Sunday, July 24, 2011

Carrying Wall Finishes Up on the Ceiling



Windsor Smith - House Beautiful

Carrying a wall finish up on to the ceiling is a wonderful trick used to expand a space and make the planes of the walls and ceilings disappear.  It's very effectively used with low ceilings, oddly angled ceilings, and in spaces where the intent is to wrap the room in an envelope of sameness so that objects and furnishings stand out.  I love how Windsor Smith, above, used the patterned wallpaper to visually raise that ceiling.


Leslie Klotz - House Beautiful

Imagine how low this ceiling would have felt if there had been contrast between the upper wall and the ceiling. What a great use of this little trick.



Barbara Westbrook - House Beautiful

See that little odd angle in the left corner above?  It would have been accentuated if there had been a difference between the wall and ceiling.  As it is your eye goes straight to the artwork, then the marble below.  That funny angle is hardly noticeable.



Amanda Kyser - House Beautiful

Imagine the low angles painted in a different color as the "ceiling". It would've sliced into that space and drawn your attention away from the vibrant rug and interesting wall of books.



M. Elle Design - Elle Decor

This space soars all cloaked in the same color wood.



Leslie Klotz - House Beautiful




Skye Kirby - Traditional Home



Tom Scheerer -  House Beautiful




Keith McNally  - Elle Decor


Healing Barsanti - House Beautiful

How effective was it to paper the soffit running around the room?  It visually raised the ceiling another foot. 

Another fabulous design tool that makes a big impact!



Please excuse my absence this past week.  Many projects are on the boards and under construction!  I'm looking forward to sharing lots in the fall!

11 comments:

  1. A great tip Carla, with super examples! This makes a huge difference.

    xoxo
    Karena

    Art by Karena

    Exciting New Giveaway from Dr Perricone! Come and Enter!

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  2. I have owned many a home that had oddly angled walls and ceilings.. love the idea of bringing up the wallpaper and covering the whole ceiling in it..it's more cohesive..
    maureen

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  3. The M. Elle Design room and the Windsor Smith rooms are my favorites. Great ideas here.
    Have a great day, Carla.
    Teresa
    xoxo

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  4. Thanks for sharing this great tip. We love all of the perfect examples. Can't wait to see what you have been working on.
    Happy Monday!
    Angela and Renee

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  5. Love the images you have shown, Carla, and the design concept is wonderful. The first little farmhouse we lived in in Fredericksburg had sloped low ceilings upstairs and I covered the walls and ceilings with an old fashioned paper, and loved it!

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  6. These are gorgeous spaces! Love that yellow fabulous bath! Have a lovely day, Kellie xx

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  7. All fabulous examples but especially love that handsome Tom Scheerer powder room - I've been just dying to use that wallpaper somewhere!! Also, you might want to check out Lisa at Hamptontoes blog post about Tobi Fairley's room at the Hampton Showhouse - another stylish example of your excellent tip!!

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  8. Gorgeous images! I love all these pictures because they are all so inspirational.

    By the way, I am hosting a new giveaway so stop by and enter for a chance to win a piece of fabulous jewelry of your choice. :)

    Jessie
    www.mixandchic.com

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  9. What a wonderful post.
    I like these ideas. They seem to work best in a rather small area, yes?
    Thanks for showing, too, a nice collection of images depicting this point of view. Nice. Hope you're enjoying a nice summer.

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  10. Great examples of how it elevates the ceiling the first example really proves that point,Kathysue

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  11. Love all these ideas. It's particularly important when the ceiling is such an extension of the walls as in some of these, yet often people just don't go that extra step. Love the headboard up the walls and ceiling painted the soft neutral. Happy Sunday. Mona

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