Advice Needed On Dropped Ceiling Design

last year

last modified: last year

Hello! Advice needed. We need to decide if we want to build dropped ceiling, and if so, covering which areas. We have 3 ideas right now, but other options are very welcomed. Please ignore the furnitures choices in the visualizations, they are just space-fillers.

Background

We're renovating an old aparment. Weather here is hot and buildings don't typically have central air conditioning system, so the norm here for the home owners to install wall-mount air conditioners everywhere. There is however the alternative of using ceiling-mount and cover the unit up with dropped ceiling, exposing only the air vents.

Floor plan is open. The main entrance directly opens into the livingroom, with dining area connected to the livingroom area. See attached image.

Original ceiling is 9.4 ft. (2900mm).
Dropped ceiling comes down to 8.2 ft. (2500mm) for the ceiling-mount air conditioner.

Note that there's a huge beam running along the open space.

Idea A: No drop. Use wall-mounts

Avoid dropped ceilings. Put wall-mount directly above the main entrance. Wife dislikes exposed air conditioners.

Idea B: Dropped ceiling on main entrance

Dropped ceiling covering only the main entrance. Ceiling height comes down to 2450mm. The idea is to create a visual separation of the main entrance from the rest of the open living area.

Idea C: Dropped ceiling on dining area

Dropped ceiling covering the entire dining area, while extending a bit over to the main entrance. Same motivation as Idea B, to create visual separation but on the dining area instead.

Thank you very much!

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Comments (5)

ci_lantro
last year
The dropped ceiling versions all look messy. With that large wide beam, the dropped ceiling ends up creating a third ceiling height. I prefer the wall mount over the door.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
last modified: last year
I need a lot more info to starthow high is the ceiling ? Do you want AC in all spaces? Where do you plan to install a large ac unit if from the ceiling is the plan.? In most apartments the wall mounted units are the only answer unless you can put a large unit on a deck and of course that usually requires permission to do. If ll you need is the one then IMO over the door looks much better than than goofy dropped ceiling idea.
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ci_lantro
last year
I had to do the metric conversions. Hint: Most of us on this site are in the United States & are unable to 'think' in metric. For maximum input, it is wise to post your dimensions in Imperial units.

2850 mm ceiling height = 9.3 feet

Dropped ceiling 2450 mm = 8 feet

Wife dislikes exposed air conditioners.

As opposed to a jumble of different ceiling heights? And the trouble & expense of trying to hide it yet still having a large vent cover with the same approximate footprint as the unit itself?
Austin Wang
Original Author
last year
> still having a large vent

This is a great point. I'll confirm with the contractor how big the vents will be.

We're doing wall-mounts everywhere else, but for the main living area we want to try it make it look nice.

I've updated the post with imperial units. Thank you for the tip!
gurukaram
last year
Wall mount looks best and I imagine that it will be considerably less expensive,. Savings can be spent on furnishings and decor - whee! Also consider maintenance- I have lived with these units and it is necessary to clean the filters regularly, which are accessed via the front of the unit.