The two-story great room features custom modern fireplace and modern chandelier. Voluptuous windows let in the beautiful PNW light.
Example of a large trendy open concept medium tone wood floor and beige floor living room design in Seattle with white walls, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and a stone fireplace

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless open concept and formal dark wood floor living room remodel in New York with a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and beige walls

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional enclosed and formal light wood floor living room remodel in Kansas City with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and no tv

Photographer: Jay Goodrich This 2800 sf single-family home was completed in 2009. The clients desired an intimate, yet dynamic family residence that reflected the beauty of the site and the lifestyle of the San Juan Islands. The house was built to be both a place to gather for large dinners with friends and family as well as a cozy home for the couple when they are there alone. The project is located on a stunning, but cripplingly-restricted site overlooking Griffin Bay on San Juan Island. The most practical area to build was exactly where three beautiful old growth trees had already chosen to live. A prior architect, in a prior design, had proposed chopping them down and building right in the middle of the site. From our perspective, the trees were an important essence of the site and respectfully had to be preserved. As a result we squeezed the programmatic requirements, kept the clients on a square foot restriction and pressed tight against property setbacks. The delineate concept is a stone wall that sweeps from the parking to the entry, through the house and out the other side, terminating in a hook that nestles the master shower. This is the symbolic and functional shield between the public road and the private living spaces of the home owners. All the primary living spaces and the master suite are on the water side, the remaining rooms are tucked into the hill on the road side of the wall. Off-setting the solid massing of the stone walls is a pavilion which grabs the views and the light to the south, east and west. Built in a position to be hammered by the winter storms the pavilion, while light and airy in appearance and feeling, is constructed of glass, steel, stout wood timbers and doors with a stone roof and a slate floor. The glass pavilion is anchored by two concrete panel chimneys; the windows are steel framed and the exterior skin is of powder coated steel sheathing.

Living room - southwestern living room idea in Phoenix with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Photo Credit: Mark Ehlen
Example of a mid-sized classic formal and enclosed dark wood floor living room design in Minneapolis with beige walls, a standard fireplace, no tv and a wood fireplace surround

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional master carpeted and white floor bedroom remodel in Other with white walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years! Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

Example of a trendy ceramic tile and white floor living room design in San Francisco with a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Example of a huge classic dark wood floor living room design in Seattle with a standard fireplace, no tv and white walls

Joseph St. Pierre photo
Inspiration for a large timeless enclosed medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Boston with a stone fireplace, beige walls and a standard fireplace

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Example of a large classic living room design in Seattle with white walls and a standard fireplace

Steve Henke
Example of a mid-sized classic formal and enclosed light wood floor and coffered ceiling living room design in Minneapolis with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Emily Gilbert
Trendy medium tone wood floor family room library photo in New York with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Photography by Michael J. Lee
Example of a large transitional formal and open concept medium tone wood floor, brown floor and tray ceiling living room design in Boston with beige walls, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Wood burning fireplace with carved limestone surround, window seats, and built in cabinetry Peter Nilson
Transitional dark wood floor family room photo in Chicago with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv