Woodworking Building a Home Design Dilemma

Architecture/design help for open concept 1st floor

last year

Hello! Looking for ideas and advice on our first floor design and specifically on the ceiling. We’ve settled on 9’ ceilings and going for a transitional style leaning more modern. We don‘t plan to do any crown molding and currently have some type of paneling or wainscoting in the dining room in our builder contract. Im starting to think I need something to add some architectural interest in the main family room / kitchen area so its not a big plain room that falls flat. I was thinking coffered ceilings perhaps just in the dining room. or maybe beams somewhere? Would a cased opening to the main area or to dining room look nice? I dont want to drop the ceiling height too much either. Inspiration or design help appreciated! Im having a hard time visualizing what would look nice.

We are going with black windows and white oak flooring and going for the modern organic / transitional farmhouse style

First Floor plan attached

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
last year
Layout exposed ceiling beams to coincide with walls and openings in the wall, at the same time as the walls are laid out. Size the beams as if they are real.

Doors to the exterior in a living room inhibit furniture layouts.
0
anj_p
last year
I would add that different ceilings (coffered, tray, beamed) may affect your window options as all of that needs to be measured down from your ceiling.

Regarding whether you need to dress up the ceiling, that's entirely dependent on what you want. We have no additional ceiling "dressing" and I think our house looks great and more open without it. What you put in your house matters more imo.

Cased openings are more traditional than modern and are more for people who want less openness in their home. If that's what you want you can absolutely do that.
0
Related Professionals
La Grange Carpenters · American Canyon Flooring Contractors · Midland Furniture & Accessories · Angleton Home Builders · Winchester Center Home Builders · Seguin General Contractors · Freehold Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Atlantic Beach Furniture & Accessories · New Bern General Contractors · Brighton General Contractors · Chatsworth General Contractors · Galveston General Contractors · Irving General Contractors · Medford General Contractors · Rossmoor General Contractors
HU-862725558
last year
That is going to be a fortune in engineering. There is such a thing as spans that are too long to affordably create, unless you are doing all steel everything.
0
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
last modified: last year
IMO coffered ceilings often create issues with lighting and furniure plcement for no real reason IMO decor is what addsi interest in a space art on the walls, a nice rug wall color all kinds of things easily changed down the road all better than adding issues to the ceiling. Please get farmhouse out of your brain it is nothing that has any real style. A home is IMO styled with things you love and done slowly with lots of thought put into choices. I have a MCM home with 8' ceilings very plain but my decor and art add the interest .I have never felt the need to add ceiling interest . I aslo do not let a particular "style" drive my choices .
IVtaras
9 months ago
last modified: 9 months ago
For adding some character to your ceiling, coffered ceilings or beams could be a great choice. When we did a similar project, Victoria Ribeiro helped us with the design. She suggested some creative solutions that didn’t lower our ceiling height but still added a lot of interest. Her ideas for incorporating beams in the main living area and subtle details in the dining room made a huge difference. For your space, consider how different elements might interact with your existing paneling. It’s worth sketching out a few options or working with a designer to visualize what will work best.
0