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    Eight contemporary living rooms with sculptural coffee tables

    Block-shaped, curved and wavy tables are among the unusual designs in this lookbook, which features sculptural coffee tables from around the world.

    In these homes. from India to Sweden, interior designers have used coffee tables with sculptural shapes to add a fun detail to the living room.
    While the designs may feel a bit quirky, the tables all manage to be practical as well as eye-catching, whether they’re made from glass, stone, wood or steel.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring homes with pull-out furniture and dramatic circular openings and skylights.
    Photo by Joe FletcherTwentieth House, US, by Woods + Dangaran

    Floor-to-ceiling windows let light into the living room of this Australian home, which was designed around a decades-old olive tree.
    At its centre, a blocky rectangular coffee table made from polished brown stone complements comfortable lounge chairs in a matching brown hue.
    Find out more about Twentieth House ›
    Photo by Prue RuscoePalm Beach House, Australia, by YSG
    The striking stone coffee tables in this home look like solid blocks at first glance, giving them a monolithic effect that grounds the living room.
    Their marble patterning in beige and pinkish shades fit well into the room’s overall colour palette of faded rose and beige hues.
    Find out more about Palm Beach House ›
    Photo by Alice MesguichAmsterdam School house, the Netherlands, by DAB Studio
    The interior of this Dutch house was designed to reference the country’s Amsterdam School movement from the 1920s and 30s but with added contemporary touches.
    Among its many playful details is a sculptural coffee table made from glass that balances on a triangle and a rectangular block, its geometric shapes a nod to the many other angular furniture pieces in the room.
    Find out more about Amsterdam School house ›
    Photo by Jonas Bjerre-PoulsenForest Retreat, Sweden, by Norm Architects
    Copenhagen studio Norm Architects used peaceful colours and tactile materials for the interior of this holiday home in Sweden.
    Its furniture is similarly pared back, including a low-slung wooden coffee table with a decorative grainy surface that appears to float above the floor.
    Find out more about Forest Retreat ›
    Photo by David DworkindQuébec home, Canada, by Ménard Dworkind
    A steel table with an angular geometric shape adds a sleek, polished feel to the cosy rug and cushioned white sofa in the living room of this home designed by local studio Ménard Dworkind.
    The table’s steel top rests on stone blocks, creating a surprising material juxtaposition in the calm living space.
    Find out more about the Québec home ›
    Photo by Maarten WillemsteinHome Dijkhuis, the Netherlands, by Studio Modijefsky
    Named Dijkhuis for its setting next to a dyke in Amsterdam, this traditional home was designed by interior studio Studio Modijefsky.
    In its living room, a corduroy sofa in a muted forest green colour and a leather armchair provide seating around a vintage clover-shaped coffee table made from travertine and wood.
    Find out more about the Dijkhuis ›
    Photo by Ishita SitwalaMumbai apartment, India, by The Act of Quad
    This multigenerational Mumbai apartment, which even has its own temple, features orbs and circles throughout its interior, including in the living room.
    Here, a sculptural coffee table and bench are among the custom-made furniture pieces by Indian studio The Act of Quad. The table was designed to match the bench, with alternating brown and wood colour combinations.
    Find out more about the Mumbai apartment ›
    Photo by David MitchellTribeca loft, US, by Timothy Godbold
    New York interior designer Timothy Godbold created panels inspired by “a classic 1970s sci-fi series,” for this Tribeca loft, the studio said. Its living room features a pale rug with a pattern resembling a computer circuit board.
    Sofas with circular details add to the space-age feel, while an oblong-shaped coffee table with its own built-in plant pot contributes some greenery to the pale interior.
    Find out more about the Tribeca loft ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring homes with pull-out furniture and dramatic circular openings and skylights.

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    Ten bold statement rugs that liven up the living room

    Boldly patterned and colourful rugs characterise the living rooms of these apartments and houses around the world that we have collected for our most recent lookbook.

