14 Fabulously Fanciful Living Rooms
Passionate and imaginative, these living spaces let go of the norm and commit to fearless design choices
Houzz Contributor. I am a former magazine editor specializing in travel and design. I just completed my first remodel, turning my crumbling 1941 kitchen into a beauty of grays, whites and natural wood. If I could, I'd sleep on the countertop. That's how much I love it.
You can also read my parenting blog on Baby Center http://blogs.babycenter.com/author/sschoech/
Houzz Contributor. I am a former magazine editor specializing in travel... More »
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We can't all be subdued and traditional. For some people a living room is not simply a place for relaxing or chatting; it's an expression of their true selves. It's a canvas awaiting their artistic imagination.
Whether they go for bold color, unusual art or inventive architecture, these 20 living rooms tip the scales toward the wild and the wacky. They don't share a single style, but they do share a strong sense of personality, individuality and commitment. And I would venture that there are a few inspiring elements here for everyone.
Whether they go for bold color, unusual art or inventive architecture, these 20 living rooms tip the scales toward the wild and the wacky. They don't share a single style, but they do share a strong sense of personality, individuality and commitment. And I would venture that there are a few inspiring elements here for everyone.
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Why go for a single-color accent wall when you can have a giant colorful tiger mural presiding over your living room? Having this much color and pattern allows the rest of the room to be either spare or ariot with more color and pattern. This one straddles the two.
| This calm and traditional living room happens to have two giant pink poodles standing guard. They certainly save it from ever being boring. See more of this house |
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by Rikki Snyder
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| Another calm, traditional room with a surprising jolt: this time, larger-than-life guests dressed for a salon. |
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by Rikki Snyder
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| The uniting factors in this colorful room are the touches of that orangey red and pattern, pattern everywhere. See more of this colorful house |
by CIH Design
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This high-end bordello-style room shows real commitment to color, texture and opulence. Nothing subtle here.
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If you really love it, go ahead and put it everywhere.
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by decordemon
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| This one-of-a-kind living room has committed to theme — midcentury — and bold color. The mural-size black and white photo gives it a cinematic drama, almost as if the scene is actually moving. |
A very traditional arrangement of very traditional furniture that just happens to be done in neon brights. It has an urban, pop art feel.
by Myriam Payne
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Bored with your regular old living room, your gray sectional and your red rug? Spice them up with a comic book character. Works every time.
by Evelyn Muller
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A hanging pod instead of a sofa, a round bookshelf instead of a rectangle and a rainbow wall instead of beige. Bam.
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| Large glass garage doors that open to the outdoors beat regular old double-hungs any day. |
by DWYER DESIGN
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It's like a tree house for grown-ups.
| A conversation pit surrounded by water assures that your chitchat stays private. |
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Without the wall of glass, this room is just another elegant modernist box. With it, it's one of the most awe-inspiring and beautiful living rooms I've ever seen.
Ideabook published on Jan. 18, 2013.
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Most of these rooms struck me as 'a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.' That said, the round bookcase is interesting and the last picture with that view... wow.
I absolutely love number 5, the bordello-like room. Sooooo rich & decadent looking, and hugely comfortable, I could see myself spending hours lounging on that sofa :)
The room with the poodles is hilarious! Can you imagine the look on first time guests' faces when they step into the livingroom? I'd like to see that, and hear the conversation that follows.
And I do love color, but prefer it in one area of the room, instead of spread throughout.
Thanks for the article. My livingroom is looking too bland. It will be fun to add some whimsey.
The other rooms show a lot of personality, style and thought. Probably not my style, but they're cool nonetheless.
The pink poodle room cracks me up ;-) Can you imagine coming home to that in the evening after a long brutal tiring day at work? That room would just make me happy.
That said, the color and whimsy of many of these rooms make me want to be on the guest list. Thank you homeowners for sharing your sanctuaries with us!
Actually... I take part of that back. The "bordello-style" room (horrible way to describe that, by the way) seems to have very low ceilings. Does it actually, or is that the effect of the dense color?
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Granted, my taste is quite traditional, and most of these rooms are really not (and my house isn't nearly this wild - although I HAVE been looking for a bargain on a real taxidermied moose-head to hang in my wee powder room. I am aware that it would be horrifying to visitors. THAT'S WHY I WANT ONE). But there is PERSONALITY here, and an AESTHETIC, and I cannot not love that. These are people's HOMES - crazy, strange people, with whom I would love to sit down at a dinner party. Beige I hate. People who have all-beige living rooms would not be fun at dinner. (And their dining rooms would probably depress me, too.)
Love this collection! Maybe fanciful dining rooms or kitchens next???
So, what IS it and how can I get one?
Thanks so much to whoever knows, and is kind enough to respond!
I hope you can get the tiger. He's wonderful! :-)
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