Designing a living room requires a special balancing act of combining soft and hard materials, color, texture and multiple functions such as seating, TV watching and gathering around a fireplace. Here, design and remodeling pros share the details in eight living rooms that achieve the right mix beautifully.
Alyssa Collins Design
1. Stone Sweet Spot
Designer: Alyssa Collins Design
Location: Edmond, Oklahoma
Size: 210 square feet (20 square meters); 14 by 15 feet
Homeowners’ request. “Before the remodel, this room was completely stuck in the 1990s, featuring bright red millwork and wood floors, along with a bold red brick fireplace and with the typical ’90s built-in TV cabinet,” designer Alyssa Collins says. “Our clients desired a timeless space that was both comfortable and functional. This informal living room truly functions as the perfect gathering spot for the whole family, so all finishes used in the space needed to be able to withstand the use from kids and pets.”
Collins used Houzz Pro business software to create furniture and decor proposals and manage invoices.
Special features. “The stone fireplace is undoubtedly the focal point of the room,” Collins says. “Stone is such a great traditional material and we think the overgrouting technique that was used keeps the space feeling relaxed. The floor-to-ceiling fireplace height really draws the eye up and accentuates the cathedral ceiling. Exposed beams were created for an added architectural detail. We also found the perfect opportunity for a wallpaper feature by removing the previous built-in media cabinet. We love the color and pattern this niche media space brings while also visually opening up the room. While TVs can end up looking like a black hole in a room, they are a necessity to design around. We love the look of a Frame TV that can feature a rotating selection of artwork.”
Other special features. “Seating for a large gathering was important,” Collins says. “This doesn’t have to be done by simply using large furniture pieces. We placed two ottoman stools below the arched windows that can be pulled over to use as flexible seating. The velvet upholstered coffee table ottoman also serves as a comfortable place to perch. Leather swivel chairs are ideal for both formal gatherings or lounging during weekend movie night.”
Designer tip. “Functional spaces don’t have to be boring,” Collins says. “Leather and performance velvets hold up beautifully to pets and kids as well as pack a huge punch design-wise. Always look for opportunities to layer color and pattern through wallpapers, fabrics, rugs, etc. This gives your home a very warm and collected feel.”
Fireplace stone: French Country Villa, Coronado Stone Products; wallpaper: Montreal in grey/charcoal, Morris & Co.; wall and trim paint: White Down, Benjamin Moore
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Tama Bell Design
2. Curtain Call
Designer: Tama and Lauren Bell of Tama Bell Design
Location: Sebastopol, California
Size: 288 square feet (27 square feet); 16 by 18 feet
Homeowners’ request. “Our client wanted a warm, inviting and finished space that spoke to the beautiful setting of the newly built home,” designer Tama Bell says. “We wanted to create a comfortable space to entertain or relax in that could provide a good amount of guest seating.”
Special features. “One of my favorite elements is the drapery in the natural linen with tasseled leading edge,” Bell says. “We used a natural, raw, chunky wood drapery rod. They are both casual and elegant and finish the space. The multiple small, square windows can often present a challenge in a space, but we treated the large sliders and let them stand alone.”
Other special features. “We used two square, antiqued mirror coffee tables to bridge the center of the living room,” Bell says. “They act as the jewelry and are a special focusing element. Having fairly large open shelving can be tricky, but we styled and used a lot of the homeowners’ favorite accessories along with some staples.”
Designer tip. “I love a classic furniture setup with two sofas and a pair of swivel chairs,” Bell says. “Works every time.”
Swivel chairs: Grand Miro, The Tac Room; sofas: Leo, Rowe; coffee tables: Jonathan square co*cktail table, Oly Studio; art: Ornis Gallery; bench: Isla, Made Goods; rug: Rhapsody, Jaipur Living
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THE SISTERS AND COMPANY – DECORATING DEN INTERIORS
3. Pink Pops
Designers: Barbara Elliott and Jennifer Ward-Woods of The Sisters and Company Decorating Den Interiors
Location: Atlanta
Size: 360 square feet (33 square meters); 18 by 20 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The client’s vision was a transitional style with a black-and-white color scheme infused with a hint of glamour that veered toward a contemporary feel,” designer Barbara Elliott says. “The primary obstacle in the design process was a sizable wall that separated the family room and kitchen, creating two cramped areas. Additionally, there were issues with an antiquated fireplace and uneven shelving surrounding it. A key objective of the design was to optimize seating arrangements to suit the needs of the client’s family. We crafted a black-and-white aesthetic infused with hints of pink accents at the client’s request. We also unified the space by eliminating the dividing wall between the family room and kitchen, creating a larger, more cohesive feel.”
