Think of a sunken living room and it likely conjures a retro interior; these low-slung, stepped-down spaces were at their peak of popularity between the 1950s and ’70s. “A sunken living room can also provide a gateway to exterior spaces,” says Hill. But with a sunken living room, that space can just transition seamlessly” to grade level. Kelly Buffey, partner and creative director at Akb Architects, is currently retrofitting a sunken living room in a heritage home. Where to situate a sunken living room largely depends on the floor plate of the home itself, she says.

Source: National Post February 10, 2026 16:18 UTC