My Houzz: A Mid-Century Marvel Revived in Long Beach

Photo by Tara Bussema © 2013 Houzz Cork flooring: Dorado by Celestial Cork; wall color: Waterby, Vista Paint; sofa: Vintage Gondola Style sofa, possibly by Adrian Pearsall, Xcape; coffee Table: Vintage Acclaim table in Walnut, Lane Furniture Company, Craigslist; rocking chair: Vintage 1960s Kofod Larsen for Selig of Denmark, Xcape; floor lamp: 1950s teak floor lamp, possibly Paul McCobb, Inretrospect; bar stools: 1960s Erik Buck for O.D. Mobler Denmark, Xcape

For the Love of MCM

Sklar Studios

For a family of music lovers both in listening and skill - the formal living room provided the perfect spot for their grand piano. Outfitted with a custom Wren Silva console stereo, you can't help but to kick back in some of the most comfortable and rad swivel chairs you'll find.

Morristown Mid-Century

Gary Rosard Architect

Walnut cabinetry separates the living room from adjacent walk in closet. A mix of clear and translucent glass, brass cladding behind shelves, and slatted panels join to create a rich composition of material and texture.

Mid-Century Modern

Jamie House Design

Laurie Perez
Inspiration for a large midcentury open concept living room in Denver with white walls, cork floors, no fireplace and no tv.

LIBRARY-LOWER LEVEL LIVING

Princeton Design Collaborative

This is a basement renovation transforms the space into a Library for a client's personal book collection . Space includes all LED lighting , cork floorings , Reading area (pictured) and fireplace nook .

Mid Century Modern on Lake Samammish

Fradkin Fine Construction, Inc.

Lara Swimmer
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Seattle with black walls, cork floors, a hanging fireplace, no tv and beige floor.

Portland Residential renovation/addition

Belluschi Consulting

Sally Painter
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury formal enclosed living room in Portland with no tv, cork floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Clean Design Allows the Architecture to Soar

Michael Norpell's Wall To Wall

Clerestory windows and post-and-beam construction provide a wide-open space for this great room. By using and area rug, the living space and dining spaces are defined. New cork flooring provides a fresh, clean look.

Salon d'hiver

Senecio

Photographie Jérémy Haureils ©. Senecio ©.
Midcentury living room in Bordeaux with white walls, cork floors, a wood stove and a metal fireplace surround.

Portland Mid Century Modern Home

Michelle Rolens - Neil Kelly Design/Build

Open Living room off the entry. Kept the existing brick fireplace surround and added quartz floating hearth. Hemlock paneling on walls. New Aluminum sliding doors to replace the old

Harwell Hamilton Harris Interior Renovation and Remodel

Carey Dodson

Photography: Andrea Calo
Small midcentury loft-style living room in Austin with beige walls, cork floors and brown floor.

Riverbend Residence

Lee Ledbetter & Associates

photo by Sara Essex
Midcentury living room in New Orleans with brown walls and cork floors.

DIAMOND HEIGHTS MID-CENTURY

Lincoln Lighthill Architect

This Eichler-esque house, in a neighborhood known for its tracts of homes by the famous developer, was a little different from the rest- a one-off custom build from 1962 that had mid-century modern bones but funky, neo-traditional finishes in the worn-out, time capsule state that the new owners found it. This called for an almost-gut remodel to keep the good, upgrade the building’s envelope and MEP systems, and reimagine the home’s character. To create a home that feels of its times, both now and then- A mid-century for the 21st century. At the center of the existing home was a long, slender rectangular form that contained a fireplace, an indoor BBQ, and kitchen storage, and on the other side an original, suspended wood and steel rod stair down to the bedroom level below. Under the carpeted treads we were sure we’d find beautiful oak, as this stair was identical to one at our earlier Clarendon heights mid-century project. This elegant core was obscured by walls that enclosed the kitchen and breakfast areas and a jumble of aged finishes that hid the elegance of this defining element. Lincoln Lighthill Architect removed the walls and unified the core’s finishes with light grey ground-face concrete block on the upgraded fireplace and BBQ, lacquered cabinets, and chalkboard paint at the stair wall for the owners’ young children to decorate. A new skylight above the stair washes this wall with light and brightens up the formerly dark center of the house. The rest of the interior is a combination of mid-century-inspired elements and modern updates. New finishes throughout- cork flooring, ground-face concrete block, Heath tile, and white birch millwork give the interior the mid-century character it never fully had, while modern, minimalist detailing gives it a timeless, serene simplicity. New lighting throughout, mostly indirect and all warm-dim LED , subtly and efficiently lights the home. All new plumbing and fixtures similarly reduce the home’s use of precious resources. On the exterior, new windows, insulation, and roofing provide modern standards of comfort and efficiency, while a new paint job and brick stain give the house an elegant yet playful character, with the golden yellow Heath tile from the primary bathroom floor reappearing on the front door.

B House NW PDX

AlisonBVer

Cozy living room with Malm gas fireplace, original windows/treatments, new shiplap, exposed doug fir beams
Design ideas for a small midcentury open concept living room in Portland with white walls, cork floors, a hanging fireplace, white floor, exposed beam and planked wall panelling.

Modern Retro Living Room

Ward 5 Design

Mid century living room with tons of personality.
This is an example of a small midcentury open concept living room in New York with white walls, cork floors and brown floor.

Updated 50s Ranch House

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen

The original wood ceiling and brick fireplace were preserved. New cork flooring was installed. Photography by Ehlen Creative.
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Minneapolis with grey walls, cork floors, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

Frank Lloyd Wright-Inspired Living Room

Diane Plesset, CMKBD, NCIDQ, C.A.P.S.

View showing the great room connection between the living room, dining room, kitchen, and main hallway. Millgard windows and french doors provide balanced daylighting, with dimmable fluorescent trough lighting and LED fixtures provide fill and accent lighting. This living room illustrates Frank Lloyd Wright's influence, with rift-oak paneling on the walls and ceiling, accentuated by hemlock battens. Custom stepped crown moulding, stepped casing and basebards, and stepped accent lights on the brush-broom concrete columns convey the home's Art Deco style. Cork flooring was used throughout the home, over hydronic radiant heating.

Mid-Century Modern Home brought into the 21st Century.

Patricia B. Warren, AIA Warren Architecture, LLC

The parallel slump block walls of the outside continue inside to define the spaces. This view into the Living Room shows the original trapezoidal shape of the window echoed in the opening to the Living Room. The fireplace contains a new linear gas fire box, with an asymmetrical, split mantle.

Living Room

Thayer Design Build

Midcentury living room in Other with multi-coloured walls, cork floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv, beige floor and wood.

Green Lake Remodel

SHED Architecture & Design

Inspiration for a large midcentury open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv and cork floors.

Midcentury Living Room Design Photos with Cork 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.