Mark D Sikes – House Beautiful – built-ins inspiration
When we first toured the living room in our new house we were immediately pleased by several things. The room sits on the main floor and is larger than any room in our previous home, offering plenty of breathing room and space for furniture. That was a big advantage for me—I love furniture—because the extra square footage gives design freedom while still allowing the room to feel cozy. My plan is to create one main conversation area plus a few smaller zones for relaxing, chatting, or practical use.
A bank of large windows stretches across the back and around a corner, bathing the room in glorious natural light. The brightness makes the room inviting and draws me there often. The windows also frame beautiful views of trees, Puget Sound, distant mountains and Bainbridge Island, plus spectacular sunsets and expansive skies that change throughout the day.
The space features a stone fireplace with built-in bookshelves and original hardwood floors.
The living room opens to the dining room and kitchen beyond, which gives it a connected feel while still functioning as its own distinct area.
Currently the walls are painted a warm white, which suits the space for now. There’s also a faint touch of a pigmented color on the ceiling—one of those little quirks you discover when settling in.
Trim and molding are minimal, which gives us an opportunity to add character. There’s no built-in lighting; we’ll rely on lamps for evening light and to add atmosphere.
Window coverings are not yet installed. Privacy isn’t an issue, and the lack of treatments allows maximum light, but on very sunny days the room can get intensely bright for a short time. Adding coverings will help control glare when needed and will introduce softness and warmth to the space.
The photo above shows how the living room relates to the entry hallway. We shared our vision for the entry recently and it ties in nicely with plans for this room.
We have many ideas but are still defining the exact style direction. Here’s what we know we want in the room:
- A cozy window seat to enjoy sunsets. This could be a corner bench or a full-length seat beneath the windows, flanked by built-in bookcases.
- Added lighting, built-ins and millwork to bring more character to the space.
- Some updates around the fireplace—details still to be decided, but we may refine its surround or add cabinetry.
- For now, several furniture pieces from our previous family room will be reused, supplemented by a few new additions. We plan to continue with a mix of neutrals and colors that reflect our established style.
- A rug to introduce another layer of warmth and comfort underfoot.
We’re still exploring ideas for the fireplace wall. If we add trim or cabinetry, we’ll look for designs that emphasize coziness and charm—there are many inspiring built-in examples that feel warm and inviting.
I can’t wait to begin the transformations here. For now I simply enjoy being in the room—the view outside is such a gift that it almost overshadows the interior. Still, step by step we’ll add layers to make the inside as cozy and charming as the outlook.
If you missed other posts about this house, including our house tour video, you can find them in the house series on this site.