living family rooms

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.

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.

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 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

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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