The 10 Most Popular Living Room Photos of 2017
A fireplace with built-in wine storage and a traditional garden bench hung from a beam star in these top living rooms
Whether it was handmade wallpaper, a fireplace with built-in nooks or a traditional Indian garden bench turned into a swing, customized touches were key in Houzz readers’ favorite living rooms this year. In reverse order, here’s a look at the most popular living rooms of 2017, as measured by the number of Houzz users who saved them to their ideabooks. Do you see any ideas you’d try in your home?
9. Party-Ready Makeover
After decades of living in her coastal cottage near Kitsilano Beach in Vancouver, Canada, a gracious host in her 70s decided it was time to update her living room and make it more party-ready for gatherings with friends.
The existing fireplace was traditional, with a huge hearth and mantel and recessed nooks on either side. Designer Lauren Webb redesigned the fireplace area, making everything flush and streamlined, with the TV recessed above the firebox and two doors on either side for storage. On the side of the fireplace wall is a built-in wine cabinet that gives the homeowner easy access to bottles when hosting.
After decades of living in her coastal cottage near Kitsilano Beach in Vancouver, Canada, a gracious host in her 70s decided it was time to update her living room and make it more party-ready for gatherings with friends.
The existing fireplace was traditional, with a huge hearth and mantel and recessed nooks on either side. Designer Lauren Webb redesigned the fireplace area, making everything flush and streamlined, with the TV recessed above the firebox and two doors on either side for storage. On the side of the fireplace wall is a built-in wine cabinet that gives the homeowner easy access to bottles when hosting.
8. Swinging Style
For this living room in Mumbai, India, designer Shabnam Gupta added a very traditional jhoola (a swing that’s a staple in many Indian homes, especially in courtyards and gardens) almost right in the middle of the space. “This two-seater swing was created from a plank of wood and hung from teal-blue ropes,” Gupta says.
For this living room in Mumbai, India, designer Shabnam Gupta added a very traditional jhoola (a swing that’s a staple in many Indian homes, especially in courtyards and gardens) almost right in the middle of the space. “This two-seater swing was created from a plank of wood and hung from teal-blue ropes,” Gupta says.
7. Bringing in the Blues
A blue accent theme emerged after designer Aimee Moore found an indigo-dyed African tapestry and bought it with the idea that she would find a place for it in the new design. The textile ended up covering an ottoman, not pictured, and inspiring the rest of the blue additions throughout the home.
In fact, Moore says, the team “just became obsessed with these indigos” and started collecting them, though rather unconsciously — it was always, “Oops, I bought another indigo fabric!” So blue became the grounding hue. The denim blue wingback chair was found as-is at Kuhl-Linscomb.
A blue accent theme emerged after designer Aimee Moore found an indigo-dyed African tapestry and bought it with the idea that she would find a place for it in the new design. The textile ended up covering an ottoman, not pictured, and inspiring the rest of the blue additions throughout the home.
In fact, Moore says, the team “just became obsessed with these indigos” and started collecting them, though rather unconsciously — it was always, “Oops, I bought another indigo fabric!” So blue became the grounding hue. The denim blue wingback chair was found as-is at Kuhl-Linscomb.
6. Stained Glass and Sectional
On both sides of this fireplace, two original stained-glass windows had been covered up from the interior during a time when they were out of vogue. The remodel revealed them.
Although a large sectional sofa isn’t the most common choice for a formal living room, it was the right one for this family. “I’m a big believer in making a home work for the way people live,” designer Laura Lee says. “We wanted a place where all five of us could sit and watch TV together, and with all the other seating in the room, we can seat 10 to 12 people comfortably in here.”
On both sides of this fireplace, two original stained-glass windows had been covered up from the interior during a time when they were out of vogue. The remodel revealed them.
Although a large sectional sofa isn’t the most common choice for a formal living room, it was the right one for this family. “I’m a big believer in making a home work for the way people live,” designer Laura Lee says. “We wanted a place where all five of us could sit and watch TV together, and with all the other seating in the room, we can seat 10 to 12 people comfortably in here.”
5. Roughed-Up Contemporary
This living room ceiling features exposed trusses and purlins and rough-top longleaf pine flooring that lend a slightly rugged feel to an otherwise contemporary ranch design.
The same Granbury stone used on the home’s exterior is carried through to the hearth, which features a modified fireplace made with fireclay brick.
This living room ceiling features exposed trusses and purlins and rough-top longleaf pine flooring that lend a slightly rugged feel to an otherwise contemporary ranch design.
The same Granbury stone used on the home’s exterior is carried through to the hearth, which features a modified fireplace made with fireclay brick.
4. Fantastic Fireplace Wall
The stunning fireplace wall in this Calgary, Canada, living room looks to be carved out of concrete, but it’s actually covered in concrete-look porcelain tiles. It features a large central nook for storing firewood and a built-in bench with overhead lighting. The wall adds an edgy industrial touch to the farmhouse-inspired space.
Find concrete-look porcelain tiles
The stunning fireplace wall in this Calgary, Canada, living room looks to be carved out of concrete, but it’s actually covered in concrete-look porcelain tiles. It features a large central nook for storing firewood and a built-in bench with overhead lighting. The wall adds an edgy industrial touch to the farmhouse-inspired space.
Find concrete-look porcelain tiles
3. Happily Hidden TV
This home’s living room is decorated in a sophisticated neutral palette. A floor-to-ceiling stone chimney commands attention and creates a warm mood. Designer Shelly Lindstrom says she’s delighted with the gas fireplace they found because it looks very close to the real thing. White built-ins hide the chaos of life. A swivel-mounted TV is tucked inside the tall white cabinet.
This home’s living room is decorated in a sophisticated neutral palette. A floor-to-ceiling stone chimney commands attention and creates a warm mood. Designer Shelly Lindstrom says she’s delighted with the gas fireplace they found because it looks very close to the real thing. White built-ins hide the chaos of life. A swivel-mounted TV is tucked inside the tall white cabinet.
2. Subtle Separation
The main structural work in this former vicarage involved the removal of internal walls, one of which divided this airy living space leading out to the garden and the sitting room in front of it. The house had several separate sitting rooms, “so we opened up these two to add something different,” designer Cherie Lee says. “We installed the Crittall doors to follow the shape of the French doors at the back.”
The two spaces have different functions: The one in the foreground is used mainly for listening to music and reading, and the one at the back is where the couple relax in front of the TV at night.
The main structural work in this former vicarage involved the removal of internal walls, one of which divided this airy living space leading out to the garden and the sitting room in front of it. The house had several separate sitting rooms, “so we opened up these two to add something different,” designer Cherie Lee says. “We installed the Crittall doors to follow the shape of the French doors at the back.”
The two spaces have different functions: The one in the foreground is used mainly for listening to music and reading, and the one at the back is where the couple relax in front of the TV at night.
1. Drawing the Eye Down
Designer Tani Nielsen needed to design something that would address the height of the living room and fit in with the style of the home. Because of the room’s two-story height, there was already a lot of sheetrock on the walls. Using beautiful millwork draws the eye and adds something different. The hearth is soapstone, and the fireplace surround is a ledgestone tile in a stacked layout.
More
Key Measurements for Designing the Perfect Living Room
How to Design and Lay Out a Small Living Room
Designer Tani Nielsen needed to design something that would address the height of the living room and fit in with the style of the home. Because of the room’s two-story height, there was already a lot of sheetrock on the walls. Using beautiful millwork draws the eye and adds something different. The hearth is soapstone, and the fireplace surround is a ledgestone tile in a stacked layout.
More
Key Measurements for Designing the Perfect Living Room
How to Design and Lay Out a Small Living Room
Even though it might be the biggest star of this living room, the wallpaper was the last thing the homeowner committed to. “This was a big white wall, and rather than a gallery wall mishmash of photos, which we considered, we wanted to go for something really bold and glam,” designer Noz Nozawa says.
The paper, by Porter Teleo, is made just like a Rorschach test: Artist’s ink is poured onto Japanese paper, which is then folded in half to create a mirror image; each roll has one long blot pattern on it. No two rolls are exactly alike. The company custom-matched the ink color to the accent wall in Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy.