living family rooms

A formal living room—also called the reading room—gets a glamorous boost with a ceiling covered in Carlisle & Co.’s Alchemy Dove, a wood veneer hand-applied to a metallic foil underlay.

The design team added the hand-hewn reclaimed beams to the ceiling in the open kitchen and family room. Plenty of seating and an oversized coffee table mean family and friends can gather for TV watching or conversation. Contrasting piping lends a touch of extra personality to the roomy lounge chairs.

Designer Carey Karlan chose a grasscloth wallcovering from Ronald Redding and a carpet from Ruggles Workroom to add subtle texture to the den; the artwork is from Fletcher Wakefield. A Century sofa and a pair of Baker chairs anchor the space.

A game table from Bernhardt, surrounded by Jonathan Adler chairs, ensures hours of friendly competition.

Art Applications refinished the interior of the living room’s Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams cocktail table

The living room showcases a vast collection of antique English creamware and artwork by Milton Avery (far left, bottom) and Jackson Pollock (above the oak writing desk). The Kathryn Ireland sofa and chairs surround a Mies van der Rohe coffee table.

An Edo-period Japanese screen adorns the wall above the living room’s Christian Liaigre sofa.

Schroeder framed the den’s city views with curtains in a red-and-gold Scalamandré damask. Between the swathes of fabric sit a Louis XVI bureau plat and a Second Empire chair. The designer likens the custom leather-and-reeded-walnut cubes, which roll on invisible casters, to “fancy TV trays.” 

The team removed a large closet from the den to create a wood-paneled niche for a sleeper sofa. Schroeder based the design of that couch on one in Coco Chanel’s Paris apartment. The artworks above and in the hall are by the client’s late mother.

Zervas gave a late-1800s painting that portrays a fortune teller pride of place in her family’s TV hangout.

Low furniture with a contemporary profile, including a coffee table of bronze and cast marble and a pair of sculptural Mathieu Lehanneur sofas, sits on a Stark carpet atop the living room’s floor of local granite tiles.

A Bösendorfer Model 225 Imperial Grand piano takes the stage at one end of the living room under a micro-perforated wood ceiling that enhances the instrument’s sound.

A third-floor space with an arched ceiling makes organization both pretty and playful as the kids’ games and toys are stashed in built-in cubbies.

The “life room,” which encompasses the kitchen and dining area as well as casual family seating, is distinguished by a modified version of a l’orangerie that opens to a terrace and the mature landscape beyond. The oak beams are an updated reflection of the original carved beams found in the restored front entry.

Gates chose Breccia Capraia marble for the living room’s wood-burning fireplace surround. Modern white and brass touches like the coffee table and chandelier pair with velvet sofas custom designed with Bjork Studio in Atlanta.

A Charles Stewart sectional in a durable Perennials fabric anchors the family room.

The living room’s detailed ceiling launched the home’s European-flavored design.

In the lounge, photography by Colm Henry (yes, that’s Bono) and Slim Aarons brings an edgy vibe.

McNell added the tassel to the Ro Sham Beaux rattan lantern; an OKA table between a pair of Lucite chairs offers a place to drop drinks.

When it came time to move out of their Rowayton summer home, the homeowners planned to leave their lime green couch behind, but, ultimately, they couldn’t bear the thought of it. “It was just so comfortable,” says the wife. Instead, the color became the springboard for their new primary residence in Westport.

The living room, with its Schumacher wallpaper and paintings by Hadley Rampton and Christen Yates, is the wife’s—and Gus the cockapoo’s—favorite spot in the house.

In lieu of a formal dining room, designer Whitney McNell devised cozy corner banquettes upholstered in Schumacher for more intimate mealtimes.

The interior of the house is reminiscent of a luxury yacht. “The idea was for the occupants to feel like they were on the water,” says interior designer Tina Anastasia. An arc in the ceiling delineates the dining and entry areas as separate from the sunroom; the glossy finish reflects the glistening sea beyond.

The family room and the first-floor office share a two-way fireplace.

The large great room proved a design challenge for Kalur, but she met it by dividing the living space into two back-to-back conversation areas.

Textures mingle in the “sports lounge,” where Cipollino marble from BAS Stone on the fireplace surround pairs with oak paneling on the walls and ceiling.

In the living room of a reformed colonial revival home in Westport, Jurassic Onyx marble coffee tables and a custom sofa from Ali Budd Interiors play understudy to the expansive water views.