    From historic French apartments that have been filled with eccentric art to a New York Long Island house that was revamped in a neutral palette, these statement rugs complement and contrast the furniture under which they sit.
    The ten rugs found below directly reflect the colour shades around them with a colourful pattern, or, in the case of a black and white rug below found in a small California living space, contrast them completely.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring living rooms dominated by giant sofas, rooms divided by storage units and wooden kitchens.
    The photo is by Matthieu SalvaingVersailles townhouse, France, by RMGB

    RMGB refreshed this apartment across from the Chateau de Versailles, preserving the original parquet flooring and mouldings before outfitting the space with bespoke and vintage furniture, including a star-burst patterned rug in a living space.
    “The idea was to integrate colours and materials in small touches, such as the pinkish-orange of the sofa or the blue shade of the rug,” the studio said.
    Find out more about Versailles townhouse ›
    The photo is by François CoquerelParis apartment, France, by Hauvette & Madani
    Local design studio Hauvette & Madani restored this Paris apartment to its former Haussmannian state, recreating intricate mouldings and cornices on largely white walls.
    The neutral backdrop offset the resident’s considered and colourful selection of artwork and furniture, including an assortment of boldly patterned rugs throughout the space.
    Find out more about Paris apartment ›
    The photo is by Maira AcayabaKarine Vilas Boas Apartment, Brazil, by Studio Juliana Camargo
    In this Brazil apartment for a fashion editor, a large, geometric living rug by Brazilian brand Punto e Filo takes centre stage.
    Its pink and green shapes are reflected in two bright green armchairs and a light pink sofa that sit on top.
    Find out more about Karine Vilas Boas Apartment
    The photo is by Joe FletcherGenesee Residence, USA, by Síol Studios
    This Spanish colonial revival-style house in Los Angeles received a colourful interior revamp by San Francisco-based Síol Studios in contrast to its white walls and original arched windows.
    In the living room, the studio layered a dark green floor pillow over a black rug, which offset a range of colours found in the boulders encased in a translucent coffee table.
    Find out more about Genesee Residence ›
    The photo is by Madeline TolleCumberland Hideaway, USA, by Nwankpa Design
    A bold, black and white striped rug by fashion designer Ralph Lauren contrasts the light orange, blue and pinks of the surrounding furniture in this studio space in California.
    Designed by studio Nwankpa Design, the space was broken into blocks of colour to create variety within its small footprint.
    Find out more about Cumberland Hideaway ›
    The photo is by Fran ParenteFrederic Chopin Apartment, Brazil, by Tria Arquitetura
    A number of area rugs complement the green, orange and white furniture found in the large living room of this renovated São Paulo apartment.
    “In the living room there were three large main volumes that should be highlighted to bring texture and more cosiness,” Tria Arquitetura said.
    Find out more about Frederic Chopin Apartment ›
    The photo is by Nicole FranzenAmagansett house, USA, by Athena Calderone
    The den of this Long Island home features a sconce by Calderone with Simone Bodmer-Turner, a 1960s French walnut table and a wooden block by Milo Baughman set atop a rug that New York designer Tali Roth created with Empire Collection Rugs.
    Owner Athena Calderone recently revamped the interiors of the mid-century house in a pale palette after purchasing it and renovating it ten years ago.
    Find out more about Amagansett house ›

    Courtyard House, USA, by No Architecture
    Located in Oregon’s Willamette Valley wine country, this house was organised around a central “fully-glazed courtyard” planted with native trees.
    Patterned rugs of various sizes were placed throughout the home, the largest of which is a warm-toned area rug in a sitting area, which was paired with a navy blue couch and wooden coffee table.
    Find out more about Courtyard House ›
    The photo is by Prue RuscoeDream Weaver penthouse, Australia, by YSG 
    Quirky fixtures and furnishings were added to this Sydney penthouse for an empty-nester couple, which was informed in part by Spanish tapas bars and the colour palette of surrealist artworks.
    As frequent entertainers, the living room received a number of unique pieces, including fluffy pink and patchwork armchairs which are offset by geometric rugs in similar hues.
    Find out more about Sydney penthouse ›
    Photo is by Adam ScottTsubo House, UK, by Fraher & Findlay
    A shaggy rug sits at the centre of the living home in this London home, surrounded by velvet furnishings and an assortment of planters and vintage pieces.
    The surrounding walls were stripped of decades-long paintwork, revealing original detailing around the ornate moulding, ceiling roses and skirting boards.
    Find out more about Tsubo House ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring living rooms dominated by giant sofas, rooms divided by storage units and wooden kitchens.

