This couple purchased a second home as a respite from city living. Living primarily in downtown Chicago the couple desired a place to connect with nature. The home is located on 80 acres and is situated far back on a wooded lot with a pond, pool and a detached rec room. The home includes four bedrooms and one bunkroom along with five full baths. The home was stripped down to the studs, a total gut. Linc modified the exterior and created a modern look by removing the balconies on the exterior, removing the roof overhang, adding vertical siding and painting the structure black. The garage was converted into a detached rec room and a new pool was added complete with outdoor shower, concrete pavers, ipe wood wall and a limestone surround. Living Room Details: Two-story space open to the kitchen features a cultured cut stone fireplace and wood niche. The niche exposes the existing stone prior to the renovation. -Large picture windows -Sofa, Interior Define -Poof, Luminaire -Artwork, Linc Thelen (Oil on Canvas) -Sconces, Lighting NY -Coffe table, Restoration Hardware -Rug, Crate and Barrel -Floor lamp, Restoration Hardware -Storage beneath the painting, custom by Linc in his shop. -Side table, Mater -Lamp, Gantri -White shiplap ceiling with white oak beams -Flooring is rough wide plank white oak and distressed

Contemporary Living Room

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, carpet, a corner fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Iluka

The Little Brick Studio

Photo of a contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Contemporary West Coast

Eurohouse Group

Large contemporary formal open concept living room in Vancouver with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and white floor.

Huntley Residence

INTENSION design

Old meets New on this beautiful updated craftsmanship house.
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and yellow floor.

Entertainment Wall

Curtis Graf Homes, Inc.

Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

FW Magazine Dream Home Summer '19

J & V Painting

This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic formal open concept living room in Dallas with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Cicero

Falcon Custom Homes

This is an example of a contemporary living room in Grand Rapids with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and brown floor.

Offices & Bookcases

Webber Coleman Woodworks

Rustic White Interiors
Inspiration for a large transitional open concept living room in Atlanta with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Hill Country Transitional

Carla Royder Designs & Co, LLC

Photo of a transitional open concept living room in Austin with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Modern Farmhouse | 2019 Dry Creek Parade

Solitude Homes

Design ideas for a large country open concept living room in Boise with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Great Room

Hanson Builders, Inc.

This Great Room features one of our most popular fireplace designs with shiplap, a modern mantel and optional built -in cabinets with drywall shelves.

Putney House

EMR Architecture

This is an example of a contemporary open concept living room in London with a library, grey walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and no tv.

Warm Retro Duplex in Logan Square

Devon Grace Interiors

Inspiration for a contemporary living room in Chicago with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Keeping Room 2

Pike Properties

Photo of a large country open concept living room in Charlotte with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, white walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Living Room Hardwood Floors

CMC Hardwood Floors

European Oak supplied, installed, sanded and finished on site with Rubio Monocoat custom blend finish.
Inspiration for a country formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Hillcrest Residence

Kathryn J. LeMaster Art & Design

Rett Peek
This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic enclosed living room in Little Rock with yellow walls, a tile fireplace surround, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and brown floor.

Meadow View

Best Custom Homes, LLC

Large country open concept living room in Denver with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Villandry Circle

Hills & Grant

Photo: Lisa Petrole
Photo of an expansive contemporary formal living room in San Francisco with white walls, porcelain floors, a ribbon fireplace, no tv, grey floor and a metal fireplace surround.

Modern Design and Outdoor Living

Freestyle Interiors

Design ideas for a large modern open concept living room in Miami with white walls, porcelain floors, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor, a ribbon fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

All Fireplaces Living Room Design Photos

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.