Sensational Ceilings
American Clay plaster. This natural clay and recycled marble dust plaster creates a look that falls somewhere between southwestern adobe and Venetian plaster — rich, earthy and highly pigmented. American Clay is nontoxic and durable, and can be applied over just about any type of substrate. Costs tend to be a bit lower than Venetian plaster — about $2 to $10 per square foot.
Venetian plaster. Lustrous and rich in texture and in color, classic Venetian plaster is considered by some to be the ultimate in elegance. Originating in Venice in the 1500s, this interior finish is made from slaked lime, marble dust and pigments. It is far more durable than paint and resists cracking. Prices range from $5 to $15 per square foot. Ceilings and columns will cost more because these are difficult areas to work on.
High gloss or lacquer. Lacquered (aka high gloss) walls and ceilings have been a hot look in decorating for some time, and it's a trend that appears to have staying power. Real-deal lacquer contains toxic ingredients and is no longer used in most places. Instead, a lacquer-like effect can be created using regular paint with a high gloss finish, or with a modern lacquer that combines high gloss paint with water-based varnish. High gloss paint creates a reflective surface and is highly durable. But be warned — it will show every imperfection in your walls.
The addition of closely spaced and shallow trim boards can provide some structure to a room and reinforce the room’s overall elegance. And by painting these trim boards in a color that gives them visual weight without making them dark and somber, the room stays light and relaxed while maintaining a sense of formality.
In this bedroom, wood walls run along the sides while a taller white ceiling with boxed-out beams makes up the center portion over the bed. The design is like an inversion of an exposed wood structure with white drywall below it.
Cutting: This simple, white drywall ceiling is broken up over the kitchen by an opening to the floor above. To its left we can see the stair heading up. The wood in these openings echoes that in the kitchen counter below.
By investing a little extra time and money, you can turn the ceiling into the focal point of a room. Tongue and groove finished with a high-gloss paint steals the show in this California master bedroom.
Laminated resin is often used as a cabinet door insert or for lamp shades, but it can also be applied on a larger scale. The skillful mix of laminated resin in this photo gives a workspace the calm quality of a Japanese tearoom.
Three-D gypsum board. Modular Arts produces a wide variety of fiberglass-reinforced gypsum board panels. These panels come in tiles and are screwed to a substrate. The seams are mudded and sanded by a skillful drywaller to create a continuous effect
Laser-cut panels. This is a bold new take on the classic café curtain: laser-cut wood panels that slide over the windows to provide privacy and light control. Roll them onto the blank wall and they become art pieces.
Metal screens. Water jet–cut aluminum screens cast swirling arabesques of shadow and light on these floor-to-ceiling windows.
Wallpaper
Could we wrap the HVAC unit in drywall like in this pic?
Cabinet paint: Farrow & Ball’s Dove Tale. For a similar look, try Peignoir by Farrow & Ball or Truly Taupe by Glidden—Shy blush. Pink as a neutral? It’s a ludicrous idea to some, but even ardent skeptics may be won over by the subtle charm of this secretive blush-pink-gray. Like many of the hues here, this one looks spectacular paired with crisp white; it’s also a perfect complement to brassy accents like drawer pulls and sconces
The central hallway is panned in board-and-batten siding and painted the interior of the Dutch door white to match the walls
Artfully Spaced Slats The spectacular infinity pool, sunken dining area and million-dollar view may steal the show in this waterfront Miami abode, but don’t overlook its delicately detailed roof overhang. With its clean edges, crisp white color and irregular slat spacing, the roof cover is a fresh take on classic pergola design. Its lines mirror the deck planking below, with both surfaces directing the eye out to coastal view
Painted finishes are popular as well. Razvan Teodorescu at Steelogic Metal Systems notes that prepainted steel panels and zinc-coated panels, such as Galvalume, do not need to be primed prior to painting. However, galvanized panels do need a primer specifically for steel before you can paint them.
Beneath the HVAC?
Features a neutral palette w/ the cabinet edges painted hot pink for an occasional & unexpected pop of color when the drawers are opened. Framed photos of friends and family are displayed on an L-shaped open shelf. Decorative artist John Harragan was tapped to create a unique finish for the walls. He spent 4 days layering paint and plaster and added silver leaf on top for a special finishing touch.
Exposed ceiling—Removing a low ceiling revealed raw wood rafters, an element the homeowners were all too happy to embrace rather than cover up
Horizontal ceiling/horizontal flooring
Zoned Shiplap
Lighting Fixture on faux beam
Parquet Ceiling
And then there's the mother of all reveal details. This is the reveal that's created between the treads and risers of a stair that gives the illusion that the stair disappears behind the walls. As with other reveals, this requires an extra layer of drywall and some precise craftsmanship.
Opt for modern paneling. In this open-plan kitchen and dining room, the eating area is zoned with Valchromat, a manufactured material of recycled wood fibers that’s colored throughout. Valchromat is eco-friendly, strong, and comes in rich and vibrant hues, so it’s a great choice for paneling a room. “It’s a reference to Victorian paneling, which would normally stop at a picture rail or dado,” says architect Richard Skinner of Archea. It covers the ceiling as well, further highlighting the division between the areas
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