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    Eight living rooms dominated by giant sofas

    From a curving couch in a Parisian apartment to an extra-wide settee in São Paulo, our latest lookbook collects eight living rooms where oversized sofas take centre stage.

    The sofa may be most people’s favourite place to sit and relax, but it can also make a bold design statement.
    Below, we highlight eight living rooms where couches, which are significantly more substantial than standard furniture, serve as the focal point.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more, see previous lookbooks featuring living rooms with paper lamps, sculptural furniture and 1970s decor.
    Photo by Denilson Machado (also top)DN Apartment, Brazil, by BC Arquitetos

    An olive-green sofa in the shape of a broad sickle, courtesy of designer Jader Almeida, commands attention in the open-plan living room of this home in São Paulo.
    Part of a 1970s building, the apartment was renovated by local studio BC Arquitetos and filled with classic Brazilian art and furniture, including a Petala coffee table by Jorge Zalzupin bearing a bronze head sculpture by Florian Raiss.
    Find out more about DN Apartment ›
    Photo by Giulio GhirardiCanal Saint-Martin apartment, France, by Rodolphe Parente
    Interior designer Rodolphe Parente overhauled this classic Haussmann-era Parisian apartment to celebrate its original features while showing off the owner’s contemporary art collection.
    Nowhere is this juxtaposition of styles more pronounced than in the living area, where a sculptural vintage sofa wraps around a pearlescent coffee table in the centre of the room, with a black-and-white graphic rug beneath its feet.
    Find out more about this Canal Saint-Martin apartment ›
    Photo courtesy of Hotel Valley HoHotel Valley Ho, USA, by 3rd Story
    The suites at this mid-century hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona, feature generous U-shaped sofas with colourful upholstery.
    As part of its renovation, Anissa Mendil of architecture and interiors firm 3rd Story sought to introduce contemporary furniture that would complement the building’s modernist architecture.
    Find out more about Hotel Valley Ho ›
    Photo by Fran ParenteGale Apartment, Brazil, by Memola Estudio
    From the double-height ceilings to the mosaic wall and the extensive artwork collection, multiple elements compete for attention in the living room of this São Paulo apartment renovation by local firm Memola Estudio.
    Anchoring them all is a super-long sofa along one wall, which ensures that the room’s overall colour palette remains neutral despite the vibrant wall hangings above.
    Find out more about Gale Apartment ›
    Photo by Serena EllerG-Rough, Italy, by Gabriele Salini
    Italian hotelier Gabriele Salini wanted this Rome hotel in a 17th-century palazzo to have a rough-yet-refined feel, fusing historic elegance and Italian modernism.
    In entertaining spaces in the rooms, an extra-deep sofa that can also serve as a spare bed provides an intriguing focal point.
    Find out more about G-Rough ›
    Photo by Julie SmorodkinaRadikal Klassisk, Spain, by Puntofilipino
    Radikal Klassisk is a Madrid apartment conceived by local studio Puntofilipino as an unusual take on Danish design, with an intense colour and material palette that creates a brooding atmosphere.
    A curving couch from Danish brand NORR11, composed of three separate parts upholstered in different fabrics, dominates the sparsely furnished living room.
    Find out more about Radikal Klassisk ›
    Photo by Brett BoardmanBreezeway House, Australia, by David Boyle Architect
    A built-in sofa lines the living room wall in this holiday home on the Australian east coast designed by New South Wales studio David Boyle Architect.
    The generous seat is reminiscent of patio or garden furniture, playing into a theme of ambiguity between the indoors and outdoors that is continued throughout the house.
    Find out more about Breezeway House ›
    Photo courtesy of Design Space AlUla 2024Design Space AlUla 2024, Italy, by Sabine Marcelis and Cloud
    Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis and architecture studio Cloud created a lounge to promote Saudi city AlUla during this year’s Milan design week.
    At its centre was a massive modular seating area by French design studio Hall Haus that bears striking similarities to Pierre Paulin’s never-produced Ensemble Dune from 1970.
    It was not the only design of its kind in Milan this April. Another installation, which explored the future of the living room, featured a yellow sofa platform made specially by design studio Panter & Tourron.
    Find out more about Design Space AlUla 2024 ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring living rooms with paper lamps, sculptural furniture and 1970s decor.

