reveal / white house fireplace Wall
Hello, friends! Today I’m sharing a living room transformation in an Auckland family home. The heart of the room is the gorgeous feature fireplace wall. We had a nice wide wall to play with, giving us an opportunity to use the vertical space and design a floor-to-ceiling feature focal point. Starting the design with a fireplace was a no-brainer to create that cosy feel all year round. We had the builder create a frame that we could clad, including a hearth step, front face to frame the fire, then a column above. The hearth and front is wrapped in ribbed stone, lending a tactile elegance to the base, while the top features smooth rendered Venetian plaster, tying the top and bottom together as one, and balancing the textures.
Opening Up: The Bifold Doors
Natural light was a priority for this living room, and bifold doors leading out to the deck made all the difference. These doors flood the space with sunlight and provide a seamless indoor-outdoor connection, perfect for entertaining or simply relaxing. We added curtains with double tracks, with a blockout behind and a breezy sheer in front.
“How cool is the floor vent for the ducted heating? Creating slots in the actual timber
creates a much more seamless look than metal plates.” Shelley
classic charm: Skirtings, Cornices, and Architraves
The room’s architectural details—elegant skirtings, cornices, and architraves—add a touch of classic sophistication. Painted in a crisp white, they frame the room beautifully and enhance the fresh, clean aesthetic. These finishing touches may seem subtle, but I think they play such an important role in elevating the space!
The Floors: Refinishing History
The house features original timber floorboards which our clients were keen to keep to retain some of the home’s history - they have lots of charming imperfections that tell the story of a home well loved and lived in. These original beauties were sanded, bleached, and sealed to get rid of the orange tone, lighten them, and bring out their natural grain. The lighter colour now works with the neutral colour palette of the renovated interior, adding depth and character while providing a durable foundation for family life. It’s amazing what a little TLC can do to revive such a timeless feature!
A Fresh Canvas: White Walls
The walls got special treatment with the lower third getting framing added, then Resene Alabaster soft white paint that bounces light around the room and serves as a neutral backdrop for the family’s furniture and accessories. This gives the white walls more character and allows the natural textures, brass accents, and furniture pieces to take center stage.
Let there be light
To add a modern touch, we installed a Samsung Frame TV above the fireplace. When it’s not in use, it doubles as an art piece, blending seamlessly with the overall design. Flanking the TV are brass wall lights from Nightworks Studio, their warm glow accentuating the textures of the stone and plaster by day while casting a cozy ambiance at night.
Do you have a fireplace at your place? If so have a good look at the details and surrounding area to see if you have space to create your own focal fireplace wall!