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.

Woodland Hills Residence

Mahle Design LLC

Living Room
Design ideas for a large midcentury open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and exposed beam.

Eichler Living Room

SurroundYou Design

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with porcelain floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv, black floor, exposed beam and panelled walls.

MCM Gem

Dunn Development, Inc.

Photo of a large midcentury enclosed living room in Nashville with medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and exposed beam.

Acorn Deck House - Renovation

Lee Kimball

Photo of a midcentury living room in Boston with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and exposed beam.

Olathe MCM

Stumpff HomeWorks, LLC

Design ideas for a large midcentury open concept living room in Kansas City with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and vaulted.

Fenton Midcentury Modern Inspired New Build Home

exactly.

Mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Detroit with a library, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and wallpaper.

Seattle Midcentury Addition and Remodel

H2D Architecture + Design

Design by: H2D Architecture + Design www.h2darchitects.com Built by: Carlisle Classic Homes Photos: Christopher Nelson Photography
Midcentury living room in Seattle with medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and vaulted.

Long Dune Lane, Truro

Hammer Architects

Peter Vanderwarker View towards ocean
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury formal open concept living room in Boston with white walls, light hardwood floors, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, a two-sided fireplace and brown floor.

Modern Frontier- Texas Ranch House

Mary Anne Smiley Interiors

Danny Piassick
Expansive midcentury open concept living room in Austin with beige walls, porcelain floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Mid-Century Modern Great Room

Beth Dotolo, ASID, RID, NCIDQ

design by Pulp Design Studios | http://pulpdesignstudios.com/  photo by Kevin Dotolo | http://kevindotolo.com/

Bright + Modern Craftsman in Upper Rockridge

studio D

This is an example of a large midcentury formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a built-in media wall and a metal fireplace surround.

Concordia Midcentury Modern

risa boyer architecture

Reagen Taylor
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Portland with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a concealed tv.

Mid-Century Post and Beam

Lauren Shadid Architecture + Interiors

New wall configuration incorporates shelving, technology for A/V and TV and double-sided fireplace. New floor and wall finishes throughout along with lighting update the previously dated look. photo by Chuck Espinoza

Midcentury Makeover in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Forward Design Build Remodel

Design ideas for a large midcentury open concept living room in Detroit with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor, a two-sided fireplace and a built-in media wall.

Marthas Vineyard Modern Home Design

Studio North

Inspiration for a small midcentury open concept living room in Boston with concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, beige floor and wood.

Oyster Bay Cove

Little Boxes Studio Architect

Keeping the original fireplace and darkening the floors created the perfect complement to the white walls.
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in New York with a music area, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, black floor and wood.

Mid-Century Modern Highland Park West Home

Mosier Luxury Homes

Large midcentury open concept living room in Austin with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and wood.

Glen Ellen Residence

Knock Architecture and Design

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, grey floor, wood and wood walls.

Open Floor Plan Streng Home with Walnut Wrapped Exposed Beams

MAK Design + Build Inc.

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Sacramento with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and brown floor.

Midcentury Living Room Design Photos with a Two-sided Fireplace

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 midcentury 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 midcentury living room ideas, check out the Stories section on Houzz.

Which midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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.