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    Eight cosy living rooms illuminated by paper lamps

    From simple spherical hanging lights to lighting sculptures by designers Isamu Noguchi and Ingo Maurer, this lookbook rounds up living rooms enhanced by the organic texture and warm glow of paper lamps.

    The versatile appearance of paper lights, which come in various geometric shapes and often have neutral warm-toned shades, makes them a popular choice for creating cosy living rooms.
    Drawing upon traditional Japanese rice paper lanterns, some of the rooms in this roundup use paper lamps to evoke the serenity of minimalist Japanese interiors.
    Other lounge spaces featured below use modernised paper lamp designs in angular shapes, popularised by Noguchi in the 1950s, to complement mid-century modern furnishings.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring contemporary kitchens with skylights, interiors with exposed ceiling beams and interiors with clerestory windows.

    Photo by Eric PetschekAmagansett Beach House, US, by Starling Architecture and Emily Lindberg Design
    US studios Starling Architecture and Emily Lindberg Design suspended a large spherical paper lamp over a double-height living room for the Amagansett Beach House in the Hamptons.
    Illuminated by the warm light, the home’s exposed glue-laminated Douglas fir timber structure and white oak surfaces contrast the dark timber exterior, which was treated with the Japanese blackening technique Shou Sugi Ban.
    Find out more about Amagansett Beach House ›
    Photo by Felix Speller and Child StudioMayfair home, UK, Child Studio
    Two Lampampe table lamps by industrial designer Maurer were placed on marble plinths in the living room of this London Mayfair home, which was designed by local practice Child Studio to have a mix of mid-century modern and custom-made decor.
    Designed by Maurer between the late 1970s and early 1980s, the lamps have the shape of traditional lampshades, but their entire form is crafted from slightly creased Japanese paper.
    Find out more about the Mayfair home ›
    Photo by Justin ChungBiscuit Loft, US, by OWIU Studio
    Architecture and design studio OWIU Studio added Japanese elements to the industrial interior of the Biscuit Loft apartment, located in a former factory in Downtown Los Angeles.
    Informed by ryokans, traditional Japanese inns, a living space-cum-guest-bedroom features a spherical and an elliptical paper lamp suspended over an area intended for tea ceremonies.
    Find out more about Biscuit Loft ›
    Photo by Roberto RuizPalau apartment, Spain, by Colombo and Serboli Architecture
    This apartment in Barcelona was renovated by local studio Colombo and Serboli Architecture to highlight some of its “imperfect” original features, informed by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi.
    A round paper lamp hangs from the ceiling beams in the corner of a built-in sitting area, which extends from the micro-cement base of the staircase.
    Find out more about the Palau apartment ›

