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.

Smith and Primmer, Steve Andrea & Karin McNamara Design

Housing Industry Association - HIA

This complex build is underpinned by the use of detailed off-form concrete forms, exotic internal and external finishes, copper cladding and roofing, painted steel windows, bespoke joinery, traditional venetian render and highly detailed steel elements. The detailing and craftsmanship is second-to-none, with the home displaying sympathy for its surroundings; evolving from its inception to creation.

Flinders Flair

Let's Talk Kitchens & Interiors

A contemporary holiday home located on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula featuring rammed earth walls, timber lined ceilings and flagstone floors. This home incorporates strong, natural elements and the joinery throughout features custom, stained oak timber cabinetry and natural limestone benchtops. With a nod to the mid century modern era and a balance of natural, warm elements this home displays a uniquely Australian design style. This home is a cocoon like sanctuary for rejuvenation and relaxation with all the modern conveniences one could wish for thoughtfully integrated.

Little Richardson

Mcmahon and Nerlich

Living room makes the most of the light and space and colours relate to charred black timber cladding
Design ideas for a small industrial open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, concrete floors, a wood stove, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and wood.

Yarrawarrah Private Residence

Michelle Viret Design

Photo of a large contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors and grey floor.

Nepean

Distinct Innovations Pty Ltd

Built on the beautiful Nepean River in Penrith overlooking the Blue Mountains. Capturing the water and mountain views were imperative as well as achieving a design that catered for the hot summers and cold winters in Western Sydney. Before we could embark on design, pre-lodgement meetings were held with the head of planning to discuss all the environmental constraints surrounding the property. The biggest issue was potential flooding. Engineering flood reports were prepared prior to designing so we could design the correct floor levels to avoid the property from future flood waters. The design was created to capture as much of the winter sun as possible and blocking majority of the summer sun. This is an entertainer's home, with large easy flowing living spaces to provide the occupants with a certain casualness about the space but when you look in detail you will see the sophistication and quality finishes the owner was wanting to achieve.

Berkeley Vale Home

AMA Studio Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, concrete floors, a corner fireplace, grey floor and planked wall panelling.

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.

Brighton: Renovation & Extension

First Avenue Homes

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

Wellesley Residence 2

Elms Interior Design

Photography by Michael. J Lee Photography
Mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Boston with grey walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, grey floor and wallpaper.

Large modern white living room with white bookcase entertainment center

Arredo Casa Group

A modern living room with a bookcase and entertainment center wall. This is from the Librerie pensili collection and is a great way to display all your books, decorations and tv in one place. There are many designs and styles available.

Modern Farmhouse Living Room with Shiplap Fireplace

CJC Interiors

This modern farmhouse living room features a custom shiplap fireplace by Stonegate Builders, with custom-painted cabinetry by Carver Junk Company. The large rug pattern is mirrored in the handcrafted coffee and end tables, made just for this space.

Organic Modern Mountain Home

Living Stone Design + Build

Design ideas for a mid-sized country open concept living room in Other with white walls, carpet, no fireplace and grey floor.

Apartment 402, Ahmedabad

Abhishek Shah

Modern Living Room
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Ahmedabad with white walls, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and wood walls.

Rustic Zen

Locati Architects

Rustic Zen Residence by Locati Architects, Interior Design by Cashmere Interior, Photography by Audrey Hall
Photo of a country formal open concept living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors and grey floor.

Diseño de gran piso en azul y blanco

Sube Interiorismo

Large beach style formal open concept living room in Malaga with beige walls, marble floors, a standard fireplace, no tv, grey floor, coffered and wallpaper.

Hidden House

minimal windows® UK

The house had two bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open plan living and kitchen space.
This is an example of a modern open concept living room in London with concrete floors, a wood stove and grey floor.

Belterra Project- Furnishings, Light Fixtures & Interior Design

Haven Design and Construction

The grand living room needed large focal pieces, so our design team began by selecting the large iron chandelier to anchor the space. The black iron of the chandelier echoes the black window trim of the two story windows and fills the volume of space nicely. The plain fireplace wall was underwhelming, so our team selected four slabs of premium Calcutta gold marble and butterfly bookmatched the slabs to add a sophisticated focal point. Tall sheer drapes add height and subtle drama to the space. The comfortable sectional sofa and woven side chairs provide the perfect space for relaxing or for entertaining guests. Woven end tables, a woven table lamp, woven baskets and tall olive trees add texture and a casual touch to the space. The expansive sliding glass doors provide indoor/outdoor entertainment and ease of traffic flow when a large number of guests are gathered.

3 Bed apartment

Interior Concepts

Beautiful relaxed open plan living zone featuring tan leather sofa with accents of blue and green.
This is an example of a large contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, a freestanding tv and grey floor.

House in Silhouette - Living room

Atelier Red+Black

Peter Bennetts
Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, carpet, a two-sided fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Open Concept Living Room Design Photos with Grey Floor

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.