High ceilings inspire lofty ideals

DEAR DESIGNER: My home is finished but I would like to do something interesting on my dining room ceiling. I have a traditional home and the ceilings are high. Do you have any recommendations? — Annie

DEAR ANNIE: Ceilings can be a terrific place to get creative. Designs can range from simple faux finishing and murals to elaborate architectural details.

One of my favorite places to enjoy extravagant ceiling design is Hearst Castle at San Simeon, Calif. Most of the ceilings were purchased from various castles in Europe and shipped here. Every ceiling in every room is unique and different. There are lots of wood beams and artistic inlay. It’s worth a trip up the California coast to start your imagination working.

Few of us can afford the luxury of shipping a ceiling from Europe, but we can create amazing ceilings right here in Las Vegas. With a little creativity and a good craftsman, your ceilings can be a work of art.

Simple but classy cross beams can be created with wood planks and crown molding. These beams form large squares on the ceiling and add sophistication to any décor. To create a spacious and modern effect, paint the beams and moldings white. To make your room warm and cozy, use a hard wood that can be stained medium to dark.

If you want to get more elaborate still, add raised panels between the beams. The raised panels are most appreciated in traditional design using richly stained wood. It’s a pricey solution but very stunning. Your installer should know this, but remind him to leave space for the wood to expand during our hot summers and to contract during our cool winters.

Another idea that requires molding is to build a circle or oblong alcove in your ceiling. A flexible crown molding can be added to frame the alcove. You can have a muralist add clouds or artwork that match your china and complement your chandelier. Add indirect lighting above the molding to create a warm glow.

Unless the ceiling is very high and has a great architectural focus, I prefer that the ceiling play second fiddle to the room’s décor. It’s enjoyable to sit in a well-decorated room, let my eyes roam and enjoy all the various elements … and then out of the corner of my eye, catch something amazing on the ceiling above. When designing nonarchitectural ceilings, my motto is subtle elegance.

Have fun and go crazy collecting ideas for the design phase. Combine various ideas to create a design that is your very own. Your plan will come into focus as you eliminate elements based on budget and style.

Be certain your ceiling design complements your room and your floor design. If your floor tile is set on a diagonal and it is outlined to grab your attention, be sure your ceiling somehow embraces or copies that design. When everything in the room works together in harmony, you will have an amazing design.

Cindy Payne is a certified interior designer with more than 25 years of experience, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers, as well as a licensed contractor. E-mail questions to her at deardesigner@projectdesigninteriors .com or send them to her at Project Design Interiors, 2620 S. Maryland Parkway, Suite 189, Las Vegas, NV 89109. She can be reached online at www.projectdesign interiors.com.