    Photo by Mikkel MortensenVilla Wienberg, Denmark, by Wienberg Architects
    Architects Mette and Martin Wienberg overhauled this 1940s cottage in Denmark, lining the living areas with oil-treated oak boards and adding cosy furnishings.
    A paper light hangs above built-in seating that wraps the main living room and adds textural variety to the timber interior, along with fabric cushions and a furry throw.
    Find out more about Villa Wienberg ›
    Photo by Leslie Schwartz and Joshua WhiteEames House, US, by Charles and Ray Eames
    A more traditional-looking Japanese paper lantern is one of the hanging lamps that illuminate the living room in Eames House, a modernist Californian residence completed by US designers Charles and Ray Eames in 1949.
    Maintained by the nonprofit Eames Foundation, the home’s mid-century modern decor closely matches the way the Eames lived in it until their deaths.
    Find out more about Eames House ›
    Photo courtesy of Jonas Bjerre-PoulsenArchipelago House, Sweden, by Norm Architects
    A conical paper lamp hangs above the lounge space in Archipelago House, a holiday home on the coast of Sweden designed by Danish studio Norm Architects.
    Aiming to embody both Scandinavian and Japanese aesthetics, the home was dressed with furniture designed by the studio in collaboration with Japanese manufacturer Karimoku Case Study.
    Find out more about Archipelago House ›
    Photo by Jake Curtis and Elliot SheppardPowerscroft Road townhouse, UK, by Daytrip
    Perched atop a wood burner in the living room of this London home is the 27N lamp from Noguchi’s Akari range, a series of handmade lighting sculptures made from washi paper and bamboo frames.
    Design studio Daytrip renovated and extended the home and loosely lime-washed the walls, aiming to create a calm and serene interior that showcased craftsmanship.
    Find out more about Powerscroft Road townhouse ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring contemporary kitchens with skylights, interiors with exposed ceiling beams and interiors with clerestory windows.

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    Eight gallery-like living rooms with sculptural furniture pieces

    For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected living rooms that feature sculptural furniture in homes from São Paulo to London.

    An undulating sofa, a lamp made from towering columns and a wiggly chair are among the sculptural furniture pieces in this lookbook, which showcases how they can be used to add more interest to living rooms.
    In pared-back interiors, these furniture designs can add a playful touch and make the rooms feel more special, while also giving them a gallery-like feel.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring rooms dominated by dark-wood furniture, well-designed hallways and contemporary green bathrooms.
    Photo by Fran ParenteGale Apartment, Brazil, by Memola Estudio

    Local firm Memola Estudio renovated this São Paulo apartment with a combined living-and-dining area containing furniture in earthy hues.
    Among the sculptural pieces used are a low, pill-shaped coffee table with a decorative indentation and cosy, velvet-clad lounge chairs.
    Find out more about Gale Apartment ›
    Photo by François CoquerelHaussmann apartment, France, by Hauvette & Madani
    The interior of this Parisian apartment in a Haussmann building (above and main photo) was created by design studio Hauvette & Madani to have a gallery-like feel, inspired by the owner’s art collection.
    In the living room, two slow-slung curved sofas add a sculptural touch and are complemented by round chairs and tables.
    Find out more about Haussmann apartment ›
    Photo by by Genevieve LutkinLondon townhouse, UK, by Tabitha Isobel
    A stylish metal chair with a graphic fabric adds design interest to the living room of this London townhouse, where it matches a mushroom-shaped steel lamp.
    A textured painting in earthy tones hangs above the home’s marble green fireplace, while small sculptures add to the decorative atmosphere.
    Find out more about London townhouse ›
    Photo by by Denilson MachadoDN Apartment, Brazil, by BC Arquitetos
    The living room of this 230-square-metre apartment has a Petala table by designer Jorge Zalszupin that functions as a sculptural centrepiece.
    A velvet sofa and chairs with polished wooden globes are among the other sculptural furniture pieces on show in the apartment, which was designed for a landscape architect.
    Find out more about London townhouse ›
    Photo by by José HeviaCasamontesa, Spain, by Lucas y Hernández Gil
    Spanish studio Lucas y Hernández Gil drew on 1970s aesthetics for the interior of this Madrid bungalow.
    In the living room, a sculptural wavy stool, an arched fireplace and a round tadelakt coffee table add a fun touch.
    Find out more about Casamontesa ›
    Photo by by Jake CurtisChancery House, UK, by Norm Architects
    The only non-residential building on this list, the Chancery House workspace in London has a number of living-room-like spaces for relaxation.
    In one, design studio Norm Architects added floor-to-ceiling wooden screens to create a sheltered space, where soft, monolithic armchairs are contrasted against a low, geometric wooden table.
    Find out more about Chancery House ›
    Photo by Margarita NikitakiEsperinos, Greece, by Stamos Michael
    Numerous geometric shaped pieces by designer Stamos Michael fill the living room of this Greek guesthouse, including a lamp made from two towering, rust-brown columns of powder-coated steel.
    Also featured is a sculptural chair by Michael that features a metal pole running through its backrest and a brown-leather edition of designer Konstantin Grcic’s Traffic lounge chair.
    Find out more about Esperinos ›
    Photo by Helen CathcartThe Maker’s Barn, UK, by Hutch Design
    A concrete pig farm outside London was turned into a rural retreat by architecture studio Hutch Design, which decorated it with bespoke fittings and handmade furniture.
    The sculptural furniture in the living room include a metal table with triangle-shaped legs and a wiggly lamp.
    Find out more about The Maker’s Barn ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring rooms dominated by dark-wood furniture, well-designed hallways and contemporary green bathrooms.

