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Dear Michael,
My wife and I are in the process of redoing our master bedroom, and are considering opening the ceiling. What are the advantages of doing this, and should we be mindful to fill the space with different types of furniture? I’m worried opening it will create a completely different feeling in the room that will make our old furniture look out of place.
Charlie and Fannie | Wilmington, DE
Michael’s Response:
Opening up the ceiling dramatically affects the occupant’s experience in the room. Most people live in a world of ceiling heights between 8 nd 9 feet, so one’s spirits positively soar upon entering a cathedral, hotel atrium, airport terminal, or other space with lofty ceilings of 50 feet or more. In a home, ceilings of approximately 20 feet or more are becoming increasingly popular.
High ceilings in the home present new challenges. Maintaining a consistent temperature in a room with high ceilings presents a difficulty because you rish heating the ceiling rafters instead of your feet. Fans do an excellent job of keeping the air circulating, as do vents in both the ceiling and the floor.
Effectively lighting large spaces often requires utilization of nearly every form of lighting appliance. Recessed lighting can be used whether the ceiling is flat or angled, but it’s not terribly cozy, and they also create a large amount of glare. A chandelier can work beautifully, as it will cast light up onto the ceiling as well as fill the room with light, and bedside table lamps are crucial for filling the room out with light. Dedicated picture lights are typically the best means of illuminationg art. All lights in the room should be on individual dimmers.
The beautiful bedroom pictured at left is a fine example of scale. The soaring ceiling, amplified by the heavy, hand hewn beams creates a volume more cozy that cavernous. The tall four poster bed fits perfectly in the space, as do the towering carved display cabinet, the large leather chair, ottoman, and huge mirror. The impersonal feeling large rooms often impart can be diminished by countering size with size.