Create an ideabook for your next remodeling project!
Browse more than 1,000,000 photos from top designers and save your favorites
Ceilings That Work: Designs for the Space Above
Coffer or vault your ceiling and give your whole space a lift
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I am licensed to practice architecture in Illinois, Florida, New Jersey & Wisconsin and I am a certificate holder from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Since 1996 I have worked from my home office and provide full architectural services exclusively to the single family residential market. My passion is to transform my clients' houses into their homes. I strive to have the "new" home accommodate my clients' lives without fighting them at every junction. I look to add curb appeal to encourage a beautiful streetscape. And I design any addition to look and feel like it has always been there.
Our projects have won numerous design awards as well as having...
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located... More »
Ceilings don't have to be, and probably shouldn't be, all flat, horizontal planes of white painted drywall. Whether a ceiling is vaulted, trayed, soffited or coffered, changing its height and shape can add spaciousness, interest and definition to a room. Using these architectural elements can also break down the scale of a great room, bringing to life a vast (and what could be monotonous) space.
Playing with the ceiling shape and finish also can be a cost effective way of achieving something special and unique. Whether it's a gabled vault where the structure and ceiling are the same, the addition of soffits with indirect lighting, or a bit of trim to add scale and rhythm, ceilings are a design opportunity not to be missed.
Playing with the ceiling shape and finish also can be a cost effective way of achieving something special and unique. Whether it's a gabled vault where the structure and ceiling are the same, the addition of soffits with indirect lighting, or a bit of trim to add scale and rhythm, ceilings are a design opportunity not to be missed.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
A simple, gable vault where the roof structure and ceiling finish are combined makes for an efficient and elegant ceiling. Everything, including the skylights, metal tie rods and white walls, is done to emphasize the wood rafters. By placing the skylights at the ridge line rather than part way down the roof, a void is created that, like a retractable stadium roof, emphasizes the room's connection to the sky.
I can't help but think this would be a wonderful place for a chess game no matter what the weather outside.
I can't help but think this would be a wonderful place for a chess game no matter what the weather outside.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Here is an example of the classic tray ceiling used to achieve spaciousness in a great room. This remodeling project consisted of taking down a wall to make two rooms into one. To avoid the oppressive feel that a continuous, flat and 8'-high ceiling would create, the ceiling structure was raised a few feet. In this ranch house space taken out of the attic was an easy and cost-effective way to achieve a well-proportioned room. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The classic tray ceiling: this time in a bedroom. The beadboard finish and ceiling fan gives this room a tropical island feel. An especially nice detail is how the ceiling, through the use of trim and crown molding, seems to start at the top of the windows. This has the effect of lowering the ceiling and creating more intimacy, while the ceiling height adds spaciousness. A tray ceiling such as this offers a great opportunity to install indirect lighting. In this room, the indirect lighting provides generous overall light and, with a switch capable of dimming, can be turned to low for just the right, romantic level. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| This ceiling incorporates two steps of soffits. The first and lowest soffit follows the geometry of the room, as does the area rug directly below it. The higher soffit is a rectangular shape to provide a centering device. This type of ceiling gives an order and structure to a room that incorporates different angles and asymmetry. The lower soffit also provides a wider flat area at the bed headboard. This wide and flat area gives more intimacy at the headboard area as well as a place for ceiling-mounted items such as grilles, speakers, etc. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| In a simple bedroom with a low (less than 8') ceiling, the step up with indirect light provides spaciousness. As with the above example, the stepped ceiling provides a centering device in a room that has some angled walls and asymmetrical configuration. Simply by borrowing from the attic space and adding some small framing extras, a ceiling such as this is easily achieved in a second-floor bedroom, or a first floor room when there's no second floor above. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Here's a nice little "pop-up" in an upstairs hall. Not only does this give a place to hang a lantern with a long chain, but the extra bit of beadboard finish reinforces the coastal nature of the home's style. A nice opportunity to achieve something special in what is normally a simple, utilitarian space.
A small room with a tall ceiling can be a real design challenge. After all, who likes feeling as if they're at the bottom of a Dixie cup? So in this example, the coffers, colors, beadboard and lights all keep this kitchen well dimensioned and comfortable to work in.
Another nice result from adding a coffered ceiling, especially in an old house undergoing a remodel, is the new space created for ducts, pipes, conduit and other mechanical items. In this example, the visible air grille indicates that the coffers are being used to conceal ducts.
Another more costly way of using the coffer to conceal ducts while avoiding a grille such as this is to introduce a linear, slot-type diffuser in the side of the coffer.
Another nice result from adding a coffered ceiling, especially in an old house undergoing a remodel, is the new space created for ducts, pipes, conduit and other mechanical items. In this example, the visible air grille indicates that the coffers are being used to conceal ducts.
Another more costly way of using the coffer to conceal ducts while avoiding a grille such as this is to introduce a linear, slot-type diffuser in the side of the coffer.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
The panels in a coffered ceiling can be of just about any material. In this example, the panels are decorative and translucent, enabling the light to come from a source hidden above the ceiling line. The design of these coffer panels is very structured: a series of layered grids in a fun, somewhat abstract design of strong colors.
This large room has multiple activity areas, each placed beneath its own coffered ceiling. While the overlapping grids give general order and structure, the colors reinforce the center of the ceiling and each activity area.
This large room has multiple activity areas, each placed beneath its own coffered ceiling. While the overlapping grids give general order and structure, the colors reinforce the center of the ceiling and each activity area.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| A coffered ceiling can also be used to counterbalance a room's decor. Here, this elegant and all-white, deeply coffered ceiling adds structure and visual weight to the room, balancing the wall color and furniture style. |
by Jamison Howard
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
There's no rule that says that coffers have to be a rectangular grid. In this case the coffering starts at the center rotated square and radiates out from there. This sets up a geometry that's independent of the room's shape, adding another layer of interest and detail to the space.
The wood coffered ceiling here also reinforces the quiet and serious nature of this library-like room.
The wood coffered ceiling here also reinforces the quiet and serious nature of this library-like room.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Sometimes a simple, wood paneled ceiling with wood beams is the answer. In this room, the wood beams break down the large space while the wood finishes tie everything together. In a room where the main sitting area is away from the source of light and view, the wood beams direct the eye towards the window and out to the landscape beyond. |
by Kenneth Fromme
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
At times the simplest approach is the best. Adding some thin, pencil-line trim and raised panels to the ceiling adds just the right level of detail without calling too much attention to itself. And, as in this case, where there are many patterns and colors all around, adding a regular and simple gridded pattern to the ceiling can add just the right amount of structure.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Extra height and well designed ceilings aren't just for dining rooms, living rooms, bedrooms and other big rooms. A simple, spare and utilitarian mudroom can be made light, bright and spacious with a vaulted ceiling.
More: See the Beauty of Barrel-Vaulted Ceilings
How to Make a Tall Room Feel Right
More: See the Beauty of Barrel-Vaulted Ceilings
How to Make a Tall Room Feel Right
Ideabook updated on Aug. 27, 2011.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
We are working with our builder to build a new house and his standard is a 9 foot ceiling on the first floor. He has built box beamed ceilings on 9 feet, 10 feet and 2 story rooms.
Ideally I would love to have the 10 feet but that would mean raising the ceiling of my entire first floor to 10 feet which is costly (I am willing to pay if it is the right thing to do) but I am worried about getting a bad vibe with 10 foot ceilings in the entire first floor when my main aim is to have a box beamed ceiling in the family room which is about 16 by 16 and it is open to the kitchen and breakfast room - I may even consider placing it to cover the entire kitchen, breakfast and family room ceiling too. I will attach the layout- maybe you may have a suggestion about sticking with 9 feet or raising the ceiling to 10? I would go with the white box beamed ceiling if that may affect your judgement and I believe the typical beams go down 8 inches. Any additional input would be very valuable as I keep going round in circles!!
My builder for the cause of simplicity wants me to stick with the 9 feet on the entire first floor- he also said raising to 10 may give more of a commercial feel but he is of course keeping up to us to make the final call