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    Panter & Tourron and Davide Rapp create “speakeasy-style secret lounge” in Milan

    Experimental furniture and nostalgic films combine in Diurno, a Milan design week installation exploring the past and future of the living room.

    Curated by Gianmaria Sforza, the show features the work of Lausanne-based design studio Panter & Tourron and Italian video artist Davide Rapp.
    Purple curtains framed an octagonal roomIt saw a Milanese studio apartment transformed into a “speakeasy-style secret lounge” where a limited number of guests were invited into an octagonal room surrounded by purple curtains.
    Once they had swapped their shoes for slippers, guests were encouraged to get comfortable on a yellow sofa-bed hybrid. Here, they could chat to other guests, enjoy a drink and watch the montage-style videos playing around them.
    Guests wre invited to sit on a yellow sofa-bed hybridRapp produced three videos, with hundreds of clips that show living room interiors depicted primarily in Italian cinema.

    Each film focuses on a different piece of furniture. The sofa, the television and the bar are all featured.
    “Diurno is an invitation to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Milan’s design week, a speakeasy-style secret lounge where guests can relax in a setup that oscillates between nostalgia and science fiction,” said the design team.
    Other furniture included a tubular floor lamp, a curved display shelf and slender vasesPanter & Tourron founders Stefano Panterotto and Alexis Tourron developed six pieces of original furniture for the space.
    As well as the modular sofa platform, the Hall collection includes a lightweight chandelier, a tubular floor lamp, mirrored stools, a curved display shelf and slender vases.
    Drinks and snacks were served on mirrored traysThe duo hoped to draw attention to the changing nature of lounge and passage spaces in the home.
    The project has an affinity with another of their recent works, Couch in an Envelope, which imagines a sofa that can be folded up and carried from place to place.
    “Looking at the decors from gathering spaces like entrance halls, lobbies and lounge rooms, the pieces in the collection function like a reenactment element, questioning the evolution of these places today and our relationship to shared environments at large,” they said.

    Form Us With Love and Samsung replace the sofa with textile “watching platform”

    Drinks and snacks were served on matching mirrored trays, on linen cocktail coasters embroidered with the Diurno brand logo. These were produced in collaboration with La Colombarola.
    Danish textile brand Kvadrat, Italian steel manufacturer Fittinox and material supplier Formtech also donated materials to make the event possible.

    One of the videos featured movie clips of scenes that centred around a sofa
    This isn’t the first takeover of this apartment. Under the name Studio di Pittura, it is primarily an art space with the goal of facilitating collaboration between international and local creatives.
    Diurno was one of Dezeen’s pick of the 12 key installations on show for Milan design week.
    Diurno was open by appointment only from 13 to 20 April. See Dezeen Events Guide to discover our Milan design week guide, or for more architecture and design events taking place around the world.

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    Decorating With Area Rugs in My Living Room

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    There is a new color underfoot at my house, not only in my living room, but also. in my kitchen.

    One good thing that came about while being sick last week was that I spent most of the week snuggled under a warm throw on one of the comfy recliners in my living room. In this state, I daily had my sights on the living room into the dining area.

    Not to be totally unproductive, I visually played around with a few ideas each day on how I could update the room decor for spring and the warmer weather months ahead.

    Living Room in 2019

    Of all the rooms in my house, the living room is the room that I have changed the decor multiple times over the years in both major and minor ways. I like everything I have done to the room.

