Manuela Paparella

There’s nothing quite like a cozy cottage to call home. Especially when you can get creative, renovating key spaces to balance modern convenience and vintage charm. We collaborated with the talented homeowners to bring their vision to life an the results speak for themselves. A gourmet kitchen fits seamlessly in the original home’s footprint and not one, but two thoughtfully re-designed bathrooms bring a slice of luxury and function to this sweet little home. The modern-meets-classic kitchen tiles started it all, setting the tone for the entire renovation. Gourmet appliances and custom cabinetry maximized function and storage and new lighting was a perfect finishing touch. We completely re-worked the home’s “master” bath (you should see the “before!”), adding a spacious frameless glass shower. In the basement, the new bathroom is every bit the retreat the homeowner dreamed of, with the freestanding composite tub, an enormous vanity and a hidden stackable washer and dryer. The decommissioned fireplace is oh-so decorative, showing off with new Ann Sacks marble mosaic tile. The transformation is impressive, and it’s so rewarding to see this lovely couple and sweet pup happy in their adorable home! Furniture staging for photography provided by Crush Staging, Portland. Photography by Cody Wheeler.

Belmar bookcases

Better By Design LLC

Kirkland Condo Staging

CC White Interiors

L-Shaped Kitchen Remodel Keeps Layout, Swaps Old for New

Model Remodel

Gas fireplace insert with walnut mantel and TV mounted above © Cindy Apple Photography

Living room

We Make It Our Home

The living room was long and narrow but with an amazing bay window. Instead of a galley style living room used by the previous owner, we decided to change the furniture arrangement by putting one big comfy L-shaped sectional all the way to one side to create a pass-through area enabling a better foot traffic. We then added two side chairs for extra seats. We also mounted our TV on top of the fireplace to gain more space. Although it's not my favorite design choice to have TV on top of the fireplace because I think it takes away from the fireplace but we had to work within the limitation of the space. For the fireplace, we bought wood stove insert and inserted it into the existing masonry fireplace. The look was updated by granite tiles around the insert and custom built wood mantel. Buying wood fireplace insert was the best decision we made. First of all, it created a memorable space in our home. I LOVE the sound of wood cracking and the smell of wood burning. In winter nights we would sit around the fireplace and make s'mores like it's a campfire. Second, it's a clean burning and efficient heater. You don't lose the majority the fire’s heat up the chimney thereby saving money on your heating bill. The coffee table is purchased from Wicker Emporium and it's made from reclaimed pine timbers giving the house a rustic feel. The side chair by the fireplace is the perfect spot for me to relax, put my feet up on the large ball shaped knitted foot rest and enjoy a cup of cappuccino or cozy up with a good book.

Kitchen

Todd Remington Architect

David Patterson

Fireplaces

Copper Island Fine Homes Inc

Keeler residence

Malta Tudor Bedroom Fireplace

Fireclay Tile

Handpainted Tile gives this bedroom fireplace the perfect finishing touch. Adding to the ambiance of this Tudor-inspired Traditional bedroom design, Malta Tile in Warm Motif gives this seaside home an accent of Old California to accompany the attractive reclaimed mantle. DESIGN Pritzkat & Johnson Architects, Christine Vroom Interiors PHOTOS Shane O'Donnell INSTALLER C and C Partners

No Place Like Home Airbnb

Marilyn Hill Interiors

My Houzz: 1921 Portland Bungalow Gone Glam

Teness Herman

Beacon Hill

Signature Custom Homes

This three home project in Seattle was a creative challenge we were excited to tackle. The lot sizes were long and narrow, so we decided to create a compact contemporary space. Our design team chose light solid surface elements and a dark flooring for a warmer mix. Photographer: Layne Freedle

90's Townhome Makeover

1st Impressions Design, LLC

Black and white trim and warm gray walls create transitional style in a small-space living room.

Potrero Hill House & Studio

Cathie Hong Interiors

This young married couple enlisted our help to update their recently purchased condo into a brighter, open space that reflected their taste. They traveled to Copenhagen at the onset of their trip, and that trip largely influenced the design direction of their home, from the herringbone floors to the Copenhagen-based kitchen cabinetry. We blended their love of European interiors with their Asian heritage and created a soft, minimalist, cozy interior with an emphasis on clean lines and muted palettes.

Purple Accent Design

Freestyle Interiors

White Mountain Hearth Gallery

Country Hearth

Sharp Accented Fireplace - American Hearth

American Hearth - Empire Comfort Systems

Tonal Single Family Home

Cathie Hong Interiors

This single family home had been recently flipped with builder-grade materials. We touched each and every room of the house to give it a custom designer touch, thoughtfully marrying our soft minimalist design aesthetic with the graphic designer homeowner’s own design sensibilities. One of the most notable transformations in the home was opening up the galley kitchen to create an open concept great room with large skylight to give the illusion of a larger communal space.

Small Living Room Design Photos with a Tile 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.