By Amber Katz
Those stepped-down conversation pits that defined mid-century homes in the ‘60s and ‘70s are making a comeback — and in a town full of older homes with good bones, Rye is prime territory for the revival.
Whether you’ve inherited one, just bought a house with one, or are simply curious what all the fuss is about, the sunken living room is having a moment—only without shag carpets and lava lamps.
Embrace It or Fill It In?
For Dawn Merkel, an interior designer who recently transformed a sunken living room into a moody speakeasy-inspired retreat, complete with a 15-foot antique-mirrored bar, copper-tiled ceiling, and curved swivel chairs, the first question is what you want the space to actually do.
“Is it a living room, a game space, a drinking area? You have to define the function first, then space plan from there,” she said.
As for whether to keep or ditch a sunken living room altogether, Merkel said location within the home matters most.
“If it’s a space unto itself and not smack in the middle of the house, embrace it,” she said. “A separate room that’s sunk in can be intimate and interesting.”
But a sunken pit dropped in the center of an open floor plan?
“I’d fill it in. It’s a tripping hazard and it’s going to cause more harm than good.”
What Buyers Think
Chelsea Georgio, a Rye-based realtor, said sunken living rooms don’t tend to move the needle dramatically in either direction on resale value — but context is everything.
“It’s not necessarily a deal breaker or a highlighted amenity,” she said. “It depends on how it’s built out and what it lends itself to in the neighboring room.”
In the current market, she added, buyers are increasingly willing to look past a home’s quirks.
“Every home has its own little compromise. People aren’t looking at every feature in such a specific way because it’s a tough market.”
She’s seen sunken living rooms serve as selling points — particularly when they introduce volume into a home with otherwise lower ceilings.
“The sunken living room could make at least part of the family room feel more expansive,” Georgio said.
Living With One
Ann Smith Konopka bought her 1950s Rye home two years ago, and the sunken living room was part of what sold her on it.
“The 14-foot ceilings, and one whole side is glass leading to a patio — the living room was very much a selling point for us,” she said. To tame all that volume, she hung curtains from the ceiling and added a built-in reaching close to the ceiling height. “It made it feel less dungeon-y,” she said.
Laura Kovacs, another Rye resident, described the appeal simply: “It feels cozy yet open, and subtly separates space without walls.” She’s been layering in neutrals, lamps, and curved pieces to make the space her own — with a swivel chair still on the way. Her advice to anyone on the fence? “Embrace it.”
Smith Konopka also offered an unexpected tip: don’t be too quick to change things. Her home’s original fireplace sits about 12 inches off the ground — a detail she initially hated.
“I was ready to drill the whole brick out and put it flat to the ground,” she said. But after a winter with it, she changed her tune. “The heat radiates throughout the middle of the room. It’s something I would have immediately removed had I not lived here first.”
The Safety Question
It wouldn’t be a sunken living room story without addressing the step no one sees coming. Merkel’s practical advice: limit access points.
“Creating one or two entry points with stairs is crucial,” she said. “Even a glass rail would be optimal. You don’t want the whole exterior of the space to be one long step-down.”
Kovacs acknowledged the concern is real.
“Older folks tend to hold on to the wall when they step up or down,” she said — a reminder that thoughtful design goes a long way.
Smith Konopka removed the banisters a previous owner had installed — for now.
“When I’m 85, I’ll probably put them back,” she said. “But with a grandchild coming in August, I might have to address it sooner rather than later.”
