6 Refreshing Living Rooms
Designers create relaxing rooms by spiffing up neutral palettes with texture and painted accents
If you want to give your living room a refreshing look, just think light and airy. That’s what the following designers did in the rooms here. They started with mostly neutral palettes for the furniture to create a calm, relaxing vibe. Then they got creative with layers of texture, painted accents and artwork for a fully designed look that still feels, well, light and airy.
2. Fabulous Fireplace
Designers: Sharon Allard and Talli Roberts of Allard + Roberts Interior Design
Location: Arden, North Carolina
Homeowners’ request. Update a dark and drab living room and its stone-covered double-height fireplace to better reflect the homeowners’ style and contemporary art and sculpture collection.
Main feature. A double-height fireplace partially clad in silver travertine. “The double-height fireplace was originally fully clad in gold and peach stone,” designer Talli Roberts says. “Instead of removing the stone — a dusty demolition process for owners in residence during the renovation — we reclad the upper portion in drywall and the lower portion in silver travertine.”
Other special features. “The homeowners were after a lighter and brighter palette that would be a neutral background for their art collection,” Roberts says. “The kitchen was not being renovated, and those finishes are warmer in tone. So we settled on a warm white paint and left the stained windows and casing, but painted the door casings, baseboard and stair skirt. This allowed the stained features to provide contrast but not be so wood-heavy as to visually weigh down the interiors.”
Designer tip. “While the homeowners wanted a neutral background for their art collection, they love color,” Roberts says. “So we took cues from the artwork for the area rug and fabric selections of accent pieces like the blue chair and orange accent pillows. We kept the larger upholstery pieces more neutral in tone so that the accents can always be changed out over time. The more expensive elements are neutral and timeless, while accents are easily updated.”
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Designers: Sharon Allard and Talli Roberts of Allard + Roberts Interior Design
Location: Arden, North Carolina
Homeowners’ request. Update a dark and drab living room and its stone-covered double-height fireplace to better reflect the homeowners’ style and contemporary art and sculpture collection.
Main feature. A double-height fireplace partially clad in silver travertine. “The double-height fireplace was originally fully clad in gold and peach stone,” designer Talli Roberts says. “Instead of removing the stone — a dusty demolition process for owners in residence during the renovation — we reclad the upper portion in drywall and the lower portion in silver travertine.”
Other special features. “The homeowners were after a lighter and brighter palette that would be a neutral background for their art collection,” Roberts says. “The kitchen was not being renovated, and those finishes are warmer in tone. So we settled on a warm white paint and left the stained windows and casing, but painted the door casings, baseboard and stair skirt. This allowed the stained features to provide contrast but not be so wood-heavy as to visually weigh down the interiors.”
Designer tip. “While the homeowners wanted a neutral background for their art collection, they love color,” Roberts says. “So we took cues from the artwork for the area rug and fabric selections of accent pieces like the blue chair and orange accent pillows. We kept the larger upholstery pieces more neutral in tone so that the accents can always be changed out over time. The more expensive elements are neutral and timeless, while accents are easily updated.”
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3. Shipshape Shiplap
Designer: Blair Moore of Moore House
Location: Greenwich, Connecticut
Size: 364 square feet (34 square meters); 13 by 28 feet
Homeowners’ request. Create a contemporary-meets-modern-farmhouse aesthetic and include a comfortable sofa for lounging and watching television, while having the space be accessible to the kitchen and neighboring spaces.
Main feature. Encased beam-and-glass room divider. “Instead of just leaving the drop-down and working around it, we decided to encase the beam and give it a purpose,” designer Blair Moore says. “So we designed this glass divider to encase the beam to give a slight separation to the space all while still being open-concept, thus creating zoning for the two spaces — focusing this space around the television and the opposite space around the fireplace.”
Other special features. Shiplap TV wall. Custom floating credenza. Custom coffee table.
Designer tip. “The client wanted white, white and white,” Moore says. “Our favorite trick is layering different neutrals together in different textures, from linens to wools, shag and hessian. Layering multiple textures in similar colors helps create interest while still giving that calm tonal look the client was going for. Wood also is a great way to warm up a rather cool tonal space.”
Designer: Blair Moore of Moore House
Location: Greenwich, Connecticut
Size: 364 square feet (34 square meters); 13 by 28 feet
Homeowners’ request. Create a contemporary-meets-modern-farmhouse aesthetic and include a comfortable sofa for lounging and watching television, while having the space be accessible to the kitchen and neighboring spaces.
