dreaded beam

11 years ago

Hello everyone. I have found this forum extremely helpful as we design our kitchen remodel. I haven't posted much, as searching and reading old topics have been enough. I did post recently about layout and got some great ideas. Now I need some new help, for anyone that has some advice.

We just got the news that, our kitchen expansion/remodel will require an exposed beam across the ceiling. Our KD had hoped it would recess in the ceiling, but his calculations are saying that we need a 14 inch beam, and have only 9 inches of ceiling to hide it. This is especially disappointing since we have only 8 foot ceilings.

Our kitchen design is below (but is not the latest, we are moving the "bottom" and "left" doors to make room for refrigerator columns where the current "pantry's" are. Also, the island is going to be more square to allow for seating on 2 sides, and the breakfast nook will have a smaller table/chairs.

The beam will be the dotted line running just behind the island chairs (will end up being just above the edge of the island once the island becomes shorter and wider.

I would like to hear ideas to "decorate" the beam, knowing that our ceilings are only 8 feet. A few inspirational pictures below to show the style we are going for. We could do a rustic style beam (with others to match) but that wouldn't match our design (or house). We could do a coffered ceiling (but only 8 feet!) or just dry wall/crown the beam and avoid adding extra soffits. To be honest, I don't like any of the options. Hoping someone out there has a idea we can use, or pictures of 8 foot ceilings with similar "problems."

Featured Answer

User

11 years ago

I would paint it the same color as the ceiling and ignore it.

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Comments (8)

data_port
Original Author
11 years ago
This is a picture I have found that might work?
Rachel (Zone 7A + wind)
11 years ago
That would work of your ceiling were higher.

Can you use a smaller beam and recess it if it's a steel I-beam?
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eam44
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
So, as MR asks, is it a steel beam? If it's a 14" laminated wood beam, a steel beam, while more expensive, would be much smaller, perhaps small enough to recess, but I can't imagine your kd not knowing that...

I like Datas image. The other option is to run the beam, drywall it, and paint it the color of the ceiling. Don't trim it, just let it visually melt into the ceiling.
herbflavor
11 years ago
must you do anything...in that location with the island and stools or chairs there will be plenty going on down at human height level. I'd be inclined to just let it morph into the ceiling and leave it alone. And probably no pendant lights. Do your recessed lights up there with some directional eyeball type fixture and dimmer switches so the light can be directed away from the beam and dimmed in the evening or at non peak times for your people gathering there. Let the beam be, nothing extra, and you'll forget about it very soon. Might be a big mistake to decorate it.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
11 years ago
You could probably trade your beam for a floor to ceiling post, since a post would cut the span in half. Investigate steel.
User
11 years ago
Uh.......why is your kitchen designer specifying structural beams?

Thats normally the pervue of a structural engineer, and (s)he'd also be the one to propose options for reducing that member's height. In addition to I-beams, plate steel can be sandwiched between wood beams and I've had projects that used carbon fiber too.

Do you have a second story ? 2x8 is pretty short for floor joists.
data_port
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
It is a wood beam. Steel is being considered, but it would have to be 19 feet long and quite the logistical challenge to install. We have a second story (house is foursquare). We are working with a company that does design, engineering, contracting, etc all in one so by KD I mean all of those things. We have a new drawing, and are changing the beam to horizontal (in the picture, the partial vertical beam will be hidden). I would also love to hear thoughts on island configuration (trying to find a concept that will get us 5 seats and workable space for prep). Current aisles are 4 feet. I like the table/island combo in the picture below.

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