Photographer: Jay Goodrich This 2800 sf single-family home was completed in 2009. The clients desired an intimate, yet dynamic family residence that reflected the beauty of the site and the lifestyle of the San Juan Islands. The house was built to be both a place to gather for large dinners with friends and family as well as a cozy home for the couple when they are there alone. The project is located on a stunning, but cripplingly-restricted site overlooking Griffin Bay on San Juan Island. The most practical area to build was exactly where three beautiful old growth trees had already chosen to live. A prior architect, in a prior design, had proposed chopping them down and building right in the middle of the site. From our perspective, the trees were an important essence of the site and respectfully had to be preserved. As a result we squeezed the programmatic requirements, kept the clients on a square foot restriction and pressed tight against property setbacks. The delineate concept is a stone wall that sweeps from the parking to the entry, through the house and out the other side, terminating in a hook that nestles the master shower. This is the symbolic and functional shield between the public road and the private living spaces of the home owners. All the primary living spaces and the master suite are on the water side, the remaining rooms are tucked into the hill on the road side of the wall. Off-setting the solid massing of the stone walls is a pavilion which grabs the views and the light to the south, east and west. Built in a position to be hammered by the winter storms the pavilion, while light and airy in appearance and feeling, is constructed of glass, steel, stout wood timbers and doors with a stone roof and a slate floor. The glass pavilion is anchored by two concrete panel chimneys; the windows are steel framed and the exterior skin is of powder coated steel sheathing.

Post + Beam Reimagined

Melinda Mandell Interior Design

Our goal was to create an elegant current space that fit naturally into the architecture, utilizing tailored furniture and subtle tones and textures. We wanted to make the space feel lighter, open, and spacious both for entertaining and daily life. The fireplace received a face lift with a bright white paint job and a black honed slab hearth. We thoughtfully incorporated durable fabrics and materials as our client's home life includes dogs and children.

Rawlings Street

Anthro Architecture

Detailed view from the main reception room out across the double-height dining space to the rear garden beyond. The timber panelling includes discrete linear LED lighting, creating a warm rhythmic glow across the space during the evening hours.

Manifold House

Oliver Custom Homes

Open concept living room with large windows, vaulted ceiling, white walls, and beige stone floors.
Inspiration for a large modern open concept living room in Austin with white walls, limestone floors, no fireplace, beige floor and vaulted.

Now and Zen - Grand Open Living

Drewett Works

An overview of the main floor showcases Drewett Works' re-imagining of formal and informal spaces with a sequence of overlapping rooms. White-oak millwork is in warm contrast to limestone walls and flooring. Project Details // Now and Zen Renovation, Paradise Valley, Arizona Architecture: Drewett Works Builder: Brimley Development Interior Designer: Ownby Design Photographer: Dino Tonn Millwork: Rysso Peters Limestone (Demitasse) flooring and walls: Solstice Stone Quartz countertops: Galleria of Stone Windows (Arcadia): Elevation Window & Door Faux plants: Botanical Elegance https://www.drewettworks.com/now-and-zen/

WESTLEY™ PASTORAL

ORIJIN STONE, LLC

Nestled on 90 acres of peaceful prairie land, this modern rustic home blends indoor and outdoor spaces with natural stone materials and long, beautiful views. Featuring ORIJIN STONE's Westley™ Limestone veneer on both the interior and exterior, as well as our Tupelo™ Limestone interior tile, pool and patio paving. Architecture: Rehkamp Larson Architects Inc Builder: Hagstrom Builders Landscape Architecture: Savanna Designs, Inc Landscape Install: Landscape Renovations MN Masonry: Merlin Goble Masonry Inc Interior Tile Installation: Diamond Edge Tile Interior Design: Martin Patrick 3 Photography: Scott Amundson Photography

Formal Living Room

Tollgard Design Group

The Formal Living Room is elegant and quiet in its design.
Expansive contemporary formal open concept living room with white walls, limestone floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, beige floor and coffered.

Mulholland Dr.

Kami Rezai

Formal living room
Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in Los Angeles with a home bar, white walls, limestone floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Manhattan Beach Modern

SoCal Contractor

This is an example of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, limestone floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and white floor.

Modern Manhattan Beach

Lori Dennis, ASID, LEED AP

Design ideas for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, limestone floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and white floor.

North London Garden Flat

John Hitch Seating

Space design by Mad Cow Interiors
Mid-sized eclectic enclosed living room in London with blue walls, slate floors, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

LIVING ROOM

Donna Guyler Design

Interior Design by Donna Guyler Design
Photo of a large contemporary open concept living room in Gold Coast - Tweed with white walls, limestone floors, a two-sided fireplace, beige floor and a wall-mounted tv.

St. Romain Residence

St. Romain Interiors

Mid-sized mediterranean formal enclosed living room in New Orleans with white walls, limestone floors, no fireplace and beige floor.

Big Horn- Palm Desert

JAC Interiors

This is an example of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with beige walls, limestone floors, a two-sided fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Italian Villa

Aurora Builders

Large mediterranean enclosed living room in Jacksonville with a music area, white walls, a standard fireplace, no tv, limestone floors, a stone fireplace surround and beige floor.

Design features of recently completed homes

First Florida Construction

Photo of a large contemporary open concept living room in Miami with beige walls, limestone floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

West 8th

Frits de Vries Architect Ltd.

Ema Peter
Design ideas for a small contemporary formal open concept living room in Vancouver with white walls, slate floors and a metal fireplace surround.

Monarch Bay

Teale Architecture

Jason Schulte John Arnold Garcia Interior Designer
This is an example of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, limestone floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a concealed tv.

Inside Outside House

Mark Dziewulski Architect

Large modern formal open concept living room in San Francisco with a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, white walls, limestone floors and a stone fireplace surround.

Inglewood Estate

FX40 Building Design

Inspiration for a contemporary formal open concept living room in Vancouver with grey walls, slate floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Living Room Design Photos with Slate Floors and Limestone 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.