In the living room, framed painted panels from Gracie conceal the TV and reference the home’s island location.

To create a spacious great room, Forman removed walls and added glass pocket doors.

“I’m a bit risk adverse,” says designer Kristine Irving, “but when the client said she wanted the teal sofa, I realized that it completely makes the living room.”

A wide swath of green leads the way in the Bierly Drake & Steele dining room—from the Fernery wallcovering by Sanderson to the custom Benjamin Moore paint color on the coffered ceiling. The painting by William Skilling is from Solomon Treasure.

High ceilings and an open floor plan facilitate air flow and, in concert with the solar panels on the roof, help reduce energy costs, while cables and tie-rods serve as crossbeams to support the gabled roof.

The stained-walnut ceiling in the living area is suspended from the spaces’s butterfly roof for a canopy-like effect.

The backrest of the living area’s leather Roche Bobois sectional is adjustable.

The living room’s blue-and-white palette and a Steven King ombré rug that subtly evokes ocean waves give the space a hint of a coastal feel. A modern light fixture from Lumfardo and a leather lounger add a midcentury touch.

Pecky cypress adorns the living area ceiling in this New Hampshire seacoast home. A sofa from Wesley Hall, swivel chairs from Taylor King, and a custom ottoman from Vanguard Furniture rest atop a rug from Landry & Arcari Rugs and Carpeting.

Clerestory windows ring the double-height living room, which is divided into two conversation areas

The tallest of the three volumes is the great room, where the kitchen, living, and dining areas afford southern and western exposures; the owners commissioned a piece by John van Orsouw for the space.

he first-floor sitting room shows the original rafters and exposed timber framing.

ng room shows the original rafters and exposed timber framing.

In the multipurpose breakfast/game room, the table, chair, and apothecary chest are from Mulligan’s.

The breakfast/game room is a favorite gathering place. New supports were created from antique heart-pine beams found in the cellar. Its many movable pieces include pedestal-style tables and painted case goods.

In the family room, a peaked-glass curtain wall by KLAR Studio frames the vista of grazing cattle in the distant pasture. Though structural, the black metal collar ties are thin enough to almost disappear. The fireplace surround is finished with a mixture of plaster and stone.

Kuba woven seagrass pendants in the living room sway in the breeze when the French doors are open in the summer. Durable carpets, sturdy furniture, and copious use of stone and wood combine to make the space both stylish and comfortable.

Designer Abby Yozell reupholstered the family’s existing sofa and lounge chairs in durable textured fabrics by George Spencer Designs and McLaurin & Piercy. The painting above the fireplace is by Martha’s Vineyard artist Jennifer Christy.

t’s all fun and games in the living room, where the bay window nook holds an elliptical Saarinen table that follows the curve of the banquette crafted by Holmes Hole Builders. The vintage chair is laced rawhide.

The basement den takes a bold turn with whimsical Good Fortune wallpaper by Ferrick Mason.

Inside the cabana, the staircase of wood and black steel, fabricated by Keuka Studios of New York, is set in front of a wall of black-framed windows to create a striking focal point. It leads to the second-floor office where a glass grid frames the view.

The living room is a tranquil study in white and black. A 2,200-pound stone coffee table from homenature complements the over-grouted stone of the fireplace. Wood beams rescued from old buildings by Reclaimed Lumber & Beams in North Carolina add history and character to the room.

An oak-slat wall adds warmth and camouflages a storage closet in the basement family room.

Just beyond the sunroom, the living room contains a Lee Industries sofa, a cocktail table from Theodore Alexander, a Vaughan side table, and an Armadillo jute rug.

In another area of the living room, which is painted Farrow & Ball Blue Gray, a pair of chairs upholstered in a Colefax and Fowler fabric and a custom Lee Industries ottoman provide a cozy spot by the fireplace; the vintage rug is from Landry & Arcari Rugs and Carpeting.

A custom sectional from Boston Upholstery & Design anchors the living room.

“It seemed like the perfect spot to have a little fun,” says owner Sally Hughes of the family room, which sports a wavelike wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries.

The more formal, mono-chromatic living room features a sisal wallcovering from Cowtan & Tout and Quadrille drapery with a Schumacher trim.

Traditional notes include armchairs that are covered in a stylized Kerman print from Lee Jofa. The woven end tables are antiques, and the much-loved mirror behind the sofa (from the client’s childhood bedroom) was purchased at an antiques store in the 1990s.

