Mark D Sikes – House Beautiful – built-ins inspiration
When we first saw the living room in our new house, we were excited to find several features that made it special.
This is the living room on the main floor. It’s larger than any room in our previous home, which gives us room to breathe and more flexibility for arranging furniture. I love furniture, so the extra space is a big plus. At the same time, the room still feels intimate enough to be cozy. My plan is to create one main conversation area and a few smaller zones for reading, relaxing, and daily function.
Across the back and around the corner is a bank of large windows that floods the room with natural light. The bright, inviting atmosphere draws me in, and the windows connect the interior with the outdoors: views of trees, the Puget Sound, distant mountains and Bainbridge Island, beautiful sunsets and wide skies make this room a favorite place to sit.
The living room also features a stone fireplace with built-in bookshelves and warm hardwood floors.
This space opens to the dining room and kitchen, so it feels connected to other living areas while remaining its own distinct room.
The walls are painted a warm white for now, which suits the room well. There’s a faint hint of color on the ceiling, which we’ll address later. Trim and molding are minimal, so adding millwork is one way we can improve character. There’s no wired lighting, but table and floor lamps will give us the evening light and atmosphere we want.
Currently there are no window coverings, which maximizes the view and daylight. On very sunny days the room does get bright for a short time, so adding treatments would help control glare and introduce softness and warmth.
The photo above shows how the living room relates to the entry hallway. We shared our entry vision recently and that project ties into how this room will evolve.
We have several ideas but are still refining the room’s overall style. Here’s what we know we want to include:
- A window seat to curl up on and watch sunsets. This could be a corner bench or a full-length seat flanked by built-in bookcases.
- Additional lighting, built-ins and millwork to increase character and function.
- An update around the fireplace, which might be subtle or more involved depending on the direction we choose.
- Many of our furniture pieces from the old family room will be used here, with a few new additions. We plan to continue using a mix of neutrals and accents in our established style.
- An area rug to add another layer of warmth and define the seating area.
Example: corner window seat inspiration
Window seat and built-in concept
Another window seat idea for compact spaces
Fireplace and window seat combination
Example of built-in cabinetry
We haven’t settled on a final design for the fireplace wall; we might keep it as-is or add trim and cabinetry. Either way, the cozy examples above show the charm that built-ins and a thoughtful fireplace update can bring.
I’m eager to work on this room. The view outside is such a gift that it already makes the space feel wonderful. Over time we’ll layer in details, warmth and character to make the interior match the joy of that view.
If you missed the other posts about this house, including our house tour video, check our house posts for more updates and inspiration.