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.

Dumbo Loft

Benjamin Andres Architekt

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury loft-style living room in New York with a music area, white walls, concrete floors, no fireplace, no tv, grey floor and brick walls.

Banker's Hill Loft

RACHEL LARRAINE INTERIORS

BRADLEY SCHWEIT PHOTOGRAPHY
Small midcentury loft-style living room in San Diego with grey walls, concrete floors, no fireplace and a freestanding tv.

Airlane

Mãkena Interiors

original Palm Springs Mid-century Home furnished by Neil Curry from House & Homes Palm Springs
Midcentury living room in Other with white walls, concrete floors, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Tarrytown Residence

Studio Steinbomer

Photo Credit: Coles Hairston
This is an example of a large midcentury formal open concept living room in Austin with grey walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and no tv.

Bell Canyon Residence

Hsu McCullough

View from the Living Room (taken from the kitchen) with courtyard patio beyond. The interior spaces of the Great Room are punctuated by a series of wide Fleetwood Aluminum multi-sliding glass doors positioned to frame the gardens and patio beyond while the concrete floor transitions from inside to out. The rosewood panel door slides to the right to reveal a large television. The cabinetry is built to match the look and finish of the kitchen.

Vivid Store

Vivid Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury formal open concept living room in Other with white walls, concrete floors, no fireplace, no tv and white floor.

Mid-Century Interior Remodel in El Segundo, CA.

Custom Design & Construction

Our homeowners approached us for design help shortly after purchasing a fixer upper. They wanted to redesign the home into an open concept plan. Their goal was something that would serve multiple functions: allow them to entertain small groups while accommodating their two small children not only now but into the future as they grow up and have social lives of their own. They wanted the kitchen opened up to the living room to create a Great Room. The living room was also in need of an update including the bulky, existing brick fireplace. They were interested in an aesthetic that would have a mid-century flair with a modern layout. We added built-in cabinetry on either side of the fireplace mimicking the wood and stain color true to the era. The adjacent Family Room, needed minor updates to carry the mid-century flavor throughout.

Stable Conversion

SHED Architecture & Design

Mark Woods
This is an example of a small midcentury living room in Seattle with concrete floors.

ECLECTIC RANCH HOUSE

SYLVIA BEEZ - M.A.P. INTERIORS

A collection of furniture classics for the open space Ranch House: Mid century modern style Italian leather sofa, Saarinen womb chair with ottoman, Noguchi coffee table, Eileen Gray side table and Arc floor lamp. Polished concrete floors with Asian inspired area rugs and Asian antiques in the background. Sky lights have been added to let more light in.

Parian Ridge

Virtual Studio Innovations

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Atlanta with brown walls, concrete floors, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor, wood and wood walls.

San Jose Eichler

User

Design ideas for a midcentury living room in San Francisco with black walls, concrete floors, grey floor and timber.

Vista Las Palmas

Kore Residential

Inspiration for a midcentury living room in Other with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and grey floor.

MidCentury Modern Open Concept Kitchen and Living Room

Aria Stone Gallery

The delicate veins in this Calacatta Extra align for a dramatic artwork presentation that is the center of attention in this open plan dining and living space. The remnant portions on the fireplace make for a unique continuation of the design, creating a space that effortlessly flows from one area to the next. The versatility of Calacatta marbles make for a one-of-a-kind patterning that is exclusive to each block of stone.

Mid Century Glam

John McClain Design

Large midcentury formal enclosed living room in Los Angeles with concrete floors, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

LIN87 - Berlin Mitte

EMMA B. HOME

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury formal open concept living room in Hamburg with grey walls, concrete floors, grey floor, no fireplace and no tv.

Mid-Century Modern Cottage in the Trees

conduit architecture + design

Aaron Dougherty Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury loft-style living room in Dallas with white walls, concrete floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Rodney Walker Ojai Remodel

Allen Construction

Designer: Allen Construction General Contractor: Allen Construction Photographer: Jim Bartsch Photography
Photo of a midcentury open concept living room in Los Angeles with concrete floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Bel Air Modern

Koffka Phakos Design

Landscape Design by Ryan Gates and Joel Lichtenwalter, www.growoutdoordesign.com
Design ideas for a large midcentury formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with concrete floors, white walls, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Midcentury Living Room Design Photos with Concrete 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 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.