Full of colour and pattern, a living room really shines.

This living room’s cosy mood comes from its chocolate-brown walls, painted Rockies Brown (2107-30) by Benjamin Moore. Furniture is placed in a traditional arrangement, but two upholstered cubes stand in for a coffee table. There’s an interplay of contemporary and traditional prints, courtesy of the wallpaper and sofa cushions, which keeps the design current.

White walls and high beams enlarge this interior.

Rustic beams draw the eye upward, making the ceiling in this great room look even higher. A peaked roof keeps the room light and airy, and ceiling fans cool the house on hot summer days. A sisal rug and neutral furniture colours keep the space casual and cottagey.

For more inspiration, see our Traditional Cottages photo gallery, Cottages & Country Houses photo gallery, plus more Melody Duron Interiors.

Designer David Powell of Toronto’s Powell & Bonnell created a contemporary, family-friendly home against a traditional backdrop.

In the living room, light cream painted walls allow the architecture to stand out. Upholstered furniture pieces with rounded lines make the space feel inviting. A crystal chandelier, silk drapes and mercury-glass lamps add shine.

Delicately scented flowers delight all the senses.

Perfumed by dianthus, lavender and roses, this pretty pea-gravel pathway leads from the main house and winds among rockeries and an old stand of cedars before arriving at this 170-year-old guest house.

A distressed harvest table contrasts glam cabinets and lighting.

A kitchen lighting system that layers an antique chandelier, antique wall sconces, pot lights mounted under the cabinets and a candelabra with taper candles is visually stunning but also allows the flexibility to create any type of mood. Herringbone patterned hardwood floors only add to the European country, luxe look. Framed French doors and leaded glass cabinet doors elevate the kitchen’s high style even more while milk stools used as seating around the harvest table keep it casual and comfortable.

View more French inspired interiors in our gallery.

For more island inspiration, see our Kitchen Tables As Islands photo gallery.

See our photo gallery for more fast decorating fixes.

Clean-lined, solid wood furniture makes a modern statement against traditional details.

Designer and cookbook author Sophie Conran loves Christian Liaigre’s early 20th century-inspired furniture, such as the pieces pictured here. This living room showcases a stunning juxtaposition of modern shapes and old world accents, like the gilt-framed Van Dyck and carved-marble fireplace.

See more photos of Conran’s favourite things in our gallery. Enjoy pictures of this entire neo-classical house, also, in our April 2008 issue.

A sparkling chandelier, gilt mirror and cream upholstered chairs look luxurious against dark wood flooring and furniture.

Deep grey painted walls create a look that’s both refined and glamorous.

Tackle awkward landscaping areas with brightly-hued blooms.

Rising up from the flagstone pool deck, a sloping garden is home to a showy and sweetly scented mock orange shrub, daisies and lilies, as well as a terraced rock garden where more daisies, roses, gold-hued alyssum and a variety of perennial geraniums bask in the sun, creating a sense of tamed wilderness.

Get more landscaping and garden design ideas in our Gorgeous Gardens photo gallery.

This sweet-yet-sophisticated design includes white furniture, wallpaper and a lively bedding set.

A new palette of soft, silvery greens and blues create a muted backdrop for vibrant patterned fabrics in teal, white and grass green. The existing bed frame was freshened up with bright white paint and upholstered in a bold geometric print.

Top-floor style, inspired by an artist’s atelier.

In this open-concept workspace, metal details — from the steel trestle desk to the vintage chair — add unmistakably French flair. Eight-foot ceilings and a wall of French doors create the illusion the the space is much larger than its actual 11′ x 15′.

French doors, marble floors and custom walls are some of the luxurious features in the grand, light-filled dining room.

An antique silver candelabra and a pair of Art Deco chandeliers are the perfect complement to modern artwork and a bright, contemporary colour palette.

See more beautiful interiors with gorgeous flooring in our photo gallery.

A chandelier adds glamour to a simple space.

In a kitchen with restrained design and a mostly-white colour scheme, a modern chandelier offers a glittery counterpoint. Woven textures and colourful flowers keep the space from looking too bare.

Choose plantings that mimic an enchanting, English-country garden.

Running along the side of the house, a wide flagstone path is softened by moss growing in its crevices. The plants appear to grow uninhibited and wild, but the low boxwood hedges and careful dispersion of colour throughout the greenery hints that things are actually well-controlled.

Get more landscaping and garden design ideas in our Gorgeous Gardens photo gallery.

Tuck pretty plants into a shady corner to create an inviting space.

Plantings of different heights give this garden a loose, organic look, as do the climbing plants up the pergola columns. The addition of a small garden path, which disappears behind the plants, produces the illusion of a larger yard.

Create extra workspace with an oversized island.

Tall, elegant French doors fill the airy kitchen with light, which is enhanced by light from a stunning polished-nickel light fixture above the walnut island. Set slightly above the top of the island, a large chopping block becomes a design feature in its own right. During parties, the island is the perfect spot to set up a buffet. Pale engineered oak flooring has a casual aesthetic.

Mix period pieces for added interest.

Add elegance to any space by taking inspiration from the past. Here, Regency-style chairs are a pleasing contrast to the ebony-stained dining table.

Create interest by mixing formal and country gardening styles.

In this parterre-style formal garden, 16 boxwood squares hold roses, poppies, peonies and delphinium. Cast-iron urns set on clean-lined bases punctuate the garden. The building beyond the garden houses a workshop, a new horse barn and a garage. It’s painted in Falun red paint, an environmentally safe powdered paint that’s mixed with water, linseed oil and dishwashing liquid.

Barbara Barry pendant lights add elegance to a custom kitchen.

Designer Brian Gluckstein chose dark Macassar ebony for the cabinetry, with a clean black “frame” that sets off the rich wood. White counters and backsplash help keep the room light and airy. The 9′ x 4′ island houses the sink, dishwasher and a wine fridge. Stainless steel appliances and cabinetry break up the expanse of dark wood, keeping the look fresh.

This spare yet elegant design features standout pieces mixed with timeless antiques.

Before the reno, visitors entered the house through this former foyer, which has been transformed into a sitting area. Since heritage restrictions prevented her from sealing the old front door, it became a spot to hang pieces of art. Here, two works (the smaller is by friend Michelle Lloyd Bermann, the larger by Canadian artist Gary Slipper) share the space with more exuberant installations, including photographer Terry Richardson‘s portrait of model Amber Valletta. Similarly spunky juxtapositions define the furniture, a mix of contemporary and vintage pieces. “Only two, maybe three antiques per room,” Sharon advises.

Find more inspiration in our Traditional Living Rooms photo gallery, and see the rest of Sharon Mimran’s stunning heritage home renovation in our video tour.