More is more in this living room, furnished with a mix of hardworking prints, stripes, and solids. The skirted sofas are Brunschwig & Fils, the upholstered ottoman is from Sibyl Colefax, and the rug is Elizabeth Eakins.

The room was designed with optimal seating in mind. The sofas are Thom Filicia for Kravet, and the swivel chairs are covered in a Romo pumpkin linen.

A sentimental etching by Pauline Curtiss of the client’s home in Italy rests on a cast-stone fireplace mantel. Contemporary touches include a Stark rug and custom glass coffee table from Old Biscayne Designs.

Clean-lined A. Rudin occasional chairs flank the intricately detailed fireplace.

Relocated from another room in the house, the piano helps define the long space, which is just shy of twenty-eight feet.

Pops of orange complement the neutral palette and tie into the warmth of the fir walls and ceiling.

More than your typical pool house, this newly built “party barn” is a multipurpose and much-used addition to a Vermont vacation home that Smith & Vansant Architects built a decade ago.

A window in the primary bedroom overlooks the great room. The George Smith chairs are joined by a vintage coffee table and sofas from Munder Skiles.

The great room’s woodwork was left its existing shade of green. The pair of armchairs are from George Smith and their pillows are crafted from a Raoul Textiles fabric.

In the living room, casual, comfortable furnishings complement the classic simplicity of the fireplace surround and bookcases.

The upper floor is oriented around an exterior courtyard that’s visible through floor-to-ceiling glass doors.

The existing Christopher Peacock kitchen flows into the breakfast area and family room for a gathering space that runs the expanse of the house.

The family room with its indoor/outdoor connection (and radiant heat flooring) is Boronkay’s favorite room in the house.

Interior designer Vanessa Elliott chose low-profile, neutral-colored furnishings, such as leather wingback chairs from Lee Industries, a Loloi area rug, and stonewashed linen curtains that would not conflict with the living room’s two-story fieldstone fireplace—or the view.

Interior designer Stephanie King embraced red, a favorite color of the homeowner. “It became the neutral color in the family room,” she says, including in the alcove of the built-in cabinetry. Thin metal pulls indicate where refrigerator drawers are concealed in the base.

In the sunroom, a sofa from Serena & Lily and a table and chair by Thomas O’Brien for Century make for an inviting sitting area.

The living room walls feature a sumptuous bone-inlay wallcovering from Schumacher.

A corner of the new family room features a custom console table, a lamp from Bunny Williams Home, a vintage Audubon print, and curtain fabric from Schumacher.

Plump, sinuous seating from Edra helps offset the living room’s angular lines and concrete wall, which is inset with niches for firewood and art. “We wanted to play with the plasticity of the concrete,” architect Michael Price says.

The adjoining music studio has an acoustical ceiling and wall panels to counteract all the hard surfaces, including the concrete fireplace, which features a decorative control joint over the hearth in lieu of a mantel.

In the living room, Hauck retained the original ceiling beams but sanded the dark English pine paneling to create a better background for paintings.

In the living room, contemporary furnishings in neutral colors contrast with the traditional architecture without conflicting with it. A picture-frame TV hangs from the dolomitic limestone fireplace, which soars twenty feet and had to be supported by an I-beam underneath.

A playful console table from Noir and a photograph by Sandi Fellman nestle next to the living room fireplace.

A curved sofa and oval ottoman bring softness in form, texture, and color to the living room. Vincent, a portrait by Frederick J. Brown, is a favorite piece of art from the owners’ collection.

In the living room, strips of oak add warmth and interest to the fireplace, which is set between two banks of steel-framed windows; the curves of the club chairs and coffee table play against the straight lines of the wood slats and window mullions.

In the family room, three large pendant lights, each a different size, ground the light-filled space.

The living room is painted Benjamin Moore Aegean Teal.Double doors open to what Benedict calls an “indoor-outdoor room” that connects the barn and the house, and the artwork is by JP Kilkenny.

The new barn holds a cozy family room and, on the upper level, a pool table. The wood trim on the stairway was made to look old by Pauline Curtiss of Patina Designs.

When Benedict and her husband are home alone, they often spend time in the cozy den above the mudroom; Benedict’s friend Mally Skok designed the ottoman-coffee table for Dowel.