Main feature. Encased beam-and-glass room divider. “Instead of just leaving the drop-down and working around it, we decided to encase the beam and give it a purpose,” designer Blair Moore says. “So we designed this glass divider to encase the beam to give a slight separation to the space all while still being open-concept, thus creating zoning for the two spaces — focusing this space around the television and the opposite space around the fireplace.”
Other special features. Shiplap TV wall. Custom floating credenza. Custom coffee table.
Designer tip. “The client wanted white, white and white,” Moore says. “Our favorite trick is layering different neutrals together in different textures, from linens to wools, shag and hessian. Layering multiple textures in similar colors helps create interest while still giving that calm tonal look the client was going for. Wood also is a great way to warm up a rather cool tonal space.”
4. Wonderful White
Designer: Ally Whalen
Location: Cornelius, North Carolina
Size: 342 square feet (32 square meters); 18 by 19 feet
Homeowners’ request. Light and bright, with a vibe that would be fitting for a home near a lake. They also wanted durable fabrics.
Main feature. “The fireplace is the main focal point of the room, so we let that be the feature and kept furnishings and decor on the neutral side,” designer Ally Whalen says.
Other special features. Bright white wall and millwork paint (Egret White by Sherwin-Williams). Custom swivel chairs. Stain-resistant fabric.
Designer tip. “The soothing color palette makes it feel calming, while the lines of the furniture keep it from feeling too stuffy,” Whalen says. “It’s sophisticated casual elegance.”
Strand shagreen coffee table: Orient Express Furniture
Designer: Ally Whalen
Location: Cornelius, North Carolina
Size: 342 square feet (32 square meters); 18 by 19 feet
Homeowners’ request. Light and bright, with a vibe that would be fitting for a home near a lake. They also wanted durable fabrics.
Main feature. “The fireplace is the main focal point of the room, so we let that be the feature and kept furnishings and decor on the neutral side,” designer Ally Whalen says.
Other special features. Bright white wall and millwork paint (Egret White by Sherwin-Williams). Custom swivel chairs. Stain-resistant fabric.
Designer tip. “The soothing color palette makes it feel calming, while the lines of the furniture keep it from feeling too stuffy,” Whalen says. “It’s sophisticated casual elegance.”
Strand shagreen coffee table: Orient Express Furniture
5. The Right Rug
Designer: Raychel Wade Design
Location: Garden City, New York
Size: 288 square feet (27 square meters); 12 by 24 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The owners are a young family who bought this house that needed a lot of love,” designer Raychel Wade says. “They have a family room where we used a decent amount of color, so this was to be the formal living area. We wanted to create a soothing and neutral space, since the surrounding rooms are more kid-friendly. This is the room designated for nights by the fire with a glass of wine.”
Main feature. “We knew we wanted built-ins surrounding the windows and wanted to update the fireplace facade,” Wade says. “But the jumping-off point was actually the neutral rug. We added a cognac leather binding that gave it a warm sophistication.”
Other special features. Calacatta Gold marble tile fireplace surround laid in a chevron pattern.
Designer tip. “Almost every other room in the house has wallpaper, so this room we wanted to keep really simple,” Wade says. “We used a very light gray paint, and I gave the inside of the built-ins some contrast with a deep brown.”
Designer: Raychel Wade Design
Location: Garden City, New York
Size: 288 square feet (27 square meters); 12 by 24 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The owners are a young family who bought this house that needed a lot of love,” designer Raychel Wade says. “They have a family room where we used a decent amount of color, so this was to be the formal living area. We wanted to create a soothing and neutral space, since the surrounding rooms are more kid-friendly. This is the room designated for nights by the fire with a glass of wine.”
Main feature. “We knew we wanted built-ins surrounding the windows and wanted to update the fireplace facade,” Wade says. “But the jumping-off point was actually the neutral rug. We added a cognac leather binding that gave it a warm sophistication.”
Other special features. Calacatta Gold marble tile fireplace surround laid in a chevron pattern.
Designer tip. “Almost every other room in the house has wallpaper, so this room we wanted to keep really simple,” Wade says. “We used a very light gray paint, and I gave the inside of the built-ins some contrast with a deep brown.”
6. Perfect Paint
Designer: Lauren Winter of Inside Stories by Duet Design Group
Location: Littleton, Colorado
Size: 340 square feet (32 square meters); 17 by 20 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners’ two favorite hotels are the One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos [Mexico] and the Hotel Jerome in Aspen [Colorado],” designer Lauren Winter says. “Our goal was to mirror some of that saturation and depth that both of those spaces have. We were working with a neutral palette and no existing furniture in this space, so we had a lot of flexibility to add pattern, color and texture.”
