William Mallat Photo 2022©
Photo of a contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Custom design and build

Horizon Homes

First impression count as you enter this custom-built Horizon Homes property at Kellyville. The home opens into a stylish entryway, with soaring double height ceilings. It’s often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. And that’s literally true with this home. With the kitchen in the centre of the ground floor, this home provides ample formal and informal living spaces on the ground floor. At the rear of the house, a rumpus room, living room and dining room overlooking a large alfresco kitchen and dining area make this house the perfect entertainer. It’s functional, too, with a butler’s pantry, and laundry (with outdoor access) leading off the kitchen. There’s also a mudroom – with bespoke joinery – next to the garage. Upstairs is a mezzanine office area and four bedrooms, including a luxurious main suite with dressing room, ensuite and private balcony. Outdoor areas were important to the owners of this knockdown rebuild. While the house is large at almost 454m2, it fills only half the block. That means there’s a generous backyard. A central courtyard provides further outdoor space. Of course, this courtyard – as well as being a gorgeous focal point – has the added advantage of bringing light into the centre of the house.

New build

schemes & spaces

Living room with fireplace
Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with green walls, dark hardwood floors and a tile fireplace surround.

Kent

Ilya's Quality Carpentry

Photo of a large modern open concept living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Farmhouse Living Room

This is an example of a large country open concept living room in Denver with a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, white walls, brown floor and light hardwood floors.

The living room showing the new tile fireplace and the new windows.

Mark Brand Architecture

For our client, who had previous experience working with architects, we enlarged, completely gutted and remodeled this Twin Peaks diamond in the rough. The top floor had a rear-sloping ceiling that cut off the amazing view, so our first task was to raise the roof so the great room had a uniformly high ceiling. Clerestory windows bring in light from all directions. In addition, we removed walls, combined rooms, and installed floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall sliding doors in sleek black aluminum at each floor to create generous rooms with expansive views. At the basement, we created a full-floor art studio flooded with light and with an en-suite bathroom for the artist-owner. New exterior decks, stairs and glass railings create outdoor living opportunities at three of the four levels. We designed modern open-riser stairs with glass railings to replace the existing cramped interior stairs. The kitchen features a 16 foot long island which also functions as a dining table. We designed a custom wall-to-wall bookcase in the family room as well as three sleek tiled fireplaces with integrated bookcases. The bathrooms are entirely new and feature floating vanities and a modern freestanding tub in the master. Clean detailing and luxurious, contemporary finishes complete the look.

Shoreline Drive

LORI HANDBERG / Studio M Interiors, Plymouth, MN.

Inspiration for a large transitional formal open concept living room in Minneapolis with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Traditional Craftsman

Greystone Homes LLC

Design ideas for a large arts and crafts formal open concept living room in Other with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

A Farmhouse In The Middle of Florida

Buffalo Lumber Company Inc.

Kelly: “It just transformed the whole house into something more casual, more farmhouse, more lived in and comfortable.” ************************************************************************* Standard fireplace surrounded by Carrera Marble Tile and accented with Grey painted wood paneling, hearth and trim. ************************************************************************* Buffalo Lumber specializes in Custom Milled, Factory Finished Wood Siding and Paneling. We ONLY do real wood.

Palisades Mid-Century Remodel

Sato Architects, Inc.

Mid-sized modern formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, brown floor and vaulted.

Casa De Cinco

Blythe Interiors

Inspiration for a large eclectic open concept living room in San Diego with white walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

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.

9323 Augusta

Hartley Brothers Inc.

Inspiration for a mid-sized open concept living room in Other with beige walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and vaulted.

Hilltop Spanish Mediterranean Home

Allen Construction

Beautiful Spanish tile details are present in almost every room of the home creating a unifying theme and warm atmosphere. Wood beamed ceilings converge between the living room, dining room, and kitchen to create an open great room. Arched windows and large sliding doors frame the amazing views of the ocean. Architect: Beving Architecture Photographs: Jim Bartsch Photographer

Retreat on 1st St

Beyond Beige Interior Design Inc.

Beyond Beige Interior Design | www.beyondbeige.com | Ph: 604-876-3800 | Photography By Provoke Studios |
Inspiration for a small contemporary open concept living room in Vancouver with a home bar, white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Mountain Modern, Sisters OR

Curtis Homes

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Other with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and panelled walls.

Mid Century Modern- Living Area White on Beige

Arizona Tile

Mid century living space with modern fireplace and porcelain tile accent wall in Pietra Italia Beige.
Photo of a large contemporary open concept living room in Phoenix with beige walls, ceramic floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Marvin Windows & Doors

SpringHouse Window & Door

Inspiration for an expansive contemporary formal open concept living room in Philadelphia with grey walls, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Alamo Living Room

High Low Interiors

Transitional formal open concept living room in San Francisco with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Stunning Living Room

Fratantoni Interior Designers

This stunning living room has two silver couches with striped armchairs surrounded by a dark wood coffee table. A credenza sits along the wall for added storage. The silver and gray tones are contrasted with bold teal throw pillows to complete the space.

Open Concept Living Room Design Photos with a Tile Fireplace Surround

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

Which 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 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 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 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.