Inspiration for a timeless formal dark wood floor living room remodel in Baltimore with white walls

Playful, blue, and practical were the design directives for this family-friendly home.
Example of a mid-sized transitional medium tone wood floor family room design in New York with no tv

The inviting nature of this Library/Living Room provides a warm space for family and guests to gather.
Example of a large country open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in San Francisco with white walls, a standard fireplace and a concrete fireplace

This contemporary family room features a sectional with a wood frame and grey upholstered seats, layered with black, grey, blue, and coral throw pillows and a dark grey waffle throw blanket for comfort and style. A circular blue ottoman adds a pop of color, while a grey, white, blue, and yellow geometric area rug anchors the space. A wood media console provides functional storage, and floor-to-ceiling windows fill the room with natural light. Flush trim and recessed baseboards maintain clean, modern lines, while white-framed contemporary art completes the look, creating a warm and inviting living area. Photo by Thomas Kuoh.

Drawing from the blue tones in the family’s heirloom tapestry, we chose Blue China by Valspar for the walls of this transitional living room. It ties the room together while evoking the feeling of antique shopping in New York City and admiring the Chinese porcelain that you find there. Vintage décor, a pair of custom-made traditional-style ottomans, and intricate patterned curtains are another nod to this history, while built-in bookshelves, a simple and refined fireplace, and the sleek frame of a chandelier offer modern touches that take this space from traditional to transitional.

Formal & Transitional Living Room with Sophisticated Blue Walls, Photography by Susie Brenner
Example of a mid-sized classic formal and open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in Denver with blue walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Example of a transitional living room design in Louisville

In this renovation, a spare bedroom was removed to expand the living and dining space. A central built in separates the living from the dining area and provides ample storage while serving as a media center. Featured in Interior Design, Sept. 2014, p. 216 and Serendipity, Oct. 2014, p. 30. Renovation, Interior Design, and Furnishing: Luca Andrisani Architect. Photo: Peter Murdock

[Our Clients] We were so excited to help these new homeowners re-envision their split-level diamond in the rough. There was so much potential in those walls, and we couldn’t wait to delve in and start transforming spaces. Our primary goal was to re-imagine the main level of the home and create an open flow between the space. So, we started by converting the existing single car garage into their living room (complete with a new fireplace) and opening up the kitchen to the rest of the level. [Kitchen] The original kitchen had been on the small side and cut-off from the rest of the home, but after we removed the coat closet, this kitchen opened up beautifully. Our plan was to create an open and light filled kitchen with a design that translated well to the other spaces in this home, and a layout that offered plenty of space for multiple cooks. We utilized clean white cabinets around the perimeter of the kitchen and popped the island with a spunky shade of blue. To add a real element of fun, we jazzed it up with the colorful escher tile at the backsplash and brought in accents of brass in the hardware and light fixtures to tie it all together. Through out this home we brought in warm wood accents and the kitchen was no exception, with its custom floating shelves and graceful waterfall butcher block counter at the island. [Dining Room] The dining room had once been the home’s living room, but we had other plans in mind. With its dramatic vaulted ceiling and new custom steel railing, this room was just screaming for a dramatic light fixture and a large table to welcome one-and-all. [Living Room] We converted the original garage into a lovely little living room with a cozy fireplace. There is plenty of new storage in this space (that ties in with the kitchen finishes), but the real gem is the reading nook with two of the most comfortable armchairs you’ve ever sat in. [Master Suite] This home didn’t originally have a master suite, so we decided to convert one of the bedrooms and create a charming suite that you’d never want to leave. The master bathroom aesthetic quickly became all about the textures. With a sultry black hex on the floor and a dimensional geometric tile on the walls we set the stage for a calm space. The warm walnut vanity and touches of brass cozy up the space and relate with the feel of the rest of the home. We continued the warm wood touches into the master bedroom, but went for a rich accent wall that elevated the sophistication level and sets this space apart. [Hall Bathroom] The floor tile in this bathroom still makes our hearts skip a beat. We designed the rest of the space to be a clean and bright white, and really let the lovely blue of the floor tile pop. The walnut vanity cabinet (complete with hairpin legs) adds a lovely level of warmth to this bathroom, and the black and brass accents add the sophisticated touch we were looking for. [Office] We loved the original built-ins in this space, and knew they needed to always be a part of this house, but these 60-year-old beauties definitely needed a little help. We cleaned up the cabinets and brass hardware, switched out the formica counter for a new quartz top, and painted wall a cheery accent color to liven it up a bit. And voila! We have an office that is the envy of the neighborhood.

If you're working with 1 or 2 colors, mix the tones for a layered look. Laura Moss Photography
Living room - coastal formal medium tone wood floor living room idea in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Living flows from room to room easily in this great room style living space with large windows. Photography by Spacecrafting.
Large elegant open concept carpeted living room photo in Minneapolis with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a media wall

Mid-sized trendy open concept dark wood floor and brown floor living room photo in Los Angeles with white walls

We juxtaposed bold colors and contemporary furnishings with the early twentieth-century interior architecture for this four-level Pacific Heights Edwardian. The home's showpiece is the living room, where the walls received a rich coat of blackened teal blue paint with a high gloss finish, while the high ceiling is painted off-white with violet undertones. Against this dramatic backdrop, we placed a streamlined sofa upholstered in an opulent navy velour and companioned it with a pair of modern lounge chairs covered in raspberry mohair. An artisanal wool and silk rug in indigo, wine, and smoke ties the space together.

Transitional formal dark wood floor and brown floor living room photo in DC Metro with green walls and no fireplace

The living room has a built-in media niche. The cabinet doors are paneled in white to match the walls while the top is a natural live edge in Monkey Pod wood. The feature wall was highlighted by the use of modular arts in the same color as the walls but with a texture reminiscent of ripples on water. On either side of the TV hang a cluster of wooden pendants. The paneled walls and ceiling are painted white creating a seamless design. The teak glass sliding doors pocket into the walls creating an indoor-outdoor space. The great room is decorated in blues, greens and whites, with a jute rug on the floor, a solid log coffee table, slip covered white sofa, and custom blue and green throw pillows.

Example of an eclectic living room design in Atlanta

Living room - coastal living room idea in Minneapolis

A fresh take on traditional style, this sprawling suburban home draws its occupants together in beautifully, comfortably designed spaces that gather family members for companionship, conversation, and conviviality. At the same time, it adroitly accommodates a crowd, and facilitates large-scale entertaining with ease. This balance of private intimacy and public welcome is the result of Soucie Horner’s deft remodeling of the original floor plan and creation of an all-new wing comprising functional spaces including a mudroom, powder room, laundry room, and home office, along with an exciting, three-room teen suite above. A quietly orchestrated symphony of grayed blues unites this home, from Soucie Horner Collections custom furniture and rugs, to objects, accessories, and decorative exclamationpoints that punctuate the carefully synthesized interiors. A discerning demonstration of family-friendly living at its finest.

Layered in timeless blues, soft greens, and warm creams, this space balances tradition with everyday comfort. Thoughtfully designed with family in mind, the room invites both connection and quiet moments—ample seating encourages gathering, while a dedicated game table sets the stage for friendly competition and shared memories. A traditional secretary desk adds a functional, collected touch, perfect for homework, correspondence, or simply keeping life organized. Comfortable, classic, and meant to be lived in—this is a living room where style and family life coexist beautifully.