Concrete block walls provide thermal mass for heating and defence agains hot summer. The subdued colours create a quiet and cosy space focussed around the fire. Timber joinery adds warmth and texture , framing the collections of books and collected objects.

Weather House

Mihaly Slocombe

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.

Mid-Century Raised Ranch Remodel

The Artisans Group, Inc.

Winner of the 2018 Tour of Homes Best Remodel, this whole house re-design of a 1963 Bennet & Johnson mid-century raised ranch home is a beautiful example of the magic we can weave through the application of more sustainable modern design principles to existing spaces. We worked closely with our client on extensive updates to create a modernized MCM gem. Extensive alterations include: - a completely redesigned floor plan to promote a more intuitive flow throughout - vaulted the ceilings over the great room to create an amazing entrance and feeling of inspired openness - redesigned entry and driveway to be more inviting and welcoming as well as to experientially set the mid-century modern stage - the removal of a visually disruptive load bearing central wall and chimney system that formerly partitioned the homes’ entry, dining, kitchen and living rooms from each other - added clerestory windows above the new kitchen to accentuate the new vaulted ceiling line and create a greater visual continuation of indoor to outdoor space - drastically increased the access to natural light by increasing window sizes and opening up the floor plan - placed natural wood elements throughout to provide a calming palette and cohesive Pacific Northwest feel - incorporated Universal Design principles to make the home Aging In Place ready with wide hallways and accessible spaces, including single-floor living if needed - moved and completely redesigned the stairway to work for the home’s occupants and be a part of the cohesive design aesthetic - mixed custom tile layouts with more traditional tiling to create fun and playful visual experiences - custom designed and sourced MCM specific elements such as the entry screen, cabinetry and lighting - development of the downstairs for potential future use by an assisted living caretaker - energy efficiency upgrades seamlessly woven in with much improved insulation, ductless mini splits and solar gain

Family Room

Tindall Architecture Workshop

Open Concept living room with original fireplace and tongue and groove ceilings. New Epoxy floors.
Design ideas for a midcentury open concept living room in Other with white walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Mid-Century Modern Remodel By Willie Baronet

Coastal Vacation Estates

Luxurious modern sanctuary, remodeled 1957 mid-century architectural home is located in the hills just off the Famous Sunset Strip. The living area has 2 separate sitting areas that adorn a large stone fireplace while looking over a stunning view of the city. I wanted to keep the original footprint of the house and some of the existing furniture. With the magic of fabric, rugs, accessories and upholstery this property was transformed into a new modern property.

Uptown - Mid Century Mod

Design Studio on 2nd

This is an example of a midcentury living room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and brown floor.

Green Hills House

Don Tankersley & Co.

Photo of a midcentury open concept living room in Portland with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

My Houzz: Midcentury in Del Mar

Kimberley Bryan

Kimberley Bryan
Design ideas for a midcentury formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Custom Built-In Fireplace

Lisa & Leroy

Custom built-ins designed to hold a record collection and library of books. The fireplace got a facelift with a fresh mantle and tile surround.
This is an example of a large midcentury open concept family room in DC Metro with a library, white walls, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and black floor.

Mid Century Modern Masterpiece

Cure Design Group

Cure Design Group (636) 294-2343 https://curedesigngroup.com/ Mid Century Modern Masterpiece was featured by At Home Magazine. Restoring the original architecture and unveiling style and sophistication. The combination of colors and textures create a cohesive and interesting space.

California Style Mid Century Modern

JuniperOats Studio

A reimagined empty and dark corner, adding 3 windows and a large corner window seat that connects with the harp of the renovated brick fireplace, while adding ample of storage and an opportunity to gather with friends and family. We also added a small partition that functions as a small bar area serving the dining space.

West Village Pied-à-Terre

Studioteka Design, LLC

Located in Manhattan, this beautiful three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath apartment incorporates elements of mid-century modern, including soft greys, subtle textures, punchy metals, and natural wood finishes. Throughout the space in the living, dining, kitchen, and bedroom areas are custom red oak shutters that softly filter the natural light through this sun-drenched residence. Louis Poulsen recessed fixtures were placed in newly built soffits along the beams of the historic barrel-vaulted ceiling, illuminating the exquisite décor, furnishings, and herringbone-patterned white oak floors. Two custom built-ins were designed for the living room and dining area: both with painted-white wainscoting details to complement the white walls, forest green accents, and the warmth of the oak floors. In the living room, a floor-to-ceiling piece was designed around a seating area with a painting as backdrop to accommodate illuminated display for design books and art pieces. While in the dining area, a full height piece incorporates a flat screen within a custom felt scrim, with integrated storage drawers and cabinets beneath. In the kitchen, gray cabinetry complements the metal fixtures and herringbone-patterned flooring, with antique copper light fixtures installed above the marble island to complete the look. Custom closets were also designed by Studioteka for the space including the laundry room.

Earthy Mackay House

Cathie Hong Interiors

This 1956 John Calder Mackay home had been poorly renovated in years past. We kept the 1400 sqft footprint of the home, but re-oriented and re-imagined the bland white kitchen to a midcentury olive green kitchen that opened up the sight lines to the wall of glass facing the rear yard. We chose materials that felt authentic and appropriate for the house: handmade glazed ceramics, bricks inspired by the California coast, natural white oaks heavy in grain, and honed marbles in complementary hues to the earth tones we peppered throughout the hard and soft finishes. This project was featured in the Wall Street Journal in April 2022.

Eichler - Inspired Home

Carmit Oron Interior Design

Photo of a large midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, porcelain floors, no fireplace, a built-in media wall and grey floor.

Calm Living room

HartleyCox Interiors

Lovely calming pallete of soft olive green, light navy blue and a powdery pink sharpened with black furniture and brass accents gives this small but perfectly formed living room a boutique drawing room vibe. Luxurious but practical for family use.

Lower Level Wetbar

User

Finished lower level wetbar area attached to the recreation room with wine fridge and bar sink.
Inspiration for a large midcentury open concept family room in Denver with white walls, carpet, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and a home bar.

A Warm Mid Century Modern Feel

Décor Aid

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in New York with grey walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Seattle Mid-Century Modern

ONE DAY DESIGN

Mid Century Modern living family great room in an open, spacious floor plan
This is an example of a large midcentury open concept living room in Seattle with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Colorful Mid-century Modern

Nathan Taylor for Obelisk Home

Large midcentury enclosed living room in Other with brown walls, light hardwood floors, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, a corner fireplace and beige floor.

MId-Century Modern

CT Design

Bright open space with a camel leather midcentury sofa, and marled grey wool chairs. Black marble coffee table with brass legs.
Mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

All TVs Midcentury Living Design Ideas

The best room for gathering with your family and friends in a cosy environment is your living room or family room. You want to hang out where the lounge furniture is the most comfortable and sofas or chairs create a sense of homeliness. Filling this important space with cheap furniture is unlikely to bring you the same long-lasting comfort as a quality chaise lounge or a couch. These choices will directly affect the quality of your evenings as you wind down from the daily grind. While planning a renovation or redesign, weigh up the priorities of seating, heating, an entertainment unit and bookcases. Identify your main activity in the room and and design around that. Many midcentury living rooms aren't complete without a fireplace, but if you can't accommodate that, invest in built-in or furniture that suits your home. Common trends include Danish furniture and other kinds of Scandinavian furniture. Plush sofas, recliner chairs and sofa beds will always be popular. Finally, when the big components are planned out, think about what colour scheme and decor will best suit you and your family. If needed, an interior designer can help here.

Should I include a fireplace in my living room or family room?

Depending on your climate, a fireplace might be a great way to add warmth and interest to your living space. Even if your location is warm year-round, you can always add a faux fireplace or nonfunctioning fireplace as part of your decor. There are many options to choose from, so be sure to check them out. A wood-burning fireplace gives an authentic experience, though a gas one still emits heat without the mess. A double-sided or corner unit strays from the ordinary, or you can go with a wood stove fireplace if you're looking for a piece of art. If you want a contemporary touch, veer away from the traditional wood or tile mantel by going with stone, concrete or metal instead.

What kind of built-ins should I add to my living room?

Although it might not seem glamorous, having enough storage is instrumental when it comes to keeping the room organised and practical. Built-in bookcases, shelves and cabinets are a great way to add hidden, functional storage for all the knickknacks you accumulate. Movie and gaming buffs will love a custom entertainment centre, with enough cabinets for movies, speakers and electronic accessories; you can even create a media room with a projector and lounge chairs! If you still have room to spare, include a booth for homework or craft projects.

How do I decorate my home interiors?

When it comes to decorating, neutrals are always the safe option because they look good and never go out of style. They also give any artwork you hang enough breathing space. If you do want to try out a bolder colour scheme, add colour with walls and midcentury accessories. That way, if you get sick of a colour, you can quickly repaint the walls and find new knickknacks, instead of having to replace your sofas every time trends change. Popular colours include blue, green and grey, but don't be afraid to try bright colours like red or yellow, even if it's just on an accent wall. Finally, make sure there is plenty of light. Recessed or track lighting are great ways to hit every corner — better yet, add more natural light by installing additional windows or a skylight.