One of the structural changes involved inserting a steel beam in the ceiling to create the large opening between the living room and the former sunroom, now the dining room. It is framed by a transom and sidelights Holly Gagne designed using windowpanes original to the house.

“Masculine meets feminine,” says Gagne of the Hunt Room, where oak beams and large slate pavers are balanced with a sculptural modern sofa and chair

Designer Liz Miller and BSA Construction’s Dave O’Malley helped their clients transform a brownstone in Boston’s South End. Miller combined old and new by hanging contemporary light fixtures—like the three-armed AERIN for Visual Comfort & Co. piece here—from existing plaster ceiling medallions.

The team made smart use of space, building storage for kitchen and dining items into alcoves on either side of the kitchen fireplace.

A fully stocked bar is accented by artwork by Sarah Madeira Day.

An abstract oil painting by Fran O’Neill brings a jolt of color to the living room, where a pair of sofas from Coup D’Etat face each other to facilitate fireside conversation.

The family room, with its stone fireplace and wood-planked ceiling, is positioned between the kitchen and the screened porch and serves as the heart of the home.

A convex mirror supplies a crisp modernist touch in the reading room that prevents it from crossing over into stuffy or stuck in time.

Shapely chairbacks around the dining table add some eye candy to the foyer.

In the family room adjacent to the open kitchen, Lindsay brought in an antique wood console accented with a plaster table lamp. Above the kitchen island, antique Italian garden lanterns from L’Antiquaire nod to yesteryear.

To complement the Gracie wallpaper, designer Melissa Lindsay painted the trim Benjamin Moore Caldwell Green, which, she says, “struck the right balance of being historic in nature, feminine but still Old World, and paired really nicely with the wood tones, brass, and mauve that we brought in.”

As with the Shingle-style country houses he designed, William Ralph Emerson gave this Cambridge home a large living room that invites a crowd. With the original fireplace as the focal point of the room, interior designer Kate Maloney created an airy, modern vibe fortified with a custom O’Lampia chandelier. The chenille sofa is balanced with custom chairs by Partners in Design.

The horseshoe armchairs from Red Egg provide seating.

The pattern on the living room carpet, which is from The Rug Company, mimics the shape of the light fixture.

Artwork by Martin Kline hangs above the original limestone fireplace surround in the penthouse’s living room, while a meandering Lindsey Adelman fixture fills the ceiling.

The homeowner was immediately drawn to the Paul Villinski butterfly wall sculpture, says interior designer Dee Elms. The butterflies seem to fly in from the living room’s arched windows and soar above the custom banquette.

A double-sided woodburning fireplace separates the sunroom from the family room, which contains a sofa from Hickory Chair, a custom coffee table from Scott James Furniture & Design, and a pair of chairs from Louis J. Solomon.

The formal living room contains a sofa from A. Rudin, a coffee table from Michael S. Smith’s Jasper Collection, and a settee from O. Henry House.

Designer Robin Pelissier used a variety of fabric colors and patterns on the custom bolster-framed sectional and swivel lounge chairs; a playful Lladró chandelier in clear and candy-colored crystal hangs above.

Purple and orange, homeowner Chris Gaffney’s favorite colors, make an appearance in the living room, where fabric-covered walls, a leather-upholstered door, and a blue velvet sofa are united by the Landry & Arcari rug.

The living room’s white-oak paneling, custom made by Urban Evolutions, has a linear, structural aesthetic, while the comfy Marge Carson sectional and the picture-frame TV depicting a vintage Mustang check the box for the loungy vibe homeowners Nicolas Djiounas and Amy Nericcio desired.

Interlude Home swivel chairs surrounding a Four Hands cocktail table create a comfortable conversation area within easy reach of the built-in bar.

You’d never know the cottage’s great room used to be a garage. It now impresses with an Uttermost coffee table, Kuzco sconces, and a cozy Calligaris sectional sofa—the better to fit the home’s many guests

The parlor is a tribute to interior designer and homeowner Ali Mahon’s ability to mix patterns to create a bright and inviting whole. Vintage pieces range from a pair of antique Louis XVI upholstered armchairs to a 1975 acrylic and leather chair by artist Jeff Messerschmidt.

The sunroom is both a laid-back gathering space for the family and a playroom for the kids; a fern wallpaper from Wallshoppe embellishes the ceiling, the sectional is from Lee Industries, and the light fixture is from Arteriors.

