extremely high (20') vaulted ceiling in living room

last year

This ceiling is unadorned -- no molding, texture, nothing except 2 ceiling fans with lights. Cavernous echo chamber. What to do? Thinking that bead board and beams would help...those two things would need to be painted (limed?) as this living room is also open to dining and kitchen. i know a photo would be helpful, but just do not have that yet.

Featured Answer

AnnKH

last year

"keep looking" isn't always an option. I looked at scores of houses on line before we bought ours, and thanks to being a GW old-timer, I look at the kitchen first! Most of the houses we looked at - especially newer construction - had ridiculous kitchens (including corner pantries). We were also self-limited to about a 2-mile radius from Hubby's workplace, since he rides his bike to work.

We had other "must-haves" as well, like a 7-foot china cabinet that we didn't want to give up, and a space for my workshop.

This house had everything: a kitchen we could live with (for a while, at least - 3 years in, we got new cabinets), ideal location, lots of room, tons of storage, small yard, and a price that couldn't be beat. For all that, we're fine with the high ceiling.

I kept looking at houses on line after we bought, and nothing came up that we liked half as much - at any price. Sometimes we have to compromise.

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Comments (9)

PRO
HALLETT & Co.
last year
Post one when you have it. Beams and beadboard are just more hard surfaces. You need soft surfaces- curtains, rugs, art, upholstered furniture.
AnnKH
last year
Is this a house you're just buying?

Our house sounds similar - great room with an 18' peak. We had hardwood put in this summer, and when the room was empty, it was indeed an echo chamber. But as soon as we started moving furniture and rugs back in, the echo diminished significantly.

I would never build a house with such a high ceiling, but we've lived here for 3 years, and it's fine.

(these are listing photos - we have more rugs).
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Catherine Moser
Original Author
last year
Yes, thinking about a purchase. Thank you so much for sharing. I appreciate hearing about your insights. The room in these photos is very similar to what I am considering.
kandrewspa
last year
Proportions are important in a room with a ceiling that high. I have friends who have a family room with a high ceiling and the proportions are wrong. The room never feels comfortable. I have a living room with a 17' ceiling and although like AnnKH we never would have built a house like this, it is proportioned well and not echoey when furnished. We are empty nesters. I would not have bought a house a like this with children as the noise does travel since it's also open to the second floor. It has a first floor primary bedroom which was the main attraction. So think about whether this floorplan is going to work for your household. I know sometimes it doesn't feel like it, but there will be another house if you pass on this one.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
IMO never a 20' ceiling in any space so I would keep looking or want to add living space above that room The heating and cooling will cost a fortune and for no real benefit . If you insist on the puchase just remenber you live only in the bottom 1/2 of the space ILike cable lighting for this type of space , you will need nice plush rugs and drapes as much soft surfaces as possible and the sound will always be an issue no matter what . Fake beams always look fake and will have effect of the sound and usually these spaces are more in modern homes so for sure no beadboard .
chispa
last year
last modified: last year
I'll take AnnKH's high ceilings anytime over a house with all 8 or 9 ft ceilings, specially in warmer climates. 8 ft ceilings would be a definite no for a house purchase.
User
last year
Make sure your fans are large enough for the room, and that the down rod is long enough to bring the fans down as far as possible.
PRO
Zumi
last year
Add another second floor room and fix the ridiculous overheight actual issue.