Ceiling treatments add certain panache
An often-forgotten part of any room is the ceiling. Once, popcorn ceilings were standard, and those of us who have lived in an older home know all about the headache of removing them.
The ceiling treatments of today add elegance and wow factor to any room, new or old, and are a far cry from the popcorn ceilings of yesterday. A ceiling treatment refers to the general concept of doing something interesting to the ceiling.
The use of a good decorator, remodeler, the Internet and your own imagination can help bring new dimension and life to any room. Faux finishes are many and can create all kinds of looks, from stained glass to leather. Rustic copper, crackled antique and Roman marble scratch the surface of all the faux finish options out there. In general, if you can think of it, a good faux finisher can create it.
Another favorite on Texas ceilings is the use of beams. Large, stained, low-hanging beams can give a ranch-like feel, while thin painted ceiling beams add dimension and sophistication. Simply painting the ceiling a color other than white is an inexpensive and quick way to add pop to your room. Using stained tongue-and-groove wood is another fairly inexpensive ceiling transforma- tion that gives a huge bang for the buck aesthetically.
For the most drastic transformation, new framing can give your ceiling a completely new shape. Domes, sunbursts, rectangular insets and interesting trim work are ideas that will make a ceiling an art piece in any room.
Lastly, lighting is a key element to not only showcase your beautiful treatment, but to create and enhance the mood of the room. LED rope lighting has come a long way and generally has at least a 25-year lifespan, making it a fantastic and low-maintenance choice to run along the top of beams, illuminate a dome ceiling, or showcase a room’s rich crown molding.
As you make your wish list for your home remodel, don’t forget to look up — you may find the ceiling ends up being what people can’t stop talking about.
This article was provided by a member of the Remodelers Council of the Greater Houston Builders Association. The Remodelers Council is dedicated to promoting professionalism and public awareness of the remodeling profession through education, certification and service to the Houston community. For information on this article, contact Lorraine Hart at lorraine@idealconsulting.net. To join the council or to find a professional remodeler in your area, visit www.ghba.org.