Example of a large trendy backyard tile and rectangular lap hot tub design in Toronto

Example of a classic exterior home design in Minneapolis

Jason Roehner
Example of an urban living room design in Phoenix

Example of a trendy family room design in DC Metro with no fireplace and no tv

BC&J Architecture designed a floating home that is now located at its permanent location on the Willamette River in Portland. The home was constructed at a Marina an hour from the final home location. Upon completion, the home was floated up the Willamette River to the current site. The homeowners were looking for a river side, cottage style house well suited to entertaining. At 2,100 square feet, the home has an open floor plan with a large kitchen opening to a dining room and the living room with views onto the river. Upstairs, the master bedroom extends toward the river under a large centered dormer. On the opposite side of the master bedroom is a bonus room under a symmetrical dormer that will serve as guest quarters when adult children and grandchildren visit.

Claudia Bell
Home design - coastal home design idea in Miami

This is technically both living room and family room combined into one space, which is very common in city living. This poses a conundrum for a designer because the space needs to function on so many different levels. On a day to day basis, it's just a place to watch television and chill. When company is over though, it metamorphosis into a sophisticated and elegant gathering place. Adjacent to dining and kitchen, it's the perfect for any situation that comes your way, including for holidays when that drop leaf table opens up to seat 12 or even 14 guests. Photo: Ward Roberts

Add elegance to your home with the Bergamo Sectional Sofa in White. Reinforced using quality wood and soft leatherette, this sofa exudes class while administering support. The headrests are adjustable to aid in custom comfort, and the built-in armrest storage is perfect for hiding clutter. Designed with mix and match qualities, the sofa size can be altered to create the ideal living space. Pro Tip: For a larger living room, see the Bergamo Extended Sectional.

Great room interior of a new construction single-level home. The signature butterfly shed roofline is fully expressed inside as a series of black-framed clerestory windows running the full width of the great room, admitting a continuous band of natural light and redwood canopy views above the interior wall line while maintaining privacy at eye level. Warm walnut flat-front cabinetry runs the full perimeter of the kitchen at left, with slate blue upper cabinets visible beyond and a full-height walnut appliance tower with integrated stainless steel refrigerator and double oven anchoring the center. A blue kitchen island with white quartz countertop extends into a cantilevered walnut butcher block dining table with a distinctive slatted walnut fluted base. Black molded shell chairs with oak legs surround the dining extension. Single white globe pendant hangs above. The terracotta red front entry door with cedar-clad entry volume is visible through the interior opening at center, connecting the street threshold to the deepest interior space in one axial view. Family room with cognac leather sofa, walnut credenza, and slatted walnut room divider panels visible to the right. Charcoal polished concrete radiant slab floors extend throughout.

Modern Living Room with Wood Slat Fireplace Wall This dramatic living space is anchored by a floor-to-ceiling wood slat accent wall, illuminated from behind with soft integrated lighting that traces the full height of the room. A sleek linear fireplace is recessed directly into the slats, creating a striking, gallery-like focal point. A curved white sectional sofa and matching ottoman offer generous, relaxed seating, while a pair of leather swivel accent chairs add warmth and texture in contrasting brown tones. A live-edge wood side table and sculptural black coffee table bring organic and modern elements together atop a soft neutral area rug. Just beyond the seating area, a floor-to-ceiling wood slat room divider doubles as open shelving, displaying a curated collection of books and decorative objects while maintaining sightlines through to the entryway and front door. Richly veined marble flooring extends throughout, and tall windows alongside the door flood the space with natural light. Together, the space balances architectural drama with comfortable, livable furnishings — a warm, sculptural living room that feels connected to the rest of the home's open, modern design.

Close to Lincoln Center Plaza, two existing apartments were combined into a single custom tailored 4-bedroom residence. Characteristic with other buildings from the same post-war era, the existing apartments suffered greatly from a low, monotonous ceiling slab. To break up the ceiling, floating planes containing low-profile LED recessed lighting were incorporated throughout. Grey-washed birch veneer millwork is seen as you enter into the new foyer space. A blackened steel inlaid panel serves as a datum that continues throughout the apartment, wrapping the entry unit and extending around the corner to then transform into a floating bookshelf. The unit not only divides the entry area from the Living room, but also serves its utilitarian purpose on the foyer side as coat and storage closets, and then an entertaining function on the opposing side with a TV niche and custom liquor bar. Whitewashed rift and quartered white oak floors were used to brighten the space. In the kitchen, marble counters extend up the wall and onto the ceiling marking the separation of the kitchen/dining area from the living room/entry area. The kid’s room contains a custom curved desk area built beneath the bay windows to take advantage of the views. In the master bedroom, the blackened steel inlay reappears inset into the wardrobe wall unit.

The living room contains a 10,000 record collection on an engineered, bespoke steel shelving system anchored to the wall and foundation. A dining table is placed near the threshold of the pocketing aluminum framed sliding glass doors. The white oak ceiling extends from the living room to the exterior roof overhang as the flagstone flooring passes the door threshold as well. The ridge top canyon landscape slowly grows into the living space as a hand hewn wood column holds the ceiling. An oculus gives a peek to the garden roof above from below.

The family room at this 15,000-square-foot Hillsborough residence was designed to serve as the informal heart of a home built for a family with three active teenagers. Heather Hilliard Design anchored the seating group with a sofa upholstered in British Blue and a custom geometric area rug. Armchairs provide a reading perch alongside the round side table in white oak. For additional storage and texture, HHD selected the dresser in Vermont honey. The artwork brings a meditative counterweight to the room's casual furnishings. The room connects to the outdoor terrace, where a custom teak sofa and dining chairs extend the family's entertaining space into the landscape. Heather Hilliard Design | San Francisco, CA

Visual Advantage
Mid-sized transitional formal and open concept dark wood floor living room photo in Toronto with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

When the developer found this brownstone on the Upper Westside he immediately researched and found its potential for expansion. We were hired to maximize the existing brownstone and turn it from its current existence as 5 individual apartments into a large luxury single family home. The existing building was extended 16 feet into the rear yard and a new sixth story was added along with an occupied roof. The project was not a complete gut renovation, the character of the parlor floor was maintained, along with the original front facade, windows, shutters, and fireplaces throughout. A new solid oak stair was built from the garden floor to the roof in conjunction with a small supplemental passenger elevator directly adjacent to the staircase. The new brick rear facade features oversized windows; one special aspect of which is the folding window wall at the ground level that can be completely opened to the garden. The goal to keep the original character of the brownstone yet to update it with modern touches can be seen throughout the house. The large kitchen has Italian lacquer cabinetry with walnut and glass accents, white quartz counters and backsplash and a Calcutta gold arabesque mosaic accent wall. On the parlor floor a custom wetbar, large closet and powder room are housed in a new floor to ceiling wood paneled core. The master bathroom contains a large freestanding tub, a glass enclosed white marbled steam shower, and grey wood vanities accented by a white marble floral mosaic. The new forth floor front room is highlighted by a unique sloped skylight that offers wide skyline views. The house is topped off with a glass stair enclosure that contains an integrated window seat offering views of the roof and an intimate space to relax in the sun.

The small eat - in kitchen was designed with functionality in mind. The clients needed as much counter space as possible for cooking and prepping, as well as a dedicated spot for their many cookbooks. Soda Glass panels were used for the backsplash. The clients are able to write down recipes, weekly meal schedules and notes on the glass backsplash - making for a truly functional and personal kitchen. The extendable dining table was purchased to cater to their growing family. Treve Johnson Photography

Drop-in bathtub - contemporary master white tile drop-in bathtub idea in San Diego with white walls, an undermount sink, white cabinets and soapstone countertops

Living room - contemporary living room idea in New York with a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace

A couple wanted a weekend retreat without spending a majority of their getaway in an automobile. Therefore, a lot was purchased along the Rocky River with the vision of creating a nearby escape less than five miles away from their home. This 1,300 sf 24’ x 24’ dwelling is divided into a four square quadrant with the goal to create a variety of interior and exterior experiences while maintaining a rather small footprint. Typically, when going on a weekend retreat one has the drive time to decompress. However, without this, the goal was to create a procession from the car to the house to signify such change of context. This concept was achieved through the use of a wood slatted screen wall which must be passed through. After winding around a collection of poured concrete steps and walls one comes to a wood plank bridge and crosses over a Japanese garden leaving all the stresses of the daily world behind. The house is structured around a nine column steel frame grid, which reinforces the impression one gets of the four quadrants. The two rear quadrants intentionally house enclosed program space but once passed through, the floor plan completely opens to long views down to the mouth of the river into Lake Erie. On the second floor the four square grid is stacked with one quadrant removed for the two story living area on the first floor to capture heightened views down the river. In a move to create complete separation there is a one quadrant roof top office with surrounding roof top garden space. The rooftop office is accessed through a unique approach by exiting onto a steel grated staircase which wraps up the exterior facade of the house. This experience provides an additional retreat within their weekend getaway, and serves as the apex of the house where one can completely enjoy the views of Lake Erie disappearing over the horizon. Visually the house extends into the riverside site, but the four quadrant axis also physically extends creating a series of experiences out on the property. The Northeast kitchen quadrant extends out to become an exterior kitchen & dining space. The two-story Northwest living room quadrant extends out to a series of wrap around steps and lounge seating. A fire pit sits in this quadrant as well farther out in the lawn. A fruit and vegetable garden sits out in the Southwest quadrant in near proximity to the shed, and the entry sequence is contained within the Southeast quadrant extension. Internally and externally the whole house is organized in a simple and concise way and achieves the ultimate goal of creating many different experiences within a rationally sized footprint. Photo: Sergiu Stoian