Special features. “The color scheme was achieved by painting the walls white, except for the feature wall showcasing the fireplace,” designer Jennifer-Ward Woods says. “This wall boasted a striking matte black ceramic tile finish and a modern white fireplace. Flanking the fireplace were sleek new black built-in cabinets.”
“To cater to the need for ample seating, we opted for an oversized tweed sectional adorned with gold nailhead accents,” Elliott says. “Complementing this were two large leather accent chairs with custom pink velvet ottomans. These ottomans, embellished with a Greek key design in gold nailheads, served both as footrests and extra seating. Jacquard pillows in pink and black were added to the sectional and chairs.”
Other special features. “We introduced two glass co*cktail tables at the center to anchor the space without overpowering it,” Ward-Woods says. “A floral arrangement and carefully selected accessories added a touch of sparkle and glamour to the room. Artwork by the client’s beloved artist, Nikki Chu, infused an ethnic flair with vibrant colors, tying the room’s elements together. An opulent crystal chandelier in vintage brass was installed to illuminate the space and add a touch of sophistication. A stunning hand-woven bamboo and silk area rug with a mud-cloth-inspired design grounded the room. To enhance the overall aesthetic, a mix of beautiful accessories from the client’s old home and new pieces in various metals were artfully arranged on the sleek bookcases and glass coffee tables.”
Designer tip. “Incorporating a large statement rug in a bold pattern or color is a fantastic design trick,” Elliott says. “A rug can serve as a focal point and anchor the seating area, tying the various elements together. Opting for a rug with a striking design can add visual interest and personality to the room while providing warmth and texture. Additionally, a well-chosen rug can define different zones within an open-concept layout, such as delineating the family room from the kitchen in this case.”
Sectional: Dashing, Ambella Home Collection
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Lauren Evans Interiors, LLC
4. Light and Lofty
Designer: Lauren Evans Interiors
Location: Hillsborough, California
Size: 300 square feet (28 square meters); 15 by 20 feet
Homeowners’ request. “They wanted a clean room with modern lines they could entertain adults in,” designer Lauren Evans says. “The room also needed to be kid-proof enough for kids to enjoy the holidays but it wouldn’t be their main hangout. The room was previously dated and needed new millwork, paint and a furnishings refresh.”
Special features: “This previously all-over-greige-painted room felt cold, dark and dated and the fireplace was bulky and plain,” Evans says. “The creamy white paint added light and airiness to the space and the added millwork to the fireplace gave the focal point of the room texture, dimension and interest.”
Other special features. “We love the curved sofas and organic-shaped coffee table,” Evans says. “They are unique, fun, modern and perfect for adult entertaining.”
Designer tip. “A few tips and tricks from this space: I’m always a fan of performance fabric and wool carpet, especially when it comes to white or light colorways,” Evans says. “It’s a safer way to get that clean look you’re after without as much stress. Millwork on any surface doubles as art. When it comes to really expensive textiles, consider fabricating only the front of pillows and pairing them with something more simple on the back.”
Sofas and bench: Selby, Evars Collective; coffee table and side table: Made Goods; art: Barbara Vaughn; project photographer: Isabelle Eubanks; stylist: Shawn Forbes
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Compendium Group LLC
5. Arched Attraction
Designers: Tatum Hill of Compendium Group (interiors) and Melissa Iannucci of Trade Design Studio (architecture)
Location: Indianapolis
Size: 280 square feet (26 square meters); 16½ by 17 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This is new construction,” designer Tatum Hill says. “The client was looking for a blend of both traditional and contemporary styles with the use of a neutral color palette, natural light and accents from wood and stone to give the room a sophisticated yet inviting look.”
Special features. Limestone mosaic tile fireplace surround. Floating white oak shelves and custom white oak cabinets in arched niches. Oak flooring. Gas fireplace.
Designer tip. Hill recommends integrating “good classic elements of symmetry, texture, interesting materials and cohesive design” throughout a home.
Wall and ceiling paint: Pure White, Sherwin-Williams
NA Design Builders
6. Black and Tan
Designer: Caitlin Murray of Black Lacquer Design
Builder: NA Design Builders
Location: Silverlake area of Los Angeles
Size: 190 square feet (18 square meters); 11½ by 16½ feet
Homeowners’ request. “Built in 1924 and remodeled last in 1960, this home was almost 100 years old and 60 years since it was last touched and included many of its original finishes and similarly old materials when we began our work on it,” says Nate Abutbol of NA Design Builders. “The clients wanted to keep this Craftsman bungalow’s bones and original integrity but bring it into this century with a flair for design, all the while staying true to Craftsman materials, look and feel.”
Special features. “We skim-coated the entire home, including the living room walls and ceiling, to make the entire space silky-smooth,” says Naphtali Nektalov of NA Design Builders. “This allowed for an incredible finish using colors like Farrow & Ball’s Off-Black in a matte finish, which ordinarily shows every imperfection in the wall and in this case looks smooth and nice given the preparation of the walls and ceiling with a full skim coat.”
Other special features. “The home’s original windows were kept in place and we sourced new hardware for each and every piece of the windows,” Abutbol says. “To the sides of the fireplace is all original millwork, which we restored to its original glory — lots of sanding, patching and elbow grease, along with the time-honored tradition of true artist painters to bring that wall back to life.”
An overstuffed blue chair pairs with a low-slung brown leather sofa. An abstract rug combines many of the colors used in the room. The fireplace surround is 2½-by-8-inch clay tiles in a brick pattern (Klamath by Fireclay Tile). The flooring is 2-inch-wide oak planks refinished in a jet black stain.
7. Laid-Back Lounge
Designers: Heather Hanley of The Tin Roof (furnishings, lighting, accent paint, decor and styling) and Wendee Espinosa of Greenstone (finishes)
Builder: Greenstone
Location: Liberty Lake, Washington
Size: 550 square feet (51 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. For this model home, designer Heather Hanley envisioned a modern Pacific Northwest style. “We wanted to show how you can incorporate current trends and styles into a basic home to really elevate the look,” she says. “We added subtle touches like enhanced overhead lighting and wall sconces that paired beautifully with a few upgraded finishes. We wanted to give the potential homeowners a sense of custom without the custom home price tag.”
Special features. Tufted leather sofa. Large-scale bench. Accent chairs. Nesting co*cktail tables. Curio cabinet. 11-by-15-foot area rug.
Designer tip. “This particular floor plan lends itself really well to entertaining, so we styled the space around that notion,” Hanley says. “We created sitting areas and open flow from kitchen to dining to living and even out through the patio space. We actually had a huge ladies night there and it worked beautifully. The oversized bench we used instead of chairs made the room feel larger and gave more seating options. The dining chairs could be pulled over to the living room easily and the accent chairs created interest as you walk into the room.”
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Round Table Design
8. Vintage Vibes
Designer: Leslie Phillips-Greco of Round Table Design
Location: Midland, Texas
Size: 414 square feet (38 square meters); 18 by 23 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The original room had oversized trusses that dwarfed everything,” designer Leslie Phillips-Greco says. “We removed them at the last minute. This had a huge impact. The family wanted a comfortable, easy living space for their young family.”
Special features. “The fireplace was brick that we ended up applying stucco to,” Phillips-Greco says. “The vintage bookcases on both sides of the fireplace were a perfect fit and completed the room.” A cushiony sectional wraps one side of the room. A rug adds texture and softness over a hexagonal tile floor.
Designer tip: “Start with the floor and set the colors and tones with the rugs,” Phillips-Greco says.
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