    The only reason I have made so many changes is that I have too many ideas I want to try. The living room is the place where I do just that – try out and experiment with ideas.

    All through the dozens of changes to the room, the seagrass area rug has always stayed. It is such a durable “go with anything rug” that we brought with us from our previous home.

    The only change I had made to this rug is when I did a color tweak after I started using more blue in the room. The rug border used to be green, so I painted the area rug border beige.

    If you remember back in the fall I added a patterned area rug over the existing seagrass area rug in my living room to cozy up the space for the cold months of the year.

    After the holidays, I added blue accents and a new X side table. I liked this look very much.

    Back in 2019 after we had the hardwood floors refinished was the only time I removed the area rug. Since it was summer and the floors looked perfect, I liked the simplicity and enjoyed the floor for a while without the area rug.

    Fast forward to this past week. I wanted to lighten things up again since spring is here and summer soon behind. When I was finally feeling better, the first thing I did was to roll up and store the dark area rug until next fall.

    After some online shopping I found this very affordable Tommy Bahama Marlin Transitional Indoor/Outdoor Rug to layer over the seagrass for a Modern Coastal look.

    Normally when I am looking for a color change in a room, I do it with paint – but a gallon of paint these days is so darn expensive! I am finding area rugs can be a less expensive option depending on what the rug is made of and the size.

    My new blue rug (7′-10″ x 10′- 2″)is slightly smaller than the seagrass (9′ x 12′)so layering was easy.

    I unrolled it and centered it right over the seagrass. As you can see the rug hasn’t flattened completely yet, but this photo was taken right after I unrolled it. It has flattened since.

    The new rug is just what I was envisioning – a little coastal, a little modern.

    I have been leaning to using blues in the room and really like the mix patterns of the large pillows I covered the no-sew way with the blue texture print fabric. They give the sofa a modern coastal vibe.

    New Kitchen Mat

    While I was changing the area rug in the living room, I also wanted to replace the green GelPro mat I had in front of the kitchen sink with a blue one.

    I have been using anti-fatigue mats instead of a small decorative throw rug to stand on when I am in front of my kitchen sink for years. They are the best and worth every penny! I have had a few different brands.

    I like my GelPro ones the best. I have a green one for the fall/winter and bright blue check for the summer. Since I rotate them seasonally, they last for years.

    Now I have this Lucky Brand Anti-Fatigue Wellness Mat that I found at HomeGoods, (also sold on Amazon). It is thinner than the GelPro brand, but for $15.00 it was worth a try.

    Anti-fatigue mats make standing less tiring, promote better posture, circulation and muscle conditioning, plus they are skid resistant and so very easy to clean.

    Seeing new color around the house for spring is making me feel cheery and ready for the warmer weather.

    Over the last few years I have embraced the slow living method to life and that includes decorating. I love to decorate and make things look pretty and updated, but I do it now at a much slower pace. I still have a few more spring tweaks for both the kitchen and living room that I will share with you in my next few posts.

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    Ten inspiring living spaces punctuated by structural columns

    From monolithic concrete pillars to ornately decorated columns, this lookbook collates ten living room interiors that embrace existing structural columns.

    It is not always cost-effective or practical for designers and architects to remove preexisting columns from interiors, especially if they are load-bearing and thus vital to the structural integrity of the building.
    In the past, the structural components of buildings were often concealed within walls; however, this changed with the increase in popularity of open-plan spaces over the course of the 20th century.
    Columns are sometimes placed at irregular intervals, especially in older buildings, and consequently the interior design scheme must be adapted to fit around them.
    Pillars can provide a strong focal point that can be enhanced by both the choice of interior finishes and the placement of furniture around them.