The living room features a Thayer Coggin sofa upholstered in a pink velvet from Kravet, CR Laine swivel chairs covered in a Schumacher fabric, and a cocktail table from Mr. Brown London; the art is from Betsy Biscone Art Advisory.

A vintage milk-glass light fixture that was in the house when the owners bought it adds a touch of glamour to the sitting room.

Intimate gathering spaces, like this fireplace sitting area off the main living room, bring a touch of coziness to the grandly scaled design.

Black-framed windows help give the home its contemporary character, both indoors and out. Natural wood accents, nickel-gap paneling, and comfortable Verellen armchairs and couches harmonize with the home’s rustic setting and help offset expanses of monochromatic walls.

Martha’s Vineyard meets Amherst in the great room: the painting above the mantel is by one of the homeowner’s favorite island artists, Jan Pawlowski, while the fireplace surround is fabricated from New Hampshire granite.

Lewis chose one long sofa from Minotti to define the seating area around the fireplace, which is sheathed in thin sheets of porcelain. An expanse of Marvin windows affords views of the tranquil meadow beyond.

A rounded bar-height tabletop at the end of the kitchen island “provides a place for casual seating with a view across the open living area,” says interior designer Polly Lewis.

Exposed Montana timber framing in the barn extends beyond the interior to create a protected outdoor patio.

The home’s original millwork couldn’t be saved, so new trim was introduced, including this oak coffered ceiling in the living room.

A Dew Drops light by Boris Klimek for bomma hangs above a custom Partners in Design sectional, a Holly Hunt lounge chair, and a Giorgetti room divider. The artwork to the left of the doorway is by Nathan Coe.

Hogarty emphasized river views by leaving the living room’s windows unadorned.

In the living room, a pair of English rolled-arm sofas upholstered in Thibaut performance fabric face each other for easy conversation. The vintage Moroccan wool rug brings out the patina of the fireplace surround, while the draperies add another layer of texture.

In the family room, painted Benjamin Moore Aganthus Green, a custom sofa that doubles as a daybed sits beside a chair covered in a durable Perennials fabric.

An exuberant Zoffany wallpaper backs the bookcase in the living room, where a slipcovered linen sofa matches the homeowners’ dog

The design team removed a heavy fieldstone fireplace that sat between the living room and a sunporch. Closing in the porch resulted in a long, light-filled living room made cozy by a new gas fireplace against one wall.

A custom sectional by Partners in Design provides a welcoming gathering spot in the living room. Curtains crafted from Holly Hunt fabric frame the Lonney White hanging sculpture in front of the windows. A Minotti lounge chair sits near the fireplace, which was designed as a modern interpretation of Savannah Helgeson’s grandmother’s fireplace.

In the husband’s “man cave,” Kolb achieved a rugged vibe by incorporating various materials and textures, from the authentic barnboard wall and the cowhide ottomans to the leather sectional and Mongolian sheep chair. The side table is a repurposed Japanese sake keg, and the horn wall sconces are from Arteriors.

Among the many knockout pieces that designer Michele Kolb chose for the living room are the gray/blue suede Exhibition daybed from Modern Classics, which was inspired by Mies van der Rohe’s popular Barcelona couch, and the Stilnovo Bovet chandelier, a sculptural fixture with adjustable bronze arms

Colorful textiles in vibrant patterns from Material Culture in Philadelphia accentuate the Moroccan theme in the library; the comfy Mongolian sheep Snoopy lounge chair is from Eleanor Rigby Home.

The room’s palette was inspired by an overlooked painting that Gates found relegated to an obscure corner; she rehung it above the mantel, between two vintage sconces from Chairish.

In the new family room, an antique brass detail in the top of the custom walnut side table is an electrical port.

Her clients’ willingness to take risks is what made their game room successful, says Gates. “Not everyone will commit to wall-to-wall blue-plaid carpet. But they really went for it, and it’s so perfect for what that room is.” The carpet is from STARK, while the pool table and shuffleboard are custom through Pharaoh USA. A ceiling fixture from Visual Comfort tops it all off.

Traditional at a glance, the living room’s Lucite-and-leather bench reveals its contemporary side.

Throughout the home, Gagne and Sanchez created small gathering areas to make the residence’s large scale feel more intimate. In the expansive living room, two separate sitting areas feature comfortable, streamlined furnishings upholstered in durable fabrics that are appropriate for the couple’s two children. “We wanted them to have these smaller, cozy spaces where they can be together as a family,” explains Sanchez.

