San Francisco Living Room Designed to Wow Guests
A designer renovates a traditional space with contemporary flair for homeowners who frequently host events
Bryan Anthony
July 31, 2019
After the wife’s new job brought their family from New York City to San Francisco, this couple reached out to designer Noz Nozawa to renovate their home’s traditional living room. “She’s the head of a private school in the city, so they have to host a lot of events, fundraisers and board meetings at their home,” Nozawa says. “They wanted a room that could spark conversations and have a little glam to it.”
Photos by Colin Price
Living Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of three with a dog
Location: San Francisco
Size: About 425 square feet (39.5 square meters)
Designer: Noz Design
The living room’s new black-and-white wallpaper features a bold, graphic design that demands attention but is also tempered by all of the room’s original millwork, which includes wainscoting, ceiling beams, built-in bookshelves and a fireplace mantel. “Because of all the white millwork, I felt confident that the wallpaper wouldn’t overwhelm the room,” Nozawa says.
Find an interior designer on Houzz
Living Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of three with a dog
Location: San Francisco
Size: About 425 square feet (39.5 square meters)
Designer: Noz Design
The living room’s new black-and-white wallpaper features a bold, graphic design that demands attention but is also tempered by all of the room’s original millwork, which includes wainscoting, ceiling beams, built-in bookshelves and a fireplace mantel. “Because of all the white millwork, I felt confident that the wallpaper wouldn’t overwhelm the room,” Nozawa says.
Find an interior designer on Houzz
With the black-and-white color palette set for the living room walls, Nozawa turned to furniture and accessories to add color to the space. A streamlined sofa covered in green crushed velvet lines one wall, while a midcentury-inspired white sofa topped with colorful throw pillows anchors another.
The custom wool area rug features geometric lines of dusty lavender and deep plum. “The rug was one of the last additions to the room,” Nozawa says. “It’s a large piece that helps to unify the separate seating areas.”
Shop for velvet sofas
The custom wool area rug features geometric lines of dusty lavender and deep plum. “The rug was one of the last additions to the room,” Nozawa says. “It’s a large piece that helps to unify the separate seating areas.”
Shop for velvet sofas
Because the living room ceiling is relatively low, Nozawa opted to keep it free of pendants and chandeliers. Instead, the space features multiple floor lamps and wall sconces.
The lacquered brass sconces on the wall above the white sofa are identical to the ones the homeowners had in a vacation house in New York. “The sconces stayed with the house when they sold it, but they loved them so much they had me find an identical pair for this space,” Nozawa says.
The lacquered brass sconces on the wall above the white sofa are identical to the ones the homeowners had in a vacation house in New York. “The sconces stayed with the house when they sold it, but they loved them so much they had me find an identical pair for this space,” Nozawa says.
The wife’s favorite color is purple, so Nozawa covered a pair of midcentury-inspired armchairs in purple tweed with leather trim. The black leather daybed allows guests to face the fireplace and armchairs or face toward the sofas on the other side of the room.
Not wanting the hassle of storing firewood and paying attention to which days were safe to burn wood, the homeowners opted to close off the fireplace flue in favor of flameless candles that provide a warm glow at night.
More on Houzz
How to Decorate a Living Room: 11 Designer Tips
Key Measurements for Your Living Room
Search for an interior designer
Browse flameless candles
Not wanting the hassle of storing firewood and paying attention to which days were safe to burn wood, the homeowners opted to close off the fireplace flue in favor of flameless candles that provide a warm glow at night.
More on Houzz
How to Decorate a Living Room: 11 Designer Tips
Key Measurements for Your Living Room
Search for an interior designer
Browse flameless candles
Related Stories
Trending Now
The 10 Most Popular Living Rooms So Far in 2024
Get ideas for furniture arrangements, color schemes, TV placement and more from these most-saved photos
Full Story
New This Week
8 Exceptionally Stylish New Living Rooms
See how home pros play with texture, color and seating pieces to create a harmonious blend of style and function
Full Story
Decorating Guides
15 Ways to Create Separation in an Open Floor Plan
By tidgboutique
Use these pro tips to minimize noise, delineate space and establish personal boundaries in an open layout
Full Story
Decluttering
How to Create a Joyful, Clutter-Free Living Room
Make this a space you enjoy by paring back and filling it with things you love
Full Story
Decorating Guides
4 Must-Have Features for a Small Living Room
By tidgboutique
A designer shares important ways to live large in a tight space and make it look stylish
Full Story
Decorating Guides
How to Decorate a Living Room
By tidgboutique
A designer offers tips for creating a comfortable space that reflects your style
Full Story
Small Spaces
How Designers Make the Most of a Small Living Room
Follow these small-space tips from interior designers and architects to help you plan your compact room
Full Story
New This Week
6 New Living Rooms That Stylishly Integrate a TV
Designers share the design details and strategies they used to create good-looking spaces that include a big screen
Full Story
Decorating Guides
8 Ideas for a Stylish Entertainment Center
By Kate Burt
Not sure how best to house your TV and its cables, boxes and related items? Let these solutions spark ideas
Full Story
Fireplaces
25 Living Rooms With Roaring Fireplaces
Pour yourself a cup of hot cocoa and cozy up to these heartwarming scenes of hearths ablaze
Full Story
I love that jazzy wallpaper.
Where is the dislike button? So many nice pieces but none of them compliment each other.
WOW! Love everything!