You don ’ t state ceiling height witout tray , but I would simply LOSE it. :) assuming it carries nothing within.

Have you investigate why the tray is there? Is it only decorative or does it have HVAC, plumbing etc. Option A and B-tray is centred to the room-your fireplace is off centred. I feel it is fine the way it is or no tray is also fine.

Tray is there solely for decorative purposes. Ceiling height without tray is 12’-4” and 13’ with tray.

Not sure I would actually call this a tray ceiling. A tray ceiling usually has a lower portion that has some width to it. From what I can see in the photo this is just barely the case. I don't dislike the look. It doesn't appear dated as most tray ceilings do. I vote to leave it instead of going to the expense of building a new ceiling below it.

If you want balance, center the tray. If height is key, keep it as is. For a cleaner look, remove the tray. It’s all about what feels right for your space!

I built in 2021 and avoided any tray ceilings like the plague! My architect had drawn a few in the bedrooms ... no thanks you! My ceilings are mostly 12 ft. I did a Spanish inspired house, so I added decorative beams to the living area, master bedroom and long hallways.

Many houses in FL have elaborate trays added to living areas, and for the most part, they look overdone and silly, but someone decided that it was a cheap way to add "high style" to a build. It doesn't! Many times it complicates furniture and lighting placement.

I think the tray makes sense as shown in the rendering because it has the effect of separating the living space from the entry/stairwell.

I get the change in ceiling height between entry and living area but this skinny tray in living is silly. I hate all the tray ceiling in our 1970s house (4.) Especially when I had to pass on a great deal on a beautiful French antique armoire because the tray was too low for the armoire to fit. With at least 12 foot ceiling this will be no problem for you to just have a flat ceiling. If already built changing to flat might not be worth the expense of adding sheet rock to lower it. Removing and going full height may work if no mechanicals in it.

This looks like it was where crown molding should have been.

Ditch it completely. It's awful.

I'd leave the tray. It is even around the ceiling. Everything else is nitpicking something no one will notice, and it's not going to be cheap, as not only will you have to pay, but you'll have to paint.

I'm not even sure it's a tray ceiling, as opposed to square crown molding. Unless your house was built to very tight specs and has not and will not ever settle, you'll probably need crown molding to hide any gaps between the wall and ceiling caused by settling or imperfect building. So, if you pull off the tray, you may end up putting something not too different back. And if you pull off the tray/crown molding in some areas and have little gaps, you will end up trying to put something back that matches everything.

In short, leave well enough alone.

Thanks for the suggestions . To note, the house is under construction and currently in the framing process. So although changing this would increase a bit of cost, it wouldn’t be too much and much cheaper to change now than to do it after it’s completed.

Maybe your attention will be diverted from the tray once there are items in the room.

https://simpleinc.net/craigolsendesign.com/wrenfield-2-drawer-chest

I really like the tray ceiling