The Guesthouse Nýp at Skarðsströnd is situated on a former sheep farm overlooking the Breiðafjörður Nature Reserve in western Iceland. Originally constructed as a farmhouse in 1936, the building was deserted in the 1970s, slowly falling into disrepair before the new owners eventually began rebuilding in 2001. Since 2006, it has come to be known as a cultural hub of sorts, playing host to various exhibitions, lectures, courses and workshops. The brief was to conceive a design that would make better use of the existing facilities, allowing for more multifunctional spaces for various cultural activities. This not only involved renovating the main house, but also rebuilding and enlarging the adjoining sheep-shed. Nýp’s first guests arrived in 2013 and where accommodated in two of the four bedrooms in the remodelled farmhouse. The reimagined sheep shed added a further three ensuite guestrooms with a separate entrance. This offers the owners greater flexibility, with the possibility of hosting larger events in the main house without disturbing guests. The new entrance hall and connection to the farmhouse has been given generous dimensions allowing it to double as an exhibition space. The main house is divided vertically in two volumes with the original living quarters to the south and a barn for hay storage to the North. Bua inserted an additional floor into the barn to create a raised event space with a series of new openings capturing views to the mountains and the fjord. Driftwood, salvaged from a neighbouring beach, has been used as columns to support the new floor. Steel handrails, timber doors and beams have been salvaged from building sites in Reykjavik old town. The ruins of concrete foundations have been repurposed to form a structured kitchen garden. A steel and polycarbonate structure has been bolted to the top of one concrete bay to create a tall greenhouse, also used by the client as an extra sitting room in the warmer months. Staying true to Nýp’s ethos of sustainability and slow tourism, Studio Bua took a vernacular approach with a form based on local turf homes and a gradual renovation that focused on restoring and reinterpreting historical features while making full use of local labour, techniques and materials such as stone-turf retaining walls and tiles handmade from local clay. Since the end of the 19th century, the combination of timber frame and corrugated metal cladding has been widespread throughout Iceland, replacing the traditional turf house. The prevailing wind comes down the valley from the north and east, and so it was decided to overclad the rear of the building and the new extension in corrugated aluzinc - one of the few materials proven to withstand the extreme weather. In the 1930's concrete was the wonder material, even used as window frames in the case of Nýp farmhouse! The aggregate for the house is rather course with pebbles sourced from the beach below, giving it a special character. Where possible the original concrete walls have been retained and exposed, both internally and externally. The 'front' facades towards the access road and fjord have been repaired and given a thin silicate render (in the original colours) which allows the texture of the concrete to show through. The project was developed and built in phases and on a modest budget. The site team was made up of local builders and craftsmen including the neighbouring farmer – who happened to own a cement truck. A specialist local mason restored the fragile concrete walls, none of which were reinforced.

笹ケ根1308SA

TOGODESIGN

ヨーロッパの別荘のような住宅

Living Room - Millworks Home 4

Aiki Homes

This enclosed living room design features an exposed beam and wood plank ceiling, custom maple carpentry, and concrete floors. MIllworks is an 8 home co-housing sustainable community in Bellingham, WA. Each home within Millworks was custom designed and crafted to meet the needs and desires of the homeowners with a focus on sustainability, energy efficiency, utilizing passive solar gain, and minimizing impact.

Arthurs Seat

Architect Hewson

New Bar Area with Timber-Blade Shelves that leads inot the main living room

Beaumaris

Fine Choice Kitchens

TV unit and entry storage combined in Beaumaris. 2-Pac painted drawer fronts incorporating Polytec Nordic oak woodmatt to flow through from kitchen to tall storage unit and floating shelves, allowing the Quantum quartz QSix+ statuario honed porcelain benchtop to be the show piece.

Modelo Zenón

Houseoner

La distribución, las instalaciones y los materiales ofrecen infinitas combinaciones que se ponen al servicio de la funcionalidad y consiguen crear una casa a nuestra medida. Por supuesto, sin descuidar la estética.

Putney Transitional Family Home

80Spaces

Briar Hill

Natalie Fuglestveit Interior Design

A modern open concept home featuring walnut modern fireplace, concrete open riser stairs, glass railing, 2 story open loft, walnut bookshelves and mid-century furnishings. Includes Esque Studio Waterdrop Pendants. Interior Design by Natalie Fuglestveit Interior Design, Calgary + Kelowna Interior Design Firm. Photo Credit by Lindsay Nichols Photography.

box+void

川添純一郎建築設計事務所

コンクリート打ち放しの壁がLDKに立ち上がり、杉のフローリングとあわせ、素材感を強く出した空間としています。 photo：玉森潤一

Axis i1000 Freestanding - Park View House

Sculpt Fireplace Collection

A home previously bearing the name the ‘ugly duckling’ was transformed and lovingly re-named “Parkview House” after 8 months of hard work. Featuring the Sculpt Fireplace Collection Axis i1000FS Single Sided this wood fireplace is a display of geometric versatility and artisan engineered construction. The wood fireplace exudes a mesmerising display of flames and unsurpassed design excellence. With a heating capacity of up to 300m2 and an average efficiency of 66%, this unit is sure to stun in any space!

Dublin 24

TileStyle

TileStyle supplied the beautiful Kahrs Oak Earth engineered wood floor for this renovated home in Dublin 24. The smoked finish on this Kahrs oak floor enhances its natural colour variations. Every board is carefully brushed to bring out the character of the grain and highlight the natural texture of the wood. Knots and cracks pepper each board, adding depth and character while hand-scraping enhances the rustic appearance. Photos by Daragh Muldowney & subject to copyright.

