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.

Point Lonsdale II

Stonehouse + Irons Architecture

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.

Mid-Century Modern Deck House

The Design Gallery

Our remodeled 1994 Deck House was a stunning hit with our clients. All original moulding, trim, truss systems, exposed posts and beams and mahogany windows were kept in tact and refinished as requested. All wood ceilings in each room were painted white to brighten and lift the interiors. This is the view looking from the living room toward the kitchen. Our mid-century design is timeless and remains true to the modernism movement.

Kingfield Project

Prospect Refuge Studio

This is an example of a small midcentury formal enclosed living room in Minneapolis with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Kenilworth Project - Mid Century Modern Whole House Remodel

Haven Design and Construction

The cozy Mid Century Modern family room features an original stacked stone fireplace and exposed ceiling beams. The bright and open space provides the perfect entertaining area for friends and family. A glimpse into the adjacent kitchen reveals walnut barstools and a striking mix of kitchen cabinet colors in deep blue and walnut.

Mid-Century Modern Remodel

Dave Fox Design Build Remodelers

Mid-Century Modern Living Room- white brick fireplace, paneled ceiling, spotlights, blue accents, sliding glass door, wood floor
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Columbus with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and a standard fireplace.

Woodhaven Modern

Flavin Architects

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.

mid-century in marin

building Lab, inc.

Living room opens out to front deck. Scott Hargis Photography.
Photo of a large midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Druid Hills Mid Century Modern

Alair Homes Decatur

Designed & Built by Renewal Design-Build. RenewalDesignBuild.com Photography by: Jeff Herr Photography
Photo of a midcentury formal open concept living room in Atlanta with a standard fireplace.

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.

Notting Hill Pied a Terre

Imperfect Interiors

The open plan living room in this flat is light and bright, and the beautiful Georgian sash windows are the main feature. The white oiled oak floor & Carl Hansen Wegner chairs contrast with the original Georgian fire surround, cornice and skirting boards. The contemporary tan leather sofa and sideboard sit happily next to the mid-century armchair & cast iron radiator. Plaster wall lights, a large table lamp and a multi bulb pendant provide layers of light when required.

Country Estate Transformation

Everything Home

Our Indianapolis design studio designed a gut renovation of this home which opened up the floorplan and radically changed the functioning of the footprint. It features an array of patterned wallpaper, tiles, and floors complemented with a fresh palette, and statement lights. Photographer - Sarah Shields --- Project completed by Wendy Langston's Everything Home interior design firm, which serves Carmel, Zionsville, Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville, and Indianapolis. For more about Everything Home, click here: https://everythinghomedesigns.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://everythinghomedesigns.com/portfolio/country-estate-transformation/

Lato Signature - Modin Rigid LVP Collection Customer Space - CA

Flooret

Lato Signature from the Modin Rigid LVP Collection - Crisp tones of maple and birch. The enhanced bevels accentuate the long length of the planks.
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with grey walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and yellow floor.

Mid Century Modern ADA Remodel

Corinthian Fine Homes

We designed and renovated a Mid-Century Modern home into an ADA compliant home with an open floor plan and updated feel. We incorporated many of the homes original details while modernizing them. We converted the existing two car garage into a master suite and walk in closet, designing a master bathroom with an ADA vanity and curb-less shower. We redesigned the existing living room fireplace creating an artistic focal point in the room. The project came with its share of challenges which we were able to creatively solve, resulting in what our homeowners feel is their first and forever home. This beautiful home won three design awards: • Pro Remodeler Design Award – 2019 Platinum Award for Universal/Better Living Design • Chrysalis Award – 2019 Regional Award for Residential Universal Design • Qualified Remodeler Master Design Awards – 2019 Bronze Award for Universal Design

Potomac Mid-Century

Balodemas Architects

Design ideas for a midcentury living room in DC Metro with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Castro District

Anthony Michael Interior Design, Ltd.

Transfer from Chicago to San Francisco. We did his home in Chicago. Which incidentally appeared on the cover of Chicago Home Interiors. The client is a google executive transplanted. The home is roughly 1500 sq. ft and sits right in the middle of the Castro District. Art deco and arts and craft detailing. The client opted to go with color, and they drove the color scheme. The living room was awkward with only one plain wall. It needed to accommodate entertaining, audio and video use, and be a workspace. Additionally, the client wanted the room to transition easily weather it was just him and his partner or many guests. We opted to do central furniture arrangements. Therefore, we took advantage of the fireplace, large window focal point and added a media wall as a third focal point. Dining is a large square table with two large buffets. The unique feature is a ceiling mural. The color scheme is moody browns greens and purples.

San Salvador - Mid Century Modern

Kitchens by Good Guys

At our San Salvador project, we did a complete kitchen remodel, redesigned the fireplace in the living room and installed all new porcelain wood-looking tile throughout. Before the kitchen was outdated, very dark and closed in with a soffit lid and old wood cabinetry. The fireplace wall was original to the home and needed to be redesigned to match the new modern style. We continued the porcelain tile from an earlier phase to go into the newly remodeled areas. We completely removed the lid above the kitchen, creating a much more open and inviting space. Then we opened up the pantry wall that previously closed in the kitchen, allowing a new view and creating a modern bar area. The young family wanted to brighten up the space with modern selections, finishes and accessories. Our clients selected white textured laminate cabinetry for the kitchen with marble-looking quartz countertops and waterfall edges for the island with mid-century modern barstools. For the backsplash, our clients decided to do something more personalized by adding white marble porcelain tile, installed in a herringbone pattern. In the living room, for the new fireplace design we moved the TV above the firebox for better viewing and brought it all the way up to the ceiling. We added a neutral stone-looking porcelain tile and floating shelves on each side to complete the modern style of the home. Our clients did a great job furnishing and decorating their house, it almost felt like it was staged which we always appreciate and love.

Dosch House

Penny Black Interiors LLC.

Design ideas for a large midcentury open concept living room in Portland with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Quimby

risa boyer architecture

Josh Partee
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Portland with a library, white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Pan Am Pilot's Lounge: A Mid-Century Bachelor Pad

Mackenzie Collier Interiors

A retro midcentury modern bachelor pad designed for a commercial airline pilot. Image: Agnes Art & Photo
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in Phoenix with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

All Fireplaces Midcentury Living Room Design Photos

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.