A natural quartzite from Brazil surrounds the fireplace in the living room. A sculpture from the couple’s existing collection, the five-foot-tall Ophelia by Michael James Talbot, found a home on the mantel. Sliding panels conceal the television.

A classic coffered ceiling makes the perfect companion to the living room’s streamlined furniture. Other modern touches include the artwork by Martin Kline above the fireplace and Lindsey Adelman’s striking Branching Bubbles chandelier. With three teenagers and three dogs, owners Kim and John Toomey are happy that Elms covered the sofas and chairs with easy-care indoor-outdoor fabric.

The dark hue (Benjamin Moore Old Navy) of the TV room creates a cozy sanctuary off the bright and lively living room. The custom chair is upholstered in Langham by Jim Thompson Fabrics.

The 100-year-old cottage on the site was moved to make way for construction of the new house, then attached to one end and furnished exactly as it had been—sans insulation, and with nothing but a glass-and-wood garage door separating it from its rebuilt screened porch. “We thought it would really spoil it to winterize it,” the architect says

Palecek chairs covered in Manuel Canovas cut-velvet fabric are an inviting spot for an aperitif; Elle and the homeowner discovered the bar at Ramble Market in Waltham, Massachusetts, and Cross Rip Builders retrofitted it and added a sink to suit the space.

The color palette is coastal yet restrained, dotted with cool blues, sand tones, and creamy whites; the custom linen-wrapped coffee table from Art Applications anchors the main seating area.

The stone turret, modeled after a Dartmouth College fraternity house, was added to the living room in the 1940s. Black and her daughter made the six-canvas artwork.

The sunroom is part of the addition that Black designed in 2007 to replace one built in the 1960s.

Architect Jessie Carroll chose slender muntins of black metal for the windows to keep the focus on the view.

The Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams velvet sectional in the family room is comfortable, durable, and perfect for lounging; the horizontal muntins on the doors to the patio echo the sidelights in the front entry.

After dinner, the Monahans retire to an informal upstairs sitting room with comfy faux sheepskin chairs lit by a unique layered lighting fixture found in Soho.

Designer Chauncey Boothby uses New England-based products, like this wool rug from Boston designer Meredith Thayer, whenever she can. Likewise, artwork is by regional artists through Maine Art Hill gallery. The living room paintings are by Craig Mooney, while the piece near the stairs is by Janis H. Sanders.

In the living room, a custom sofa upholstered in Cowtan & Tout fabric, an antique chair from John Rosselli & Associates covered in Vaughan fabric, and a custom coffee table featuring Holland & Sherry embossed leather mix with engravings from German artist Basilius Besler.

The light-filled “mini-great room” boasts a rug Maher purchased on a trip through Morocco’s Atlas Mountains; the hand-hewn beams, circa 1850, were exposed during the renovation.

In the same space, Tharp specified a daybed, ottoman, and sectional from her own custom line, the Lisa Tharp Collection; the cozy-yet-streamlined pieces don’t monopolize visual space. Swivel chairs offer flexible seating; Scofield sconces hang above the fireplace.

To draw the eye upward in the long, open-plan living area, interior designer Lisa Tharp added beams and rafters to ceilings, hung drapes as high as possible, and replaced the existing fireplace surround with floor-to-ceiling paneling.

Isabella, a miniature long-haired dachshund, poses next to beloved Stephen Huneck dog sculptures repurposed for the family room’s coffee table.

Caan credits the “power of paint, pattern, and fabric” for the living room’s transformation. “I accessorized with things they already had and added here and there.”

The living area’s custom tiered coffee table with brass edges makes way for cocktails and storage.

Twin sofas further fireside relaxation in the welcoming great room. The eagle from Nantucket’s John Rugge Antiques, an eclectic plate collection, and two shadow boxes featuring exquisite handmade vegetables on gilded backgrounds boost visual interest. So does the tabletop’s large scrimshawed whalebone by Jon Laubin from Nantucket’s Sylvia Antiques.

The living area’s vaulted ceiling permits ample natural light. Interior designer Claudia Kalur chose custom Kravet sofas for their clean, modern look.

Covered by a wooden ceiling designed to resemble the hull of an upturned boat, the screen porch was the one major addition to the home. All-weather chairs surrounding a coffee table crafted from a tree harvested on the property afford lake views warmed by a crackling fire.

Opposing twin fireplaces warm this stone-sided room at the center of the house, enlivened by the face of an antique French clock. The custom mantel incorporates an oval design found on the transom over the front door, and the bench and sling chair provide extra seating in a compact room.

Window seats flanking the fireplace provide extra seating and make snug spots to curl up with a book. Rosenfeld says she found most of the room’s fabrics, including all the lively pillow covers, at small independent fabric houses and artisanal shops.

Designer Katie Rosenfeld painted walls, trim, and ceilings Farrow and Ball’s Pointing, a soft hue that makes a perfect background for an extravagance of playful patterns. On the main living level, French doors are framed with a fresh yet timeless striped floral fabric. The generous ottoman accommodates cocktails as well as rainy day games.

A closed-off sitting room provided an opportunity for the designer to go bold with art and color, including powder-blue leather wing chairs and a purple sofa.

The living room was refreshed by a new quartzite fireplace facade in shades of green.

Flooded with light, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and eleven-foot-high ceilings, the airy living room features a neutral palette of grays and off-whites. The dramatic fireplace surround is Siberian marble.

The family room/library is ideal for rest, play, or conversation. The bookshelves hold a collection of hand-turned wooden pieces by the homeowner; he also crafted the backgammon table behind the sofa.

A cozy corner of the long, narrow living room is furnished for comfort with a sectional from A. Rudin in an inviting shade of blue. Making an appropriately maritime statement is a collection of photographs from the Rosenfeld Collection from the Mystic Seaport.

Hand-hammered brass sconces add a bright touch above a pair of comfy chairs from The Antique and Artisan Gallery in Stamford.

“Rather than making a sexy evening entertainment vibe, we went for something plush, light, and inviting that beckons you to take a seat all hours of the day,” says Sinkin about the living room. Prism side tables inject an architectural element, while faux palm leaves are reminders of Florida, a favorite vacation destination. The coffered ceiling panels sport a cane-patterned wallpaper to heighten visual interest.

A pillowy sectional sofa by the newly installed fireplace makes the family room the perfect kick-back-and-relax zone.

A custom Ping-Pong table, set against Rivets wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries, plays to both sophisticated tastes and college-kid interests.

A segmented layout was scrapped to create an airy, open floor plan with hardwoods, a fresh blue-gray-natural palette, and whimsical light fixtures.

A mix of styles, from art deco to midcentury to coastal chic, makes for a sophisticated lounge space grounded by a youthful touch of fun in the neon wall sign.

Frazier and her husband spend evenings around the gas fireplace in the den. The painting is by SoWa-based artist Brittney Ciccone, who is also a close friend.

Artwork by homeowner and designer Katie Frazier’s sister-in-law, Christina Jervey, and custom throw pillows add touches of subtle pattern in neutral colors to the living room.

Natural light spills through floor-to-ceiling windows onto midcentury furnishings set on a silky teardrop rug. The rounded lines of the chairs, cocktail table, and rug soften the home’s predominantly linear design.

The den’s wallpaper is a Kirkby Design from Romo. Once again, Daher shows her talents for blending: the cubes are marble, the desk is leather-topped, and the arresting green chair wears a cotton/linen blend from Kelly Wearstler.

Daher designed the fireplace’s marble surround and the screens on either side. Stepping up their profile, the three-part screens were wallpapered and then painted. The palette throughout is a sophisticated gray and white with the occasional spark of gold or emerald green.

The great room encompasses several different activity areas and a wealth of textures, such as the layered cowhide rug beneath the coffee table at the room’s center, the high-gloss lacquer on the doors of the wet bar, and the nubby boucle Pierre Frey fabric on the chairs around the corner cocktail table. The vibrant painting above the bar is by Peruvian artist Maria Cecilia Fernandez De Arrospide.

The soaring family room features eye-catching scissor trusses as well as a comfortable collection of chairs and sofas.

Homeowner May Doherty’s eye for fashion informed the choice of furnishings. But at the end of the day, says designer Jenn Sanborn, keeping thing comfortable and welcoming was key. Plush sofas and a put-your-feet-up wooden coffee table by Gabby fit the bill.

A Wesley Hall wing chair sports a playful apple-green fabric.

Can Victorian be vibrant? It is in this case, where the living room veers from tradition with a mashup of space-age table lamps, replica claw-footed antique French chairs clad in animal skins, and jewel-toned chinoiserie throws, all reigned over by an oversize equine print.