PRAIRIE BARN

Marvin

The goal of this project was to design and build a simple, energy-efficient, barn-style home with historic exterior details and a modern interior. The custom residence is located in the heart of a historic downtown area in Lewes, Delaware. The 2,200 square-foot home was built on a narrow lot that had to be mindful of the local Historical Preservation Committee’s guidelines per the city’s requirements. The exterior is dressed with board and batten siding and features natural landscaping details to give the home the feel of a prairie-style barn in a town setting. The interior showcases clean lines and an abundance of natural light from Integrity Casement, Awning and Double Hung Windows. The windows are styled with Simulated Divided Lites (SDL) and grille patterns to meet the historical district’s building requirements and rated to offer the owner superior energy efficiency.

The Ridgeway

Amy Campbell Architect

Lightweight construction contrasting with textural rammed earth walls. Shaped to catch the Northern light and cooling breezes, with rural views. The house steps with the steeply sloping site to enable connections with the landscape.

Nordpeis Norwegian Woodburners at Orion Heating

Orion Heating - Woodburning Stoves

Nordpeis Taipei fireplace and woodburner. @Orion Heating - Woodburning Stoves and Gas fires in Essex. Exclusive fireplace showroom for top European brands.

Archgard Salzburg XL - Wood Freestanding Stove

Archgard FireplacesProducts

Salzburg XL + 1

Project Merri

Bryanoji Design Studio

Sitting room with wood stove. Tall ceiing shape reflects roof outline.

Modern and clean but cozy living room in the trees.

Atrium House

The Salamander Company LLC.

This 2400 sq. ft. home rests at the very beginning of the high mesa just outside of Taos. To the east, the Taos valley is green and verdant fed by rivers and streams that run down from the mountains, and to the west the high sagebrush mesa stretches off to the distant Brazos range. The house is sited to capture the high mountains to the northeast through the floor to ceiling height corner window off the kitchen/dining room.The main feature of this house is the central Atrium which is an 18 foot adobe octagon topped with a skylight to form an indoor courtyard complete with a fountain. Off of this central space are two offset squares, one to the east and one to the west. The bedrooms and mechanical room are on the west side and the kitchen, dining, living room and an office are on the east side. The house is a straw bale/adobe hybrid, has custom hand dyed plaster throughout with Talavera Tile in the public spaces and Saltillo Tile in the bedrooms. There is a large kiva fireplace in the living room, and a smaller one occupies a corner in the Master Bedroom. The Master Bathroom is finished in white marble tile. The separate garage is connected to the house with a triangular, arched breezeway with a copper ceiling.

Living Room Design Photos with a Wood Stove and a Concrete Fireplace Surround

A living room, often referred to as a lounge room in Australia and New Zealand, is the hub of the home. If you only have one living room in the house, it’s likely to serve multiple purposes: be it a place to watch TV, play games, spend quality time with family or hang out with friends. If you have the luxury of two living areas, one is usually a formal living room or lounge room, reserved for reading, relaxing and entertaining. A successful living room design is inviting, has enough seating for the whole clan – a comfortable couch is a must – and encourages conversation. Browse photos on Houzz for living room layouts, furniture and decor, and strike up a conversation with the interior designers or architects of your favourite picks. For even more living room ideas, check out the Stories section on Houzz.

Which living room layouts will work best for you?

Every living area will have design challenges. A long, narrow lounge room, for example, risks looking like a hallway if furniture is lined up against the walls. Instead, opt for small furniture items, like a cosy two-seater couch, and create various focal points throughout the space. In square living rooms, a symmetrical layout encourages a formal setting. Place seating on either side of the room, with a focal point in the middle to pull the room together. For a truly intimate vibe, replace your couch with some occasional chairs positioned around a coffee table or ottoman. This will make the main focus conversation. An open-plan home – one where the lines are blurred between kitchen, dining and living – may require a layout that focuses on definition. You’ll want to make sure furniture doesn’t block the flow between spaces, and instead use something like an area rug to create zones.

How can you decorate your living room?

The living room can be a place in which to show off your personality, but if you want a timeless living room scheme, stick to neutral walls, couches and ottomans. Colour can be added through accessories, and is a lot more interchangeable! Rugs, cushions and throws are great for adding colour, while mirrors, lamps and ceiling lights will set the mood. Make your living room unique by including family heirlooms and photos. For a polished look, try creating a coffee table vignette – you could use books as pedestals or group items together on a tray. Try adding a vase, a mixture of round and rectangular objects and some books.

What are some small living room ideas?

Small living room designs can be tricky to work with, but aren’t doomed to fail. Often, you just have to get creative with furniture. An open-back chaise can create a sense of spaciousness, while small side tables paired together can substitute a coffee table. Even better, an ottoman can be used as a footrest, coffee table or extra seating. Big furniture items like the couch are best kept in light colours, and if there’s room for a coffee table, a glass-top one is best. If you have two spaces in one – perhaps your living room sits in front of a single-wall kitchen – make sure they are connected by decor, colour and style. For definition, just add area rugs, or use your couch as a dividing wall. It’s worth having a few furniture pieces, whether a bookshelf, couch or entertainment unit, in the same colour as the walls, too, so they blend into the room and visually expand the space.

Is open-plan living for you?

Today’s homes often embrace open-plan living, whereby the living room runs off the kitchen and/or dining areas. Open-plan living allows greater functionality, but can risk creating a vast, soulless space if not done right. To avoid a cavernous feel in an open-plan design, define areas with furniture, rugs and lighting, or consider using a wall divider. Also be sure to keep flooring, lighting and materials consistent throughout, for cohesiveness. Noise may be an issue – someone banging pots and pans while you’re watching TV, for example – so include lots of soft furnishings, such as rugs, curtains and couches to help absorb the noise. You will also need to factor in plenty of storage, so mess is kept at bay.