrafted with care and attention to detail, this renovation project infuses a modern cottage living room with rustic charm and timeless appeal. The custom-built unit offers both practical storage solutions and a focal point for displaying cherished possessions. This thoughtfully designed addition enhances the warmth and character of the space.

This image features the main reception room, designed to exude a sense of formal elegance while providing a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. The room’s interior design is a testament to the intent of the company to blend classic elements with contemporary style. At the heart of the room is a traditional black marble fireplace, which anchors the space and adds a sense of grandeur. Flanking the fireplace are built-in shelving units painted in a soft grey, displaying a curated selection of decorative items and books that add a personal touch to the room. The shelves are also efficiently utilized with a discreetly integrated television, ensuring that functionality accompanies the room's aesthetics. Above, a dramatic modern chandelier with cascading white elements draws the eye upward to the detailed crown molding, highlighting the room’s high ceilings and the architectural beauty of the space. Luxurious white sofas offer ample seating, their clean lines and plush cushions inviting guests to relax. Accent armchairs with a bold geometric pattern introduce a dynamic contrast to the room, while a marble coffee table centers the seating area with its organic shape and material. The soft neutral color palette is enriched with textured throw pillows, and a large area rug in a light hue defines the seating area and adds a layer of warmth over the herringbone wood flooring. Draped curtains frame the window, softening the natural light that enhances the room’s airy feel. This reception room reflects the company’s design philosophy of creating spaces that are timeless and refined, yet functional and welcoming, showcasing a commitment to craftsmanship, detail, and harmonious design.

Casual yet refined family room with custom built-in, custom fireplace, wood beam, custom storage, picture lights. Natural elements.
Design ideas for an expansive beach style formal open concept living room in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and medium hardwood floors.

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

James Kruger, LandMark Photography Interior Design: Martha O'Hara Interiors Architect: Sharratt Design & Company
Design ideas for a large formal open concept living room in Minneapolis with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Eclectic & Transitional Home, Family Room, Photography by Susie Brenner
Photo of a large transitional open concept living room in Denver with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

This moody and sophisticated piano room exudes timeless charm and modern refinement, creating a space that feels both dramatic and inviting. At its heart, a deep green velvet sofa draws you in with its luxurious texture, while the grand piano stands as a centerpiece, evoking an air of classic elegance and creativity. Floor-to-ceiling black-framed windows flood the room with soft natural light, beautifully contrasting the rich gray walls and enhancing the room’s layered design. A glass-top coffee table with metallic accents adds a touch of glamour, while a plush area rug and lush greenery bring warmth and life to the space. Thoughtfully curated decor ties it all together, creating an atmosphere that is both serene and striking—a room made for music, connection, and quiet inspiration.

The home’s open-concept layout integrates the great room, dining room and kitchen, providing a connected experience. A folding glass door leads from the great room to an expansive covered deck.

This is an example of a country open concept living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Large transitional formal open concept living room in Salt Lake City with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.