HIGH DESIGN A CEILING SHOULD BE THOUGHT OF AS A FIFTH WALL many interiors, the ceiling is an afteror last priority among a launIdrynthought, list of needed decor improvements. But letting this fifth wall simply blend with the rest of your environs leaves so much inspiration on the table. “Ceilings are an opportunity to bring in other design elements,” says Amy Vroom, owner of The Residency Bureau design studio in Seattle. Ceilings can create the illusion of space, producing a sense of scale, drama, or even intimacy, says Rupert Martineau, senior associate and project head of residential interiors at SHH in London. “The ceiling height in relation to the width and depth of the room
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is one of the most critical elements regarding the proportion of the room,” he says. “How the ceiling is detailed can greatly enhance this sense of proportion and aid the distribution of light throughout the space.” CONSIDER THE DESIGN
There are many different ways of treating a ceiling—from a simple, modern flat plane to classical vaulted arches, Martineau says. “In each case there needs to be consistency with the general narrative of the building, its history, and function, and reference materiality and finish,” he says. All the elements have to work
together intentionally to make a room feel cohesive, according to Miriam Silver Verga and Hillary Kaplan, principal designers of Mimi & Hill Design in Westfield, N.J. For example, a super bright white painted ceiling sharply contrasted with colored or wallpapered walls can quickly shrink a room and divide a space. High, vaulted ceilings can create complicated geometry if they are not designed well, Verga and Kaplan say. Finding a common thread between the ceiling and the rest of the space creates cohesion. For example, if you have molding on your walls, you could continue that same molding on your ceiling, Vroom says. “If you’re designing
