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.

Rosebud beach side home

Jasmine McClelland Design

Relaxed and light filled family living and dining room with leafy bay-side views.
This is an example of a large contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove and a metal fireplace surround.

Wahroonga

Angela Steyn & Co Design

Contemporary living room
Large transitional enclosed living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, brown floor and wallpaper.

Little Richardson

Mcmahon and Nerlich

Living room makes the most of the light and space and colours relate to charred black timber cladding
Design ideas for a small industrial open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, concrete floors, a wood stove, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and wood.

Brighton: Renovation & Extension

First Avenue Homes

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

Modern Farmhouse

User

This modern farmhouse located outside of Spokane, Washington, creates a prominent focal point among the landscape of rolling plains. The composition of the home is dominated by three steep gable rooflines linked together by a central spine. This unique design evokes a sense of expansion and contraction from one space to the next. Vertical cedar siding, poured concrete, and zinc gray metal elements clad the modern farmhouse, which, combined with a shop that has the aesthetic of a weathered barn, creates a sense of modernity that remains rooted to the surrounding environment. The Glo double pane A5 Series windows and doors were selected for the project because of their sleek, modern aesthetic and advanced thermal technology over traditional aluminum windows. High performance spacers, low iron glass, larger continuous thermal breaks, and multiple air seals allows the A5 Series to deliver high performance values and cost effective durability while remaining a sophisticated and stylish design choice. Strategically placed operable windows paired with large expanses of fixed picture windows provide natural ventilation and a visual connection to the outdoors.

Perfect Wall House

Rauser Design

Casey Dunn
This is an example of a small country open concept living room in Austin with a wood stove, white walls and light hardwood floors.

Fair Haven

Stone Creek Builders

This is an example of a large transitional formal open concept living room in New York with light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, white walls and beige floor.

French Remodel

Pillar & Perch: Architects + Builders

Cast-stone fireplace surround and chimney with built in wood and tv center.
Design ideas for a large open concept living room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor and vaulted.

Hidden House

minimal windows® UK

The house had two bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open plan living and kitchen space.
This is an example of a modern open concept living room in London with concrete floors, a wood stove and grey floor.

Transitional Lake Cottage

Lenox House Design

The centerpiece of this living room is the 2 sided fireplace, shared with the Sunroom. The coffered ceilings help define the space within the Great Room concept and the neutral furniture with pops of color help give the area texture and character. The stone on the fireplace is called Blue Mountain and was over-grouted in white. The concealed fireplace rises from inside the floor to fill in the space on the left of the fireplace while in use.

Best of Summer 2018

Charleston Home + Design Mag

Inspiration for a beach style living room in Charleston with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

04 - 9th Street Craftsman Transitional Living Room

Aspire Fine Homes

Large transitional enclosed living room in Houston with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, brown floor and coffered.

House in Silhouette - Living room

Atelier Red+Black

Peter Bennetts
Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, carpet, a two-sided fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Hummingbird Haus

K2 Signature Homes

Living room and views to the McDowell Mtns
Inspiration for a large modern open concept living room in Phoenix with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and a concrete fireplace surround.

Heatilator Design Gallery

Perfection Supply

This is an example of a mid-sized modern living room in Houston with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and brown floor.

great room with addition

AXIS Productions

the great room was enlarged to the south - past the medium toned wood post and beam is new space. the new addition helps shade the patio below while creating a more usable living space. To the right of the new fireplace was the existing front door. Now there is a graceful seating area to welcome visitors. The wood ceiling was reused from the existing home. WoodStone Inc, General Contractor Home Interiors, Cortney McDougal, Interior Design Draper White Photography

Meadowdale

JPStyles

Inspiration for a large country formal enclosed living room in Baltimore with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Trevaylor Cottage

Lydia Allen Interiors

Inspiration for a small eclectic living room in Cornwall with a library, beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and exposed beam.

Poulson Residence

B&B Builders

Living Room
Large open concept living room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, a corner tv, beige floor and vaulted.

Living Room Design Photos with a Two-sided Fireplace and a Wood Stove

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.