Family Room and Sitting Room

Bold moves
Lofty 11- and 13-foot ceilings, respectively, in the entry and the 20x20-foot living room create a spaciousness that demands larger details, furniture and even pattern. The living room connects to a sitting area via flagstone steps on either side of the impressive, see-through stone fireplace. Tall French doors at the end of the room lead to a terrace with an outdoor fireplace and pro-caliber grill.

SIZE MATTERS
We pumped up the color, pattern and accents for a contemporary country look.
IMPOSING PROPORTION Hefty wood beams visually lower the tall living room ceiling, connecting it to reclaimed wood floors. Painted paneling above the mantel mitigates the fireplace's massive size.
BIG COLOR Neutral walls are a good backdrop for bold splashes of red and brown on the contemporary Harden furniture and on area rugs, curtains and pillows. To help decor stand up to spacious rooms like these, the key is keeping pattern minimal but scaling it quite large, such as the striped and houndstooth pillows and the powder room wallpaper. Choosing fewer but larger accessories helps them hold their own, as well.

COMFORT LEVELS
We knew the sitting room, (the one with the TV!), would be used a lot, so smart function is a necessity.
SHREWD SEATING(Above) The two-way fireplace in the sitting room has a flat-screen TV above it. Two leather swivel chairs on either side of the TV-facing sofa offer comfortable places to watch TV and talk. Leather ottomans contribute to the room's relaxing tone.
INTERIOR LIGHT An interior window allows natural light into the sitting room from the window in the back hallway. But to improve TV viewing, Hunter Douglas' new Skyline panels can quickly darken the room.

Create a patchwork area rug with new red, brown and ivory carpet squares designed to connect. They're an easy way to add personalized style, and if one tile gets stained, you can easily replace it with another one.

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