Upscale, contemporary hotels in L.A. were the inspiration for this home, which features a variety of seating areas spread through the space to allow frequent guests to sprawl out and socialize.
An accomplished advertising business executive inhabits this urban dwelling. This room allows the owner to pursue his media interests, which includes music, film, as well as, a serious art collection. Photo by Michael Robinson.
The white concrete fireplace commands the center of visual attention in this living room, while an indigo blue wall creates a dramatic backdrop.
The juxtaposition of the celadon wall in the background and the sundried tomato wall that separates the family room from the home office set the scene in this comfy lower-floor family room. French doors open to the views of the Potomac River.
This large open living area was divided by specific furniture arrangements. Everything is tied together by the subdued palette of warm grays and lavenders, accented with butter yellows. The reflective hues of the surrounding city buildings at dusk were inspiration for the color palette. Asian antiques and art further the zen mood.
The stone fireplace surround with the hanging flat-screen monitor is the focal point of this family room. Extra cushy loungers allow for long movie viewing in comfort. Beyond the sundried tomato wall with the pocket doors lies the guest bedroom and home office.
A Wenge wood wall with vertical and horizontal cutouts glowing with light, incorporates the fireplace and flat screen TV, as well as abundant space for AV equipment. A low profile sectional sofa and ottoman over a Cha-Cha wool and silk area rug defines the primary sitting area, while a Cha-Cha concrete table occupies part of the reading area by the window.
The color palette of rich ochers and rusts combined with lots of warm woods and natural materials helps to fight off that damp, musty basement stereotype. In addition, the mirrors flanking the windows help to brighten things up by reflecting daylight inward, giving the illusion that you are aboveground looking out through a full bay window.
An edgy combination of custom upholstery in citrus colors, a crocodile leather coffee table, white leather end tables, distinctive accessories and painted wood finishes make for a truly original and unique modern look in this Florida home. Photograph by Roy Quesada.
A large wall mirror expends the view of this inviting tropical living space. Photography by Francis Augustine.
Design Tip: If your bedroom is visible to the main living area, make sure to face the bed to the door. Not only does the person in bed feel more comfortable with being able to view who is entering the room (a feng shui principle), but it looks great!
Metal Venetian blinds work well with this loft's uber-urban exterior. Commercial surfaces mix well with sophisticated fabrics to create a sanctuary where luxury rules.
Dusty amethyst Venetian plaster walls provide a lustrous backdrop to showcase modern sensibilities in this Minneapolis penthouse living area. A custom designed sofa is showcased in this vignette when paired with an original abstract oil painting and a hand carved upholstered ottoman imported from the Pacific island of Java. A hand-knotted antique wool area rug, Flokati throw and unique wall sconce add texture and grandeur to this unique entertainment space.
The young couple who lives in this home entertains a lot and needs a space to accomodate lots of people. The round sofa seats plenty of friends and family. Plus, they can grab a cold one from the mini frig and listen to the records spin. Recycled content cement slabs, Eco Spec Paint and bamboo floors help to make this space environmentally- and human-friendly.
This kitchen is all about being open to fun. We played with our green concept and literally showcased the green color. Eco-friendly features include: three form thatch panels, Modular Arts wall panels, fluorescent lamps, bamboo floors, Energy Star appliances, Eco-Spec paint by Benjamin Moore, AFM Safecoat stain on custom furniture made with FSC wood. Lively color and unique materials make this room pop!
Lots of color, pattern and texture mixed together maximize the drama of this loft space. Adding a few living things to the environment is not only feng shui, but helps clean the air with fresh oxygen.
This living room defines symmetry with matching topiaries on the mantel and a pair of cozy club chairs in a deep red flanking the fireplace. The oil painting becomes the focal point of this warm Tuscan-inspired space.
The living room and dining room of this Mediterranean home reflect the style of the exterior and mix classical and modern elements.
This Tuscan living room with a European flair encompasses a kaleidoscope of styles. Large crown moldings and faux-finished walls accentuate high ceilings. Intimate groupings of furniture also help define areas in such a large, open room. Photo by Chuck Bankuti.
This authentic Spanish Mediterranean living room is softened with warm colored fabrics and curves used throughout -- in the arched window, rolled back occasional chairs and sofa.
Sunny Mediterranean colors enliven this living room even on the foggiest San Francisco summer days. Clean lines with traditional appointments make the room cozy and inviting. Photo by David Duncan Livingston.
This family media room is adjacent to the kitchen and provides comfortable flow for home entertainment.
Luxurious olive velvet upholstery accented with a deep cranberry adds a warm rich atmosphere in this English country great room. A stark white semi-gloss wainscoting is added to create depth and interest to the otherwise bare walls. 
Layer upon layer of fabric patterns, from animal prints to checks and florals, play upon the unstudied charm of this English cottage living room. The garden seems to become a part of the indoor scene. Touches of Asian influence, prevalent to the English style, add a sense of the exotic.
This traditional living room was created around the concept of a European country house. The fireplace was imported from France.
This open floor plan mixes traditional English Country elements to create a bright, charming living area. Dark wood finishes, cafe lighting and varying fabric textures accentuate the space. Photo by Lisa Blaschuk.
