Living Room with Arched Panels and L-Shaped Sofa

It is a panelled wall worked into rows of arched recesses, with a warm backing that catches the light inside each arch. The panelling gives a plain wall pattern and depth without a bold colour or busy wallpaper. Arched shapes carry through to the tv wall and the dining area, tying the whole open plan together. It is a quiet way to make a large flat wall feel considered rather than empty.

Set on a panelled feature wall, the tv is framed by tall arched pilasters that match the panelling elsewhere. Below it sits a fluted sideboard with a marble top, which hides media clutter and gives a surface for a few pieces. The fluted front adds texture and hides fingerprints better than flat gloss. Setting the tv into its own framed panel makes it feel built in rather than an afterthought stuck on the wall.

Yes, it flows straight into the dining space with no dividing wall. The dining table sits under a slim linear glass chandelier, visible from the sofa, so the two zones read as one large room. Open plans like this feel bigger and keep people connected across cooking, eating and lounging. We used the same panelling and coffered ceiling across both ends so the shared space looks deliberate rather than two rooms knocked together.

Overhead, the ceiling is a coffered tray with a soft patterned inset and a warm cove glow, holding a ceiling fan and a cassette AC. In front of the sofa sit a pair of round nesting tables with marble tops on fluted wooden bases. Nesting tables can slide together or apart, which is handy in a busy family room. The marble top wipes clean easily and stands up to cups and everyday use.

Joinery is the main spend. The arched panelled walls, the framed tv wall, the fluted sideboard and the coffered ceiling are all custom carpentry, and that labour adds up more than the furniture does. The marble tables and velvet seating are mid-range by comparison. If you need to trim it, simplify the panelling to one feature wall and keep a plain tray ceiling. The look mostly comes from the wall detailing, so spend there first.

The honest trade-off is that sound and cooking smells travel freely between the living and dining zones with no wall to stop them. A good chimney in the kitchen and some soft furnishings, like the rug and upholstered seating here, help absorb noise and keep it comfortable. The upside is space, light and connection, which most families prefer. It is worth weighing how much you cook strong food before committing to a fully open plan.

It is fairly easy for its size. The velvet sofa and chairs want a regular vacuum and a quick spot clean, as pale fabric shows marks. The marble table tops and the marble floor wipe down easily but should avoid harsh acidic cleaners. The fluted joinery just needs dusting along the grooves. Nothing here is high effort, though a large pale room does show dust sooner, so a routine clean keeps it looking sharp.