    Depending on their materiality and style, they can also serve as an immovable reminder of the building’s design style and the historical period in which it was built.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors animated by textural burl wood, multicoloured interior design schemes and contemporary interiors that make a feature of historic ruins.
    Photo by Pier CarthewKerr, Australia, by SSdH
    The industrial past of this mezzanine apartment in Melbourne is apparent thanks to the I-beams that crisscross the space and the pair of thick plastered columns in two corners of its living room.
    The functional aesthetic of the pillars is complimented by the presence of streamlined metal furnishings and offset by floor-to-ceiling wooden panelling.
    Find out more about Kerr ›
    Photo by Jose HeviaJJ16, Spain, by Lucas y Hernández-Gil
    Situated in the Salamanca district of Madrid, local studio Lucas y Hernández-Gil created a playful interior for a high-ceilinged 19th-century apartment that combines pops of colour with original features.
    A pair of elegant columns made from cast iron frame the entrance to the walk-through kitchen, contrasting the contemporary units with their fluted shafts and ornamented capitals.
    Find out more about JJ16 ›
    Photo by Fran Parente Curitiba apartment, Brazil, by Leandro Garcia and Amanda Dalla-Bona
    Eclectic furniture and glossy herringbone flooring contrast the weathered concrete pillar that sits on the boundary between the living and dining spaces of this apartment in the Brazilian city of Curitiba.
    It has a rectangular footprint and a characterfully rough surface, which are both echoed in a gnarled wooden stool sitting at its base.
    Find out more about Curitiba apartment›
    Photo by Sarah ElliottTribeca Loft, USA, by Andrea Leung
    Public and private zones have been delineated by a partially mirrored wall tucked behind a sequence of three original, intricately formed columns in this loft apartment in New York’s Tribeca area.
    The Corinthian-style iron pillars are characterised by gracefully fluted shafts topped by opulent capitals that feature acanthus leaves. The style was popular in ancient Greek and Roman architecture.
    Find out more about Tribeca Loft ›
    Photo by Felix Speller and Child StudioMews house, UK, by Child Studio
    A quartet of smooth, statuesque pillars blend in seamlessly against a backdrop of art deco and mid-century modern furnishings in the living area of this mews house in London’s Mayfair area.
    The thick, pale pillars bring a dramatic air to the space, which was designed for lounging as well as hosting, entertaining and dining.
    Find out more about the mews house ›
    Photo by Seth CaplanDumbo Loft, USA, by Crystal Sinclair Designs
    Walls made from floor-to-ceiling glass panels and an opulent crystal chandelier create a sense of luxury in this Brooklyn apartment.
    The living room is grounded by a double-height structural pillar, which has a bottom half clad in pale pink vertical, subway-style tiles.
    Find out more about Dumbo Loft ›
    Photo by José HeviaCan Santacilia, Spain, by OHLAB
    A pillar with a faceted stone shaft and an ornately carved and painted wooden capital is the focal point of this living area inside an apartment in Palma de Mallorca by local studio OHLAB.
    The stately pillar and dramatic coffered ceiling are contrasted by the sleek modern kitchen, but united by the use of stone in both the column and kitchen island.
    Find out more about Can Santacilia ›
    Photo by Nao TakahashiCasa Nano, Japan, by Bosco Sodi
    This modest home in Tokyo features slender struts made from wood that form part of the building’s exposed structure.
    Wooden seating, tables, cabinets and shelving create a harmonious interior scheme, which is dominated by both the skeletal wooden frame of the building and an open-tread staircase.
    Find out more about Casa Nano ›
    Photo by Salva LópezCasa Vasto, Spain, by Mesura
    This apartment in Barcelona (above and main image) is studded with white-rendered columns dating from the 18th century, which anchor the unique vaulted ceiling to the expansive floor.
    Low-slung furnishings provide a horizontal emphasis in the interior while the columns create a rhythm of upright pillars, which nod to the building’s industrial heritage.
    Find out more about Casa Vasto ›
    Photo by Johan DehlinBrutalist Chelsea townhouse, UK, by Pricegore
    London-based architecture studio Pricegore refurbished the interior of this brutalist townhouse to celebrate its concrete materiality.
    In the lofty, double-height living space, a cylindrical pillar stretches from floor to ceiling in front of the backdrop provided by the house’s verdant garden.
    Find out more about Brutalist Chelsea townhouse ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with textural burl wood, colourful interior design schemes and contemporary interiors that make a feature of existing historic ruins.

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