This traditional living room was created around the concept of a European country house. The walls and window treatments were purposefully left plain to showcase the antique furniture and art.
The use of beamed ceilings and intricate wood details create an Old World historic feeling in this brand-new Tudor style home.
Almost everything in the grand living room of the 2006 HGTV Dream Home serves as a reminder that this home has grown on a mountain in a forest. Two faux bois end tables on either side of the sofa are sculpted to resemble tree branches. The mantel holds wire baskets filled with pinecones, and a green wooden bucket on one table holds sprays of branches dripping with leaves and small green apples. 
Built-in seating topped with comfy overstuffed cushions says "Come in and relax!" The tropical fan and seagrass mat help create a "vacation oasis." The final effect is an easy, breezy stress-free room perfect for lazy days.
The sitting area for a French country kitchen was embellished with a handpainted grandfather clock and original custom draperies. The elaborate combination of French fabrics and trim on the window treatments frames the exterior view from the windows. The cushioned bench seating allows for usable space as well as artistic detail.
This country home was completed with a stone fireplace that sets the tone of the room. The sophisticated design showcases a classy combination of textures including animal hide, leather, faux fur and tapestries. The custom draperies are silk linen with contrast silk banding and tassel trim on hand-forged iron rods. The designer calls this look opulent western!
On the second floor of the 2006 HGTV Dream Home there is a room where spring reigns the entire year. The "bridge room," which connects the guest wing to the main part of the house, is like a hobbit haven, complete with ferns, bird’s nests and tables made from twigs.
The main focus of the downstairs family room in the 2006 HGTV Dream Home is a large mirror with an intricate frame made of twigs, bark and pinecones. The rustic mirror, reminiscent of Adirondack style furnishings, reflects the view from the French doors in the family room directly opposite. A high, built-in bench (with footrest!) beneath the mirror offers a great vantage spot for viewing the action at the billiard table
Hard rustic furniture was combined with comfortable cushions in soft textures and neutral colors to make this environment feel cozy.
To create a soft, luxurious look, a lot of upholstered furniture was placed in this living room. Because of the wood floor and wood paneled ceiling, the space needed some fabrics.
Warm tones and a variety of antiques were used to create this comfortable yet elegant family room.
The project has an ergonomic open flow that reflects the couple’s casual philosophy on life. One room flows easily to the next, with definitions of space created by steps that take advantage of the slope of the site.
This stylish Southwestern fireplace welcomes guests and family alike. Located near the front entrance, the warmth and elegance draws everyone close. The addition of lights illuminates the glass block and provides shadows for visual stimulation.
The living room features a collection of artifacts and artwork pieces used in a small space. The chair is an original Mies Van der Rohe from the 1920s.
This living room brings warmth and a modern twist to a Southwestern-style home with a shag rug, rich warm colors and desert plants. A neutral tan paint color is a good backdrop for burnt orange accent furniture and pillows. Every room needs a little sparkle so the orange silk throw pillows have tiny mirrors sewn on to reflect light.
A two-sided Venetian Plaster fireplace wall also holds a recessed plasma screen. All television equipment, CDs and DVDs are stored in the dark-stained floor-to-ceiling cabinet that buffers the plaster from the red wall. 
A subtle Asian influence is reflected in this living room. The interest is found in the blocks of color and the variety of textures.
The goal in this room was to combine existing English-styled furnishings with Asian artwork to create a comfortable home for a retired couple.
The vibrant walls in this space are an integrated, natural pigmented plaster incoporating three layers of color and a final layer of a tinted liquid wax. The half-face sculpture is part of a water feature; on the other side of the curved window seat is a duplicate fountain.
This contemporary meditation space features a bronze waterfall sculpture, bronze tables and a mounted antique tortoiseshell as design elements to provide a serene, elegant area. Shoji screens create a feeling of unlimited space and light.
A black linen wrapped cocktail table contrasts with a light velvet sofa, silk pillows and ancient Asian objects. The 12-foot-long Japanese antique screen is a unique and beautiful focal piece, around which the design is built. Photo by Ralph Alswang.
A red wall, symbolic of good luck in Chinese tradition, anchors this living area. Low, neutral furniture with built-in side tables sits above a silk handmade Cha-Cha rug by Formaonline.com. Artwork by the architect provides a finishing touch.
Symmetry is key when designing a traditional-style room; here, bookcases fill the void on either side of the fireplace.
Here's a great place to watch a flick or play a game of pool. If privacy or a theater environment is in order, velvet draperies enclose the space to provide a cocoon like setting for optimum movie viewing.
Spacious, light and very livable, this family room suits the needs of all its members. You can watch a film or a TV show, enjoy the fire, read or just relax in the comforts of home. A rough limestone fireplace is shared by the kitchen's sitting area adding contrast to the soft and warm chenille and paisley upholstery.
This keeping room was created for kicking off your shoes and relaxing. Soft chenille in cinnamon and russet blend beautifully with the hammered copper metal accents.
In a room this spacious, use symmetry to create a proper balance of furnishings and accessories.
Designed for an active family, this living space features child-friendly, easy-care fabrics.
A stacked stone fireplace brings an organic touch to a traditional living room.