Insider insight
More ideas for creating decorative effects on ceilings
LIGHT RELIEF Lighting is inevitably a consideration when planning ceiling design. Think strategically about where illumination is needed. ‘Lights can be a feature of the ceiling design or be incorporated into it to disappear,’ says Katie Mccrum, who also suggests avoiding it altogether: ‘wall lights and side lights are increasingly popular alternatives to ceiling lights, especially when used on a 5-amp circuit.’
ABOVE AND BEYOND Could ceilings be ripe for decorative rediscovery? Many designers seem to think so. ‘They have been overlooked in recent times,’ says Rachel Chudley, ‘but when you visit historic houses, the ceiling is often treated as a masterpiece.’ Adam-style ceilings of the 18th century are often cited but ceilings have been used as a decorative surface for centuries. The 21st-century ceiling is arguably more playful with designers encouraging their clients to experiment with pattern, colour and shape/structure. ‘I like to think about the natural qualities of a room and highlight and exploit them,’ says Rachel. ‘In an apartment on the 24th floor of a Fifth Avenue building in New York City, we continued the incredible skyline inside with a cloud design on the ceiling.’
BLENDED LEARNING Interior designer Elnaz Namaki recommends taking the time to give a room’s ceiling proper consideration, as a completely separate surface rather than an afterthought. ‘We approach the ceilings in key rooms such as hallways, living rooms, studies, dining rooms and cloakrooms, the same way we approach the other surfaces,’ she says. ‘Start with thinking about the colour, texture, reflection and finish already in the space. In this particular room (p91), the unique plastered verdigris ceiling colour reflects the colours in the rug and ties in with the verdigris metal finish of the connecting en-suite bathroom and the switches/sockets.’
HIGH AND MIGHTY Interior designers and architects have a toolkit of tricks to add the illusion of height in a room. ‘Coffered ceilings make a room feel so much bigger. Architectural details can add real drama to a space, says Jane Landino of design practice Taylor Howes. ‘Anything that draws your eye upwards gives the illusion of higher ceilings and grandeur. These not only add interest but also “cheat” the height of the room and make it look taller. With a coffered ceiling, we also like to use details such as concealed lighting.’ If there is enough space and budget Jane and her team add specialist finishes such as gilding or polished plaster, or even hand-painted bespoke murals such as celestial star maps. ‘If you have enough ceiling height,’ adds Jane, ‘one can also consider having a vaulted ceiling or barrelled ceiling, which looks fabulous in areas such as wine rooms.’
“WHEN YOU VISIT HISTORIC HOUSES, THE CEILING IS OFTEN TREATED AS A MASTERPIECE”
RACHