Elmer Jacobi
So, I’m reworking it and including a larger section on vaulted ceilings. Also, please look at this post about boxy, boring homes with low ceilings. Some of those tricks to make a ceiling appear as tall as possible include the addition of:
Also, please check out 16 ways to make your small rooms look larger. I talk in this post about the best ceiling paint colors. After all, dark colors make walls and ceilings recede, as discussed in this post.
Recently, I saw where a young designer had proudly painted a wide architrave under her small crown moulding. Above and below is Nancy Keyes’ fantastic renovated master bathroom.
The ceiling color is a soft black – Benjamin Moore Onyx.
And yes, Onyx is one of the Laurel Home collection paint colors. Leave it to Nancy to create a gorgeous room, in any case. A low, large, expansive POPCORN ceiling.
(please click on that for lots of great ideas for problem ceilings) I can’t think of one decorating issue from the 20th century that confounds me more than the all-too-common popcorn ceiling. They’re just another of those bad ideas made popular in the second half of the 20th century.
And, now we want to rid the planet of popcorn; on problem ceilings, that is.
However, it depends on if you have a ceiling that looks more like fossilized seven-minute frosting or more like painted coarse corn grits. But, if you insist, please make sure that your ceiling and paint is free of asbestos and lead.
Faux tin ceiling tile and anaglypta wallpaper It is a heavy, embossed wallpaper that can go on the wall or on the ceiling. Here is one pattern that’s either the same or very similar to what I had on my kitchen ceiling for 16 years. I had it professionally installed, and then the contractor painted the paper high-gloss white. For an expansive and low ceiling as in an open floor plan, here’s what I think is a good idea. Sometimes the beam will make sense because there’s already a post holding up the ceiling somewhere.
It’s difficult to see here, but there’s a steel beam covered with sheetrock running along the length of the room attached to the post. Hallow coffers on a low, expansive ceiling, like above (with or without the beadboard), is a wonderful way to break up a low, expansive ceiling. One of most favorite clients from 2003-2012 (with some breaks during the recession) added this lovely kitchen family room addition in 2008. These ceilings are only eight-feet high, but they don’t feel low at all.
In my portfolio, there are numerous examples of beautiful coffered ceilings. And indeed, for a coffer as deep as the one above, it needs to be at least a ten-foot-high ceiling.
Beautiful office before done by Nicole Balch of Making It Lovely for the One Room Challenge™. The wall color is Benjamin Moore Brandy Cream oc-4 and 1030
For more blue ceiling and wall ideas, click here. Okay, let’s look at some things I found that I very much don’t recommend that you do when it comes to vaulted ceilings.
But, first, one lovely asymmetrical vaulted ceiling that works, in my opinion. Let’s emphasize how weird this all is by highlighting these bizarre panel mouldings.
First, the one-sided vaulted ceiling is not accessible to pull off. It can quickly look like a “lean-to.” But add to it these oppressive, heavy beams, heavy stone installed to match the pitch, and dull brown cabinetry that feels wrong. Well, the cheapest, which Nancy Keyes did, and it looks amazing, would be to paint everything white.
lol, She just didn’t feel like putting money into this part of the house. A more expensive way would be to cover the stone and then create more of a deep tray ceiling by following the angle on the left and then bringing the ceiling straight across for the fireplace chimney, and then bringing the angle down to match the left. Yes, but mostly it’s when the walls and ceiling are painted a rich, medium to dark color.
She achieved the perfect balance with a hunky leather sofa and a gorgeous Oriental rug. As you can see, the crown sits just under the vault running horizontally, with the effect of flying, I guess.
BHDM, a design firm in New York City, did a fantastic, unadorned soffit.
Running a crown moulding on the angle is just plain weird to me.
Well, it’s fine to run a plain three or four-inch piece of wood, as you see below. Architect Peter McDonald did a gorgeous job with this beautiful coastal bedroom on Cape Cod.
Fine, we all need to start somewhere, and I had many failures in my early years, but golly gee. And no suggestions on how to make it better except to paint it all out and slipcover the furniture with seagrass rugs. However, I don’t have any bad examples, only gorgeous tray ceilings.
I think painting the ceiling taupe provides great balance in this elegant dining room. The color looks like Benjamin Moore Quiet Moments. Pale blue, grey, greens are absolutely gorgeous for ceilings.
I have a lot of respect for someone who has the skill, patience, and spinal column strength needed to accomplish something like this. It’s an excellent site filled with tons of wonderful images. Okay, let’s forget about the horrid furniture and layout and focus on the vaulted ceiling. I think a relatively simple running crown or horizontal piece for the vaulted ceiling. I thought doing the faux marble charcoal gray, and the white-ish floor would be fun. I love how the large diamonds of the floor play off the angle of the vaulted ceiling.
If anyone is interested, the painting in the back is by American painter Jonas Lie, 1880-1940. It is large and magnificent, and I must take a pic of it the next time I’m in Bronxville for a visit. The beautiful Chinoiserie china cabinet or bookcase is available at Chairish, and it says free shipping! PS: Please check out the newly updated Hot Sales. And, I just reintroduced a women’s clothing widget with some lovely items, primarily for winter and all on sale!
