Rick Lee Photo
Inspiration for a rustic living room remodel in Charleston with a stone fireplace

Michael Hsu
Example of a large trendy living room design in Austin

Built-in cabinetry helps keeps the fireplace area tidy Scott Bergmann Photography
Inspiration for a large farmhouse open concept medium tone wood floor living room remodel in Boston with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Photo by Sean Litchfield
Inspiration for a transitional dark wood floor living room remodel in Boston with white walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace

Example of a small transitional enclosed light wood floor and brown floor family room design in Chicago with blue walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

This fireside all season porch is flanked by a Heat & Glo gas fireplace with accents of Bucks County Chardonnay Southern Ledgestone & custom built mantle.

A cozy beachy home with sisal and jute accents with white painted brick. A rustic coffee table and a slip covered white love seat. How about that mantle in a piece of driftwood. Photo by Rani Ruby

blue subway tile, console table, gas fireplace, moroccan rug, round upholstered ottoman, sectional sofa, swivel chair, tufted ottoman, tv over fireplace, white fireplace mantel, white trim

Guest and Pool House in Medina Washington. Interior Design by Hyde Evans Design. Photo by Benjamin Benschneider
Elegant living room photo in Seattle with beige walls and a standard fireplace

This beautiful stone fireplace is adorned with Coronado Stone Products - Italian Villa Stone Veneer in the color Volterra. Italian Villa Stone is a lightweight stone veneer product that adheres to pretty much any substrate. Corner stones are available for this profile. See more Coronado Stone Products

Living room - large contemporary open concept light wood floor, beige floor and vaulted ceiling living room idea in Portland with white walls, a ribbon fireplace and a tile fireplace

Acucraft Hearthroom 44 Indoor Outdoor See Through Wood Burning Fireplace with Arched Front & Doors, Basket Handles, Black Matte Finish, Real Stone Surround and Hearthstone Hearth.

While renovating the master bedroom last year, the Mohrmans replaced the fireplace surround with white ceramic tile. Placed in a herringbone pattern, the tile and dark grout work together to lend a period feel to the room. As with many renovations, there were some surprises along the way. "From what we could tell the mantle had never been removed", Chelsea explains. "We removed the mantle and found bits and pieces of photos, ticket stubs, coins, etc that had fallen back there over the years. Some of the items were dated back to the 1930’s." Being the eighth owners of the home, it was hard to tell whether there was something there from every previous owner, "... but we gathered it all, placed it in a tin, added our own piece, and placed it back inside the mantle as a time capsule for future owners to find in decades to come."

Transitional living room photo in Los Angeles

Distressed wood fireplace mantel by Harpeth River Furniture, fireplace indigo subway tile. House addition by Lawrence Brothers of Nashville, TN. Plaster and Reclaimed Wood Fireplace Surround. House addition to a bungalow.

Around the fireplace the existing slate tiles were matched and brought full height to simplify and strengthen the overall fireplace design, and a seven-foot live-edged log of Sycamore was milled, polished and mounted on the slate to create a stunning fireplace mantle and help frame the new art niche created above. searanchimages.com

Using large tiles in a space is going to be even more popular in 2014 because it has fewer grout lines in the final layout. Normandy Designer Karen Chanan went with large, creamy gray tile for this contemporary fireplace design.

This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered. Before: Larkhall Crescent Home: Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative. Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind. After: Warm & Cozy Family Room: Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen. Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible. Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston. We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice. Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking… Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living: This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends. On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise… A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard. To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated. Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting. Praise from Our Clients: It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say? “Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations. Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!” In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)

Custom shiplap fireplace design with electric fireplace insert, elm barn beam and wall mounted TV.
Inspiration for a mid-sized country enclosed carpeted and beige floor living room remodel in Toronto with gray walls, a hanging fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv