If you've read our columns, you might be
getting the picture that we believe in defining the spaces of a home — from
public and private spaces to circulating paths to gathering space. Defining
spaces in usable and beautiful ways is the heart of architectural design.
The ceiling beams in this 1920 bungalow living room
make the space more interesting, and the decorative beams around the
opening to the dining room set apart the two rooms while leaving the space
open.
Renovation Design
Group |
Last week we talked about creating
gathering spaces around the popular concept of a great room. However, even
within the openness of a great room, the individual functions of the kitchen,
dining area and sitting room need to be set apart and defined in the design.
In the past we've mentioned a variety of ways to define space short of adding
full walls, such as columns, furniture and floor finishes. Today we call your
attention to the space above you. There are several ways a ceiling can help
define even the open areas of your home.
Beams: Often when opening up an area, a bearing wall needs to be
removed. This can be done with the addition of a beam to take on the load the
wall was carrying. A beam can in turn play a key role in defining space in a
home.
Whether or not this beam should be exposed depends on where it is in relation
to the new area. If an exposed beam will appear random, then it can be tucked in
the plane of the existing joists, above the existing ceiling. This is more
expensive but sometimes necessary to define your space better. In other
situations, exposing the beam is a great way to define space, and you can
capitalize on the effect by the adding other decorative beams.
Varied ceiling height: The typical home has approximately 8-foot
ceilings throughout. One way to make these 8-foot ceilings appear higher is by
strategically lowering parts of the ceiling 6-12 inches. Lowered portions could
be appropriate over circulation pathways or over sitting areas, which benefit
from a cozier feeling.
Vaulted ceilings give drama and excitement to spaces. But vaulting a ceiling
can be an involved and expensive process. Older homes were generally constructed
with individual roof rafters, which lend themselves to removing the ceiling and
capturing the space found in the attic. In newer homes, roofs are more commonly
created with prefabricated trusses, which have to be removed and replaced with
individual rafters in the areas you wish to vault.
Finish material: Ceilings can be dressed up to impact the feel of a
room. You can contrast the ceiling finish with the wall finish by adding
paneling such as bead board or tongue-in-groove wood, changing texture or color,
or adding a pattern of trim or beams. One trick to make a room feel taller is to
add a trim band on the walls about a foot below the ceiling and paint the
portion above the trim the same color as the ceiling.
Light fixtures: A chandelier in effect lowers the perceived ceiling
and defines a certain space, usually over a dining table, game table or counter.
The pattern of general ambient lighting, such as recessed lights, gives order
and definition to a space. Up lighting tends to make a ceiling feel taller,
while track lighting will emphasize things below it on the wall.
As you walk around your house today, we hope you glance up now and again and
start noticing the role your ceiling can play in defining the space in your
home.
Architects
Ann Robinson, AIA, and Annie Vernon, AIA, welcome your design
questions at Ask@RenovationDesignGroup.com.
Robinson and Vernon are founding principals of Renovation
Design Group, a local architectural firm specializing in residential
remodeling design.
To register for "Designing a Remodel with Character &
Class," call 533-5331 or click
here for details.
© 2005 Deseret News
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