Main feature. “The bookcase was built when we started the project, but we wanted to paint it a deep color to serve as the focal point and frame for the fireplace,” Winter says. “Benjamin Moore’s Dark Pewter was the perfect blue-green tone that informed the rest of the color palette.”
Other special features. “The addition of the wood beams made a huge impact on the space,” Winter says. “Because this room is a large, open area that leads to their kitchen and breakfast nook, we were able to define the living area and add some warmth to the ceiling.”
Designer tip. “The house has a beautiful, lush backyard where the clients spend a lot of time,” Winter says. “We wanted to mirror that natural element with the large framed black-and-white photographs on the opposite wall. By keeping the landscapes black and white, we were able to make sure they didn’t take over the space and make the room feel too busy.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The original chandelier that we loved had manufacturing issues and wouldn’t sit level in the space,” Winter says. “We reselected to something that had a more organic shape and was even larger than the original. Ultimately we love the way the new fixture fills the space and adds some softness without blocking any views.”
More on Houzz
How to Decorate a Living Room: 11 Designer Tips
Key Measurements for Your Living Room
Get more living room ideas
Find an interior designer
Shop for living room furniture and accessories
Designer: Lauren Winter of Inside Stories by Duet Design Group
Location: Littleton, Colorado
Size: 340 square feet (32 square meters); 17 by 20 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners’ two favorite hotels are the One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos [Mexico] and the Hotel Jerome in Aspen [Colorado],” designer Lauren Winter says. “Our goal was to mirror some of that saturation and depth that both of those spaces have. We were working with a neutral palette and no existing furniture in this space, so we had a lot of flexibility to add pattern, color and texture.”
Main feature. “The bookcase was built when we started the project, but we wanted to paint it a deep color to serve as the focal point and frame for the fireplace,” Winter says. “Benjamin Moore’s Dark Pewter was the perfect blue-green tone that informed the rest of the color palette.”
Other special features. “The addition of the wood beams made a huge impact on the space,” Winter says. “Because this room is a large, open area that leads to their kitchen and breakfast nook, we were able to define the living area and add some warmth to the ceiling.”
Designer tip. “The house has a beautiful, lush backyard where the clients spend a lot of time,” Winter says. “We wanted to mirror that natural element with the large framed black-and-white photographs on the opposite wall. By keeping the landscapes black and white, we were able to make sure they didn’t take over the space and make the room feel too busy.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The original chandelier that we loved had manufacturing issues and wouldn’t sit level in the space,” Winter says. “We reselected to something that had a more organic shape and was even larger than the original. Ultimately we love the way the new fixture fills the space and adds some softness without blocking any views.”
More on Houzz
How to Decorate a Living Room: 11 Designer Tips
Key Measurements for Your Living Room
Get more living room ideas
Find an interior designer
Shop for living room furniture and accessories
Designers: John McClain and Heather Rau of John McClain Design
Location: Pacific Palisades, California
Size: 720 square feet (67 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. A light, bright, airy and kid-friendly living room with lots of storage and display space.
Main feature. Custom built-ins with bookcases. “It not only is the feature moment in the room, and provides storage, but it also balances the height of the kitchen cabinetry on the opposite side of the room,” says designer John McClain, whose client found him through the Houzz professional directory.
Other special features. All-custom furniture pieces in durable fabric. The large ottoman is wrapped in wipeable vinyl. The sofa and chairs have stain-resistant fabric. The custom draperies are white polyester linen to repel smudges from dirty hands. The draperies also feature a metallic Greek key-pattern trim. “These clients were a bit timid with color, so we introduced it in a small way with grays, blues, browns and the unexpected green on the ottomans,” McClain says. “We also introduced metals via the light fixture, lamps, accessories and side table to really give the space some sparkle.”
Designer tip. “A lot of clients feel that they have to stay within one design style or period,” McClain says. “I introduced these clients to my philosophy of blending several design styles into an amalgam. This is where design is today and is what makes design interesting. For these clients, I mixed the traditional furniture with transitional pieces and a contemporary light fixture. It is this blend of elements that causes the eye to roam around the room. It also makes for a very interesting design with lots of surprise moments. Add some bit of dissonance in a room to spice it up.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “In regards to the light fixture, I had lots of pushback from my clients,” McClain says. “Their thoughts were to keep the room very traditional and to also keep the light fixture traditional. I really wanted them to think outside the box and consider a contemporary fixture that blended all of the elements into the room but also created a nice wow moment. I feel the light fixture is a great blend of all of the styles of the room and also adds just the right amount of variety to the transitional space. In the end, they loved it.”
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