Posted by Bob Wiedenmann on Wed, Nov 23, 2011 @ 10:31 AM
Whether you’re planning to build a new custom home in Connecticut, or are thinking about remodeling your existing home, don’t forget to look up! Your home’s ceilings can have a dramatic impact on the way your new—or newly remodeled—home looks and feels.
It’s easy to overlook your ceilings in the building or remodeling process. Your ceiling is much more than just the top of your room. Here are just two examples of ceiling styles that can make a big difference in the overall look and feel of your home.
Tray (or Trey) Ceilings begin horizontally at the wall intersections and are built upward in a cutout that looks like a tray. You can use angled or vertical cuts. The “tray” area can be anywhere between six to 12 inches deep. You can make it even deeper for a more dramatic effect. You can even add multiple steps for a bolder look. Another option is to paint the different layers in contrasting colors to draw the eye to the effect.
Designers often use a tray style ceiling to break up an ordinary flat ceiling line and add variation in height to create architectural interest. Tray ceilings can make low ceilings look higher, and the different levels they create lend a sense of increased space. Here are some examples of what tray ceilings actually look like.
Coffered Ceilings draw on beam-styled features and add a twist of sophistication. Ceilings in this style employ a three-dimensional checkerboard pattern across your ceiling. The intersecting horizontal and vertical lines are covered in sheetrock and finished like a normal ceiling. Each individual “box” can then be trimmed with molding to create a dramatic look that will add depth and dimension to the room.
Pictures, of course, will give you a better idea of the actual affect. Here are numerous examples of coffered ceilings.
Have you seen unusual or dramatic ceiling styles that we haven’t mentioned? Let us know about them!
