I have a large lawn and mow it regularly. It is not, however, a monoculture. We just started mowing the existing pasture as we were building our house. I've never used any sort of herbicide on it, but have occasionally spread organic fertilizer on it. It is full of different grasses, clovers, buttercup, dandelions and their various cousins, mosses, stinky weed (not sure what that one is), and I've also introduced crocus and lawn daisies. I am most often barefoot outside and love the soft feel of lawn between my toes. My brother-in-law, owner of a lawn care service, likely flinches every time he comes over!
I do love the lupine meadow as well - would love to try to get something like that established on my back hillside. Was it pre-existing, or did you plant that yourself? We have native lupine that grows along the road shoulders and I've often thought of just nabbing some seeds, but then noticed that the lupines were slowly diminishing (not sure why, our area doesn't spray), so figured let well enough alone.
Have a battery-operated mower and edger/trimmer, plenty good enough for what is needed here. Images are from earlier, in Spring.
It always looks so pretty!! 
