Gentleman's Quarters - Oakland Hills Modern

Photo by Eric Rorer While we adore all of our clients and the beautiful structures which we help fill and adorn, like a parent adores all of their children, this recent mid-century modern interior design project was a particular delight. This client, a smart, energetic, creative, happy person, a man who, in-person, presents as refined and understated — he wanted color. Lots of color. When we introduced some color, he wanted even more color: Bright pops; lively art. In fact, it started with the art. This new homeowner was shopping at SLATE ( https://slateart.net) for art one day… many people choose art as the finishing touches to an interior design project, however this man had not yet hired a designer. He mentioned his predicament to SLATE principal partner (and our dear partner in art sourcing) Danielle Fox, and she promptly referred him to us. At the time that we began our work, the client and his architect, Jack Backus, had finished up a massive remodel, a thoughtful and thorough update of the elegant, iconic mid-century structure (originally designed by Ratcliff & Ratcliff) for modern 21st-century living. And when we say, “the client and his architect” — we mean it. In his professional life, our client owns a metal fabrication company; given his skills and knowledge of engineering, build, and production, he elected to act as contractor on the project. His eye for metal and form made its way into some of our furniture selections, in particular the coffee table in the living room, fabricated and sold locally by Turtle and Hare. Color for miles: One of our favorite aspects of the project was the long hallway. By choosing to put nothing on the walls, and adorning the length of floor with an amazing, vibrant, patterned rug, we created a perfect venue. The rug stands out, drawing attention to the art on the floor. In fact, the rugs in each room were as thoughtfully selected for color and design as the art on the walls. In total, on this project, we designed and decorated the living room, family room, master bedroom, and back patio. (Visit www.lmbinteriors.com to view the complete portfolio of images.) While my design firm is known for our work with traditional and transitional architecture, and we love those projects, I think it is clear from this project that Modern is also our cup of tea. If you have a Modern house and are thinking about how to make it more vibrantly YOU, contact us for a consultation.

Trisore 140 MKII

European Home

The Trisore by Element4 is a three-sided bay fireplace and comes in 3 sizes: the 95, the 100H, and the 140 (as seen here). Design options are endless. Here the hearth goes organic modern with the combination of wood and concrete.

Mid-Century Remodel

David Henig, Architect

Eric Rorer
Mid-sized midcentury formal enclosed living room in San Francisco with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, no tv and a concrete fireplace surround.

La Grange MCM Re-envisioned

Liv Companies LLC Design + Build

Matt Adema Media
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Chicago with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and brown floor.

Pacific Heights Vintage Modern

Form + Field

Vivian Johnson
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in San Francisco with a home bar, black walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

Cuervo Paluxy Ranch

Jan Jones LLC

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury formal enclosed living room in Dallas with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv, brown floor and a brick fireplace surround.

Mid-Century I Kenmore, Washington

Syltebo Wight Homes & Jon Syltebo Painting Company

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury formal open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

Apartment renovation

Designed Space Interior Exterior

David J Miller
Inspiration for a small midcentury open concept living room in Melbourne with beige walls and dark hardwood floors.

Beach House

Harbor Home & Interiors

Interior by, Lani Myron. photo by,Michael Robinson
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Other with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, beige walls, no tv and a tile fireplace surround.

Buckingham Road, London

Amberth

Original feature and the open layout allows for the intervention of some interesting accessories. Photo Credit: David Giles.
This is an example of a large midcentury open concept living room in London with green walls, dark hardwood floors and a standard fireplace.

Rosenwald House

Flavin Architects

This remodel of a mid century gem is located in the town of Lincoln, MA a hot bed of modernist homes inspired by Gropius’ own house built nearby in the 1940’s. By the time the house was built, modernism had evolved from the Gropius era, to incorporate the rural vibe of Lincoln with spectacular exposed wooden beams and deep overhangs. The design rejects the traditional New England house with its enclosing wall and inward posture. The low pitched roofs, open floor plan, and large windows openings connect the house to nature to make the most of its rural setting. Photo by: Nat Rea Photography

Salon

Ouvrage

Nous avons restauré la cheminée en marbre du salon puis fait piquer la pierre bordelaise pour lui rendre sa clarté d’origine. Nous espérions surtout pouvoir récupérer le parquet d'époque, caché sous des strates de parquet plus récentes ; Bonne surprise, celui-ci était intact et s'étendait dans l'entrée et dans toute la pièce de vie. Il a donc pu être poncé et vernis. 

Minimalistic Sophistication in Pinecrest, FL

CURATED.

Design ideas for a large midcentury open concept living room in Miami with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Mid Century Modern Boho

Kimberley Kay Interiors

We repainted the fireplace beige tile all white to give it a boost and give it a more updated look without breaking the budget.
Large midcentury formal open concept living room in Phoenix with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Upper West Side Residence

Ann Baumgartner Design

Marco Ricca
Mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in Denver with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Midcentury Minneapolis

Quartersawn Design Build

Farm Kid Studios
This is an example of a midcentury open concept living room in Minneapolis with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a freestanding tv.

Sennett Residence

Living Stone Design + Build

Inspiration for a large midcentury open concept living room in Other with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, beige walls, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Mid-Century Modern Mix, Frisco

Nicole Arnold Interiors

The unused dining room was envisioned as a sitting room for family chats, girlfriend wine nights, and couples’ conversations. The inspiration was taken from the vintage stereo cabinet, which the family uses regularly to play LP’s. Lighting, furniture frames, and textural rug all evoke the flavors of the ’60s and warmly invite its guests. The theme continues into the super functional study, using minimalistic furniture (including a recliner that doesn’t look like one!) and a custom-built cabinet with inset drawers and doors, providing tons of storage. The light fixture here is the perfect punctuation to this special space, keeping it open and airy. The kitchen continues to boast minimalistic, yet prominent features. The sliding door, mid-century inspired seating and special glass top table (that has a self-contained extension when the party grows larger) are all unique pieces to define this spacious kitchen. Gold accents are throughout to warm up the space and keep it cozy.

Wandsworth Town Apartment

Bhavin Taylor Design

Mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in London with dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding tv, brown floor and multi-coloured walls.

Mid Century Shelving Design

2x4 Designs

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in Other with white walls and dark hardwood floors.

Midcentury Living Room Design Photos with Dark Hardwood 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.