living family rooms

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

The great room went from cavernous to cozy once Haines added the shiplap to the fireplace wall. A palette of oatmeal, cocoa, and deep blues adds to the warm ambience.

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.

The sunroom’s V-groove ceiling and slate tile floor evoke a classic beach house vibe. Wedge ottomans under the coffee table provide extra seating.

For ample seating in the living room while keeping the space airy, designer Patti Watson brought in ottomans that tuck under the coffee table and portable benches in playful blue and yellow. A photograph by Newport, Rhode Island, photographer Onne van der Wal hides the television above the fireplace.

Steel-framed glass doors separating the family room from the dining room are a modern architectural touch.

A light palette brightens the living room and complements the architecture. Fumed white oak floors throughout have the same effect. Interior designer Jennifer Palumbo devised the tailored sofa and the walnut and leather side tables. The eye-catching prints by Brazilian-born artist Vik Muniz hung in the owners’ previous home.

Homeowner/designer Mar Silver refers to the fireplace as the 5,300-square-foot home’s heart. “It radiates warmth and spirit,” she says. The chair and ottoman, by Swedish designer Arne Norell, reflect Silver’s appreciation for sculptural furniture.

Behind the lime tree in the corner of the sitting room is a painting by Manolo Valdés.

Southwest-inspired hues, like the family room’s Ikat fabric, are a nod to Santa Fe, “a place the owners love for its energy,” Hirsch says. New shelves make way for a growing collection of pottery, while the wood-topped coffee table affords space for any number of activities.

The parlor is a festive mix of dynamite wallpaper (with a theme that reminds the wife of Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are) and cool furnishings. To give the Seventh & 7th Designs cabinet even more character, Amy Aidinis Hirsch added solid brass Lisa Jarvis hardware.

As a quirky foil to the modern Lucite base, the parlor’s see-through chair wears a lady-like floral velvet by Romo.

A Four Hands sectional and chair are the centerpieces of a classic and comfortable family room. Fletcher gravitated toward timeless pieces. The colorful image on the far wall is of a beloved vacation spot, Lake Tahoe.

One of the couple’s favorite wintertime spots, this cozy sitting area off the kitchen has warm wood built-ins fabricated by Jewett Farms + Co.

The inviting great room, anchored by a sofa, chair, and coffee table from Artefact Home | Garden, in Belmont, Massachusetts, has a soothing palette, reinforced by the artwork.

The owners make good use of the sitting area adjacent to the kitchen every day. “It’s a less serious space,” Collins says. The puffs wear a Sister Parish fabric the color of fresh grass. The paneled wall conceals a wealth of storage.

The old living room windows were nixed for new models. To help frame the glorious river vistas, curtains are trimmed in a Holland & Sherry embroidery. The vintage console is another Atlanta-found prize.

New built-ins provide the living room with storage and a display area for books and mementoes. Skillful at mixing, Collins teams an antique floral-dressed chair with a cool David Iatesta coffee table. Unexpected materials add punch. The eye-catching octagonal mirror, for instance, is made of porcupine quills.

The home’s one large, blank wall was put to good use in the den, where the designer juxtaposed multiple works of art in varied styles in a gallery-like display.

The low profile and neutral color of this chaise—a prized spot for reading and relaxation—does little to distract from the vistas of the Boston waterfront.

David Kroll’s Apples and Two Vases, the owners’ favorite painting, provides a focal point in the living room as well as a starting point for the choices of color, texture, and materials used in the room design.

While not gallery white, the paint scheme and fabrics provide a sedate palette that lets the artwork remain the focal point in every space, as here in the living room.

The parlor features a pencil drawing by Sandra Allen of the beech tree that dominates the park at the rear of the home.

Ornate architectural details meet a neutral palette, modern furniture, and a Moroccan tribal rug to give a narrow front parlor a scaled-down, open feel.

The family room, once the rear parlor, opens onto a patio that overlooks the shared neighborhood park.

The antique Jacobean chairs in the living room are from designer and homeowner Paul Corrie’s own collection.

The designers based the mantel lambrequin on one they saw at a London house museum.

Olasky sourced dozens of antique and vintage ornaments to pair with the owners’ collection of art glass ornaments.

Guests are welcomed by a warm fireplace and an expansive leather couch; copious built-in cabinets virtually eliminate clutter from the home.

The living room is a favorite gathering spot for family and friends.

A place for respite in the front parlor.

The front parlor was recently updated with a light touch, while respecting Sister Parish’s signature touches.

Not surprisingly, everyone wants dibs on the down-filled daybed in a lounging area near the kitchen.

Exterior walls reinforced with steel meant the first floor could be one wide-open space incorporating the living, dining, and kitchen areas. A reclaimed wood ceiling adds a rustic note.

Durable indoor-outdoor furniture from one of the owners’ other homes was covered in new fabric and repurposed for the screen house.

Modernist pieces, including Italian tulip swivel armchairs, give the living room a stylish but informal look.

Kenneth Cobonpue’s Bouquet end table pairs with a vintage sofa treated to new chartreuse upholstery to create a playful mood.

Vivid blues dominate the palette throughout the house, as in the Madeline Weinrib rug that grounds the family room.

A set of paintings by Deborah Quinn-Munson are a focal point on the divider that separates the reading room from the family room on the opposite side.

Lofty ceilings give the great room, which is divided into this reading room and a family room/dining area, its airy feeling.

Simple upholstered seating serves as backdrop to an assortment of wooden pieces from the homeowners’ store, including a reclaimed elm coffee table from England. Rustic ceiling beams add vintage charm to the new house.

Photo by David Sundberg/Esto

The living room’s original ceiling beams were left exposed, brushed with paint, and paired with new beadboard. The art in the house is largely from artists with a local connection, as with the landscape by Truro-based Michael del Visco.

The casual sitting room has a collected feel and relaxed vibe; the demilune and the wooden armchair on the left belonged to the homeowner’s mother.

A sitting area in the newer of the merged units has the same sensibility as the great room in the “old” one.

Exposed wood in rich finishes stands in contrast to the whitewashed oak floors and white walls throughout.

The casual sitting room has a collected feel and relaxed vibe; the demilune and the wooden armchair on the left belonged to the homeowner’s mother.

The views sold the homeowners on this penthouse apartment. Tall wraparound windows bring an abundance of natural light into the wide-open great room, while the soft palette of gray and white couldn’t be simpler—or more elegant.

Accents like a rustic cowhide and this Lillian August ottoman/coffee table, made from a kilim rug, add warmth and mountain-house flair.

A chic console doubles as a mini cocktail bar, perfect for entertaining.

An addition to the back of the house, featuring wall-to-wall windows and French doors that open to a heated patio, was dubbed “the snow globe” by the family for its enchanted, cozy feel when the flakes fall.

The living room’s cool palette of blues and grays is enlivened with a playful mix of styles and unexpected touches like African-print pillows.

A leather Chesterfield sofa offers a kid-proof perch for TV viewing.

Working with Boston’s Krakow Witkin Gallery and Jules Place, the designer and her clients found contemporary art that beautifully complements the old room. In the same congenial spirit, modern furnishings and fixtures look right at home with the living room’s classic architectural details.

Doors and screens in the glass sitting room are designed to slide completely open to let the outdoors in.

The stones in the fireplace surround, chosen to match those on the beach out front, dictate the living room’s earth-tone palette.

A huge slab of polished marble serves as a focal point in the living room, complementing the views of the lush backyard and acting as a counterpoint to the room’s sleek, modern design.

The pattern on the rug that defines the living room area echoes the interlocking squares on the ceiling. A glass chandelier and crystal sconces make elegant companions to the glossy Striato Olimpico marble of the fireplace.

The pub room on the lower level boasts an eclectic mix of clubby leather seating and an African table dating back to the 1940s.

The great room’s antique oak ceiling rises nearly twenty-two feet and is illuminated by French doors crowned with a solid granite lintel that took a day and a half to hoist into place.

A corner table provides the perfect perch for tastings.

Industrial-style stools await visitors at the bar, whose rear door leads to a wine cellar with storage for 2,000 bottles.

The keeping room is home to owner Ashley’s finds; she loves scouting for antiques and unusual pieces, like the blue leather wing chairs and animal-print ottoman, that bring personality to her rooms.

The great room is a study in contrasts; its rustic backdrop is softened with transitional furnishings in quiet colors and energized with bolder, more modern accents.

The balcony overlooking the great room was painstakingly and authentically restored, with the ceiling, balustrade, and paneled walls refabricated to match what was there before a devastating fire.

The slate shelves of the salvaged piece are loaded with items collected by generations of Tilletts.

A rusted metal shelf loaded with family mementos serves as a semitransparent room divider.

Oversize two-over-two windows enhance the connection to the landscape (and get around Nantucket’s prohibition on windows without muntins). Even the sliding doors are taller than normal, to take advantage of views. The architects obliged the owners’ request for recliners with these sleek models from Design Within Reach, which sit in front of the wood-burning fireplace.

A slatted screen admits light to the stairwell while establishing a midcentury vibe that’s echoed in the living room furnishings. The neutral palette defers to the scenery, save for the sofa’s incendiary spark.

By using a natural, neutral color palette in the great room, the design team ensured the furniture and accessories would not detract from the dramatic exterior views or the focal-point stone fireplace.

See-through white JANUS et Cie Forest chairs and a gossamer Moooi pendant light leave the view from the sitting room unobscured.

Strategic splashes of color in the living room tease the eye without distracting from the views.

The dining tables sit between the living room and kitchen in the home’s central “life space,” with a glass-enclosed sitting room projecting toward the backyard.

The atmosphere is relaxed in the living room, with colors borrowed from a Cuban painting over the fireplace. A skirted table divides the room into two seating areas. A console table was turned into a bar to draw people into the living room.

Comfort was paramount in the family room, which features a custom ottoman covered in outdoor canvas. Patterned paper enlivens the back of the bookshelves.

A console table was turned into a bar to draw people into the living room.

The spacious living room is furnished with custom, linen-upholstered sofas, a custom coffee table, and for added drama, a vintage Augusto Bozzi lounge chair, all grounded by a textural dhurrie rug.

In keeping with the home’s bayside location, the family room takes on a nautical flair with beachy colors and a cleverly designed barrel-vault ceiling.

The study features darker colors and materials and a bold, graphic rug.

The sunken living room’s expansive windows frame the drop-dead view.

The kitchen continues the beach tones in the rich blues of the granite countertops and the back-painted, glass-tiled backsplash.

A wood and rattan side table, topped by a 1940s painting, is a classic touch in the contemporary setting.

The sloping lot offers extensive views of the bay beyond from the home, from its many terraces and patios, and from the deck surrounding the infinity pool.

The pool house is an architectural nod to the main house.

Local fieldstone visually links the house with the terrace areas.

Pale shades of sand and sea reflect the home’s location.

An elegant but relaxed design scheme is evident in the living room and the dining room beyond.

An environmentally protected coastal bank provides a natural buffer between the pool and the bay.

A grouping of Italian furnishings makes an appealing vignette alongside the window.

“Soft melon and cream are colors the owners have always preferred,” says interior designer Richard FitzGerald, referring to the pastel-hued living room.

The living room coffee table was custom made from a fallen Martha’s Vineyard tree. Bursts of hot pink add vibrancy to the color palette, and exposed beams draw attention to the fourteen-foot ceilings.

Decorative beams, a stone fireplace, and a sliding barn door give the living room a rustic feel.

A cherry-paneled media room was painted a custom-mixed bright blue to add color and reflect light.

With no kids or pets in residence, the homeowners embraced this pale, custom-designed rug by J.D. Staron. Photographs by Jim Nickelson add a graphic punch, and gold coffee tables gleam at the center of it all.

Fauteuils from the homeowners’ prior home flank the painted limestone fireplace.

A few large, simple furnishings, including sofas in muted colors, help scale the great room down to human size, but the custom Holly Hunt chandelier bespeaks rustic grandeur.

To add to the living room’s airy feel, designer Christina Sullivan Roughan removed crown molding above the French doors and hung the draperies as high as possible. The neutral palette of pale gray and white gets youthful energy with the occasional shot of sky blue.

In the family room, hemp wallcovering and wool carpeting enhance the cozy feel.

The random dots in the Stark stair runner meander from the lower level to the fourth-floor office.

The fireplace’s sculptural treatment adds subtle movement to the living room. The panels of the Nada Debs cocktail table can be reconfigured for a variety of looks.

Designer Beth Martell and her partner, Enda Donagher, designed the family room fireplace. As elsewhere in the house, Martell used color sparingly as an accent against a neutral palette.

Artwork by Richard Serra pops against the white walls.

A Dennis & Leen sofa with a somewhat formal silhouette plays off the room’s contemporary art.

Iconic Eames walnut stools are part of the room’s playful mix of patterns and textures.

The living room’s sofas, custom designed by interior designer Gilles Clement, get extra visual interest with built-in shelves at their backs.

The pendulous chandelier is suspended by a cascade of chains. Unfinished ceiling beams are a nod to the home’s Colonial heritage, while the black-and-white palette and graphic fabrics are a modern touch

The cocktail room’s gold paint and drapes brighten the substantial leather furniture and deep teal shelves.

Adolfo Perez designed the variable-sized circle lights that dance across the playroom ceiling. With a ping-pong table, foosball, a billiards table, and plenty of comfortable seating, the expansive space is a favorite gathering place.

A chenille sectional makes a playful sitting arrangement in the living room.

A custom billiard table in a matte lacquer matches the concrete-lookalike walls; its organic shape appears to float, softening the straight lines of the upper play area. A sliding barn door opens to the playroom for entertaining, or closes it off for privacy.

Lined with white oak, the innovative wet bar instantly transforms the front parlor into an ideal entertainment space.

New steel-framed windows give the back parlor the feel of a Parisian atelier.

The room’s wealth of texture includes a sculptural metal Jieldé floor lamp and a bold Merida carpet topped with a hide area rug.

Meticulous planning allowed for additional shelving and cabinetry in the family room, where Eero Saarinen’s Womb Chair from Knoll is a popular seat.