Our clients wanted to replace an existing suburban home with a modern house at the same Lexington address where they had lived for years. The structure the clients envisioned would complement their lives and integrate the interior of the home with the natural environment of their generous property. The sleek, angular home is still a respectful neighbor, especially in the evening, when warm light emanates from the expansive transparencies used to open the house to its surroundings. The home re-envisions the suburban neighborhood in which it stands, balancing relationship to the neighborhood with an updated aesthetic. The floor plan is arranged in a “T” shape which includes a two-story wing consisting of individual studies and bedrooms and a single-story common area. The two-story section is arranged with great fluidity between interior and exterior spaces and features generous exterior balconies. A staircase beautifully encased in glass stands as the linchpin between the two areas. The spacious, single-story common area extends from the stairwell and includes a living room and kitchen. A recessed wooden ceiling defines the living room area within the open plan space. Separating common from private spaces has served our clients well. As luck would have it, construction on the house was just finishing up as we entered the Covid lockdown of 2020. Since the studies in the two-story wing were physically and acoustically separate, zoom calls for work could carry on uninterrupted while life happened in the kitchen and living room spaces. The expansive panes of glass, outdoor balconies, and a broad deck along the living room provided our clients with a structured sense of continuity in their lives without compromising their commitment to aesthetically smart and beautiful design.

2 Bedroom flat in a conservation area - Nicola

Absolute Project Management

Extensive traditional detailed coving adds a decorative touch to the room, a nod to the history of the building, doubling as a space to recess the tracked curtains behind. The large bookshelf adds storage and display space for books, with the moveable glass front + ladder makes it accessible. A large timber Tom Raffield arc floor lamp is a beautiful statement in the space, over the dining table. Renovation by Absolute Project Management.

Contemporary Cape

Life Styled

This is an example of a large beach style enclosed living room in Boston with a home bar, beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and recessed.

Modern Brazilian

Jefferson Street Designs

Inspiration for a small midcentury open concept living room in DC Metro with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Appartement vue sur les toits

Agence Alexandra BOUSSAGOL - Architectes

Un duplex charmant avec vue sur les toits de Paris. Une rénovation douce qui a modernisé ces espaces. L'appartement est clair et chaleureux. Ce projet familial nous a permis de créer 4 chambres et d'optimiser l'espace. La bibliothèque sur mesure en multiple bouleau nous permet de dissimuler la télévision au dessus de la cheminée. Un bel ensemble pour habiller ce mur.

Hudson House

JPO Interiors

Photo of a transitional living room in Atlanta with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Cold Spring Harbor

Chango

Advisement + Design - Construction advisement, custom millwork & custom furniture design, interior design & art curation by Chango & Co.
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding tv, brown floor, wood and planked wall panelling.

Potrero Hill House & Studio

Cathie Hong Interiors

This young married couple enlisted our help to update their recently purchased condo into a brighter, open space that reflected their taste. They traveled to Copenhagen at the onset of their trip, and that trip largely influenced the design direction of their home, from the herringbone floors to the Copenhagen-based kitchen cabinetry. We blended their love of European interiors with their Asian heritage and created a soft, minimalist, cozy interior with an emphasis on clean lines and muted palettes.

Glen Road

risa boyer architecture

Midcentury open concept living room in Portland with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and exposed beam.

Salon séjour ouvert avec plafond rampant et mur rideau

Mètre Carré

C’est sur un magnifique terrain arboré, préservé des vis-à-vis de 1,3 hectares que se déploie ce projet de construction. Tout proche d’Agen mais en pleine immersion dans la nature, le projet a été conçu afin de mettre à l’honneur les loisirs de toute la famille. Espace de jeux dédié aux enfants, coin atelier pour éviter les nuisances dans le coin jour, belle terrasse couverte extérieure, lingerie et dressing dédié, tout a été pensé pour que chaque usage bénéficie d’une place spécifique. La maison est composée de 5 chambres donc une suite parentale avec grand dressing et salle d’eau. La présence de plusieurs baies vitrées et d’un magistral mur rideau agrémenté d’un brise soleil orientable offre à la pièce de vie une agréable lumière traversante. Le choix de nos clients s’est porté sur une cuisine séparée équipée d’une verrière et d’une porte atelier permettant de conserver perspective et volumes. Un effort tout particulier a été apporté à l’aspect fonctionnel et pratique. Une grande entrée avec rangements sur-mesure a été imaginée afin de rythmer l’arrivée à la maison. Une bibliothèque en chêne a été conçue dans le coin jour pour apporter une touche de décoration et des rangements. Un grand cellier accueille une zone de stockage, de mêmes que les placards intégrés dans les chambres et les deux espaces dressing. Côté extérieur, parement en pierres, menuiseries gris clair RAL7035, mur rideau, tuiles plates gris pâle, décrochés de toiture et de façades donnent à cette réalisation un rendu architectural.

Atherton Remodel

Adrian Smith Construction

Photo of a transitional living room in San Francisco with black walls, light hardwood floors, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and vaulted.

光と緑が包む2階リビングのコンパクトハウス

有限会社ワンズホ－ム

リビングの窓ベンチが大きな存在感を放っています。くつろぎの空間にアクセントを。
Photo of a contemporary living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

White Oak House

Boxwood Avenue

This beautiful custom home built by Bowlin Built and designed by Boxwood Avenue in the Reno Tahoe area features creamy walls painted with Benjamin Moore's Swiss Coffee and white oak custom cabinetry. With beautiful granite and marble countertops and handmade backsplash. The dark stained island creates a two-toned kitchen with lovely European oak wood flooring and a large double oven range with a custom hood above!

French Modern Spec Home-Living room

Studio Shelter

French modern home, featuring living, stone fireplace, and sliding glass doors.
Design ideas for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Appartement Charonne

AGENCE MARN DÉCO

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Paris with white walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Fire Red

Studio DLG

This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic enclosed living room in New York with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and grey floor.

Ventura, Seashell Hardwood Oak In Iowa Installed by Oakstone Homes Iowa

Hallmark Floors

Seashell Oak Hardwood – The Ventura Hardwood Flooring Collection is contemporary and designed to look gently aged and weathered, while still being durable and stain resistant. Hallmark Floor’s 2mm slice-cut style, combined with a wire brushed texture applied by hand, offers a truly natural look for contemporary living.

Seaforth Family Home, Sydney, Australia

Georgina Wilson Associates

Open-plan living and dining room flooded with natural light. In winter the family love to gather around the sandstone fireplace - including the cat.
Inspiration for a contemporary living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and exposed beam.

Gorgeous New Build in Lake Sherwood

Delicious Decors

Gorgeous, Gorgeous, Gorgeous Photos by Fredrik Bergstrom
Contemporary open concept living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall and grey floor.

Nautical Navy

Timber Trails Development Company

Design ideas for a transitional living room in Chicago with black walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and beige floor.

Living Room Design Photos with Light Hardwood Floors and Painted Wood 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.