Once you’ve experienced a vaulted or cathedral ceiling, there’s no going back. The open space that leads the eye upward is a guaranteed showstopper. Watch people as they first enter a room with a vaulted ceiling; they’ll immediately look up. They can’t help it as the eye is naturally pulled to the strongest elements of a room first. You need look no further than the banner for this blog – it’s my living room ceiling. Two years of seeing it every day and I never fail to look up when entering the room; those beams and that space are spectacular.
As you can see from the picture above, a vaulted ceiling does not need to be an entire second story in height, mine is a story and a half at 14 feet high. Actually, the ceiling doesn’t need to be pitched at all. If you’ve ever seen a coffered ceiling, you know what I’m talking about. It’s all about preference and what look would suit the space best. I just happen to be a big fan of pitched ceilings, as is evidenced again in the design of our post and beam teahouse.
The post and beam structure is a natural fit for a vaulted ceiling. Think of the timber frame as an extremely sturdy and visible skeleton of a home. If you’ve ever been in the upper section or loft of a timber frame barn, you know exactly what I’m getting at. The structure itself is the eye-catching feature and the height of the ceiling makes it all the more spectacular. Making it a focal point is a no-brainer. Post and beam homes have this feature automatically built-in (no additional cost of putting in decorative beams). Should you ever be lucky enough to own a timber frame, be sure to show it off!
The personality a vaulted ceiling takes on is entirely based on the homeowner’s taste and style. For example, take a look at the different styles owners have chosen as means of complimenting their vaulted space.
Should you ever be fortunate enough to live in a home with a vaulted ceiling, be sure to allow it to take center stage. You won’t be sorry!
