ELEMENTS-June 2009

by Candace Karu
Photography François Gagné

Ceilings that soar, soothe, shine, and shape the rooms we live in

Sometimes the easiest element in a room to ignore is right above your head. If it is unobtrusive and unadorned, a ceiling can disappear, barely making its presence known. More and more, however, homeowners are embracing beautiful and well-designed ceilings, paying attention to style as well as utility. Standard new construction usually allows for conventional eight-foot ceilings—flat, drywall surfaces broken only by lighting or vents. Higher and more distinctive ceilings can make a room feel larger, but these effects come with a hefty price tag, adding to the bottom line in both building and heating costs.

Whether coffered or vaulted, tray or cathedral, ceiling design can make an important statement in a room. Even paint techniques can make a real difference in how a ceiling relates to the room’s ambiance and decor. Interior designer Brett Johnson, of Maine Street Design Company in Gorham, generally opts to keep it simple when it comes to conventional ceilings. “I’m a big fan of flat white paint to make a plain ceiling disappear,” says Johnson. “I don’t normally use faux finishes or paint techniques on a standard ceiling.” In bathrooms, Johnson goes with the counterintuitive approach of painting walls and ceiling in the same color. Rather than closing it in, Johnson believes that this technique can open a small room up.

In addition to paint, applied moldings can be used to create drama and interest overhead. Tracy Davis of Urban Dwellings pays as much attention to the space above a room as to its floor and walls. “It is often easier to define a space with a ceiling treatment before the furnishings go in,” says Davis. “Breaking up a long space using moldings or beams often allows for easier furniture placement.” Davis is careful about the location of recessed lights and ceiling vents, scrupulously avoiding the dreaded “ceiling acne,” the overhead jumble of disparate, and often distractingly unattractive, lighting and venting elements.

In homes both old and new, a ceiling can punctuate the decor or make a bold statement of its own. Architectural designer Joe Waltman of Anastos and Nadeau in Yarmouth uses creative ceiling design to emphasize and enhance the style of the project. For a very formal home in Cape Elizabeth, he used a groin vaulted ceiling, a technique that dates back to ancient Rome, giving the room a feeling of spaciousness and grandeur. In simpler, more casual settings, like an oceanfront cottage, Waltman has used exposed beams to add a feeling of coziness and authenticity. “When you design for a new project and have higher ceiling proportions it’s great to get creative and draw the eye upward,” says Waltman. “Even if you have standard-height ceilings, it’s possible to fool the eye with paint techniques or the creative use of crown molding.”

Whether it is a supporting player or the star of the scene, a well-crafted, well-designed, and carefully finished ceiling can complete the look of any room. On these pages you’ll find a variety of ceiling scenarios, topping rooms with style and flair.

Interior Designer
Mark Spiker
Builder
Russ Doucette

Architect
Josef Chalat
Builder
The Tozier Group

Designer and Builder
FitzPatrick Associates