The clients were looking for a modern, rustic ski lodge look that was chic and beautiful while being family-friendly and a great vacation home for the holidays and ski trips. Our goal was to create something family-friendly that had all the nostalgic warmth and hallmarks of a mountain house, while still being modern, sophisticated, and functional as a true ski-in and ski-out house. To achieve the look our client wanted, we focused on the great room and made sure it cleared all views into the valley. We drew attention to the hearth by installing a glass-back fireplace, which allows guests to see through to the master bedroom. The decor is rustic and nature-inspired, lots of leather, wood, bone elements, etc., but it's tied together will sleek, modern elements like the blue velvet armchair.

Mountain Home on Lake Pend Oreille

Hendricks Architecture

Great Room with view of Lake Pend Oreille. Featuring fireplace with large stone surround and heavy timber trusses. Photo by Karl Neumann.
Mid-sized country open concept living room in Seattle with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and wood.

Uptown Mid Century Mod

Josh Bustos Architectural Photography

Design ideas for a large midcentury open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a freestanding tv, grey floor and timber.

The Patterson

HIGHLAND HOMES LLC

Large transitional formal open concept living room in Boise with grey walls, carpet, a ribbon fireplace, no tv, beige floor and wood.

Lakeside Cottage #2

Cannarsa Structure and Design

Photo of a transitional open concept living room in Grand Rapids with a library, white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, timber and panelled walls.

Mike's Hammock

Josh Wynne Construction

I built this on my property for my aging father who has some health issues. Handicap accessibility was a factor in design. His dream has always been to try retire to a cabin in the woods. This is what he got. It is a 1 bedroom, 1 bath with a great room. It is 600 sqft of AC space. The footprint is 40' x 26' overall. The site was the former home of our pig pen. I only had to take 1 tree to make this work and I planted 3 in its place. The axis is set from root ball to root ball. The rear center is aligned with mean sunset and is visible across a wetland. The goal was to make the home feel like it was floating in the palms. The geometry had to simple and I didn't want it feeling heavy on the land so I cantilevered the structure beyond exposed foundation walls. My barn is nearby and it features old 1950's "S" corrugated metal panel walls. I used the same panel profile for my siding. I ran it vertical to match the barn, but also to balance the length of the structure and stretch the high point into the canopy, visually. The wood is all Southern Yellow Pine. This material came from clearing at the Babcock Ranch Development site. I ran it through the structure, end to end and horizontally, to create a seamless feel and to stretch the space. It worked. It feels MUCH bigger than it is. I milled the material to specific sizes in specific areas to create precise alignments. Floor starters align with base. Wall tops adjoin ceiling starters to create the illusion of a seamless board. All light fixtures, HVAC supports, cabinets, switches, outlets, are set specifically to wood joints. The front and rear porch wood has three different milling profiles so the hypotenuse on the ceilings, align with the walls, and yield an aligned deck board below. Yes, I over did it. It is spectacular in its detailing. That's the benefit of small spaces. Concrete counters and IKEA cabinets round out the conversation. For those who cannot live tiny, I offer the Tiny-ish House. Photos by Ryan Gamma Staging by iStage Homes Design Assistance Jimmy Thornton

Winnipesaukee

Bloom Architecture

View of Living Room with full height windows facing Lake WInnipesaukee. A biofuel fireplace is anchored by a custom concrete bench and pine soffit.
Photo of a large country open concept living room in Manchester with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, brown floor and wood.

White Haven

Jenny Martin Design

Photo of a transitional open concept living room in Vancouver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and timber.

Bayview House

Aatos Design

Light-filled, open plan, kitchen, dining, living room.
Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with light hardwood floors, a concealed tv and timber.

Open Floorplan

Adriatic Construction

Photo of a mid-sized transitional living room in Minneapolis with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and wood.

Mountainside View

Backdrop Interior Design

Large country enclosed living room with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and timber.

Camelback Country Estates

Living with Lolo

Interior Design Scottsdale
This is an example of a transitional living room in Phoenix with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, exposed beam, vaulted, wood and a tile fireplace surround.

Saratoga

Melissa Nierman Designs

Inspiration for an expansive country open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, timber, planked wall panelling and a freestanding tv.

Cold Spring Harbor

Chango

Advisement + Design - Construction advisement, custom millwork & custom furniture design, interior design & art curation by Chango & Co.
Photo of 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.

LB House

Shane Marsh Architects

Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Brisbane with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor, timber and decorative wall panelling.

Modern Studio

HARO Flooring New Zealand

Design ideas for a small modern loft-style living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and timber.

New Farmhouse - In Law Apartment

DeBaker Design Group, Ltd.

First floor of In-Law apartment with Private Living Room, Kitchen and Bedroom Suite.
Inspiration for a small country enclosed living room in Chicago with a library, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in media wall, brown floor and timber.

Winnipesaukee

Bloom Architecture

View of Living Room with full height windows facing Lake WInnipesaukee. A biofuel fireplace is anchored by a custom concrete bench and pine soffit.
Inspiration for a large country open concept living room in Manchester with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, brown floor and wood.

Art Barn

ORA Inc

This is an example of a contemporary open concept living room in Los Angeles with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a concealed tv, brown floor, exposed beam, vaulted and wood.

Example Images - Wall Plastering

RENEW EXTERIORS INC

Large scandinavian open concept living room in San Diego with white walls, concrete floors, no fireplace, no tv, grey floor, exposed beam, vaulted and wood.

Living Room Design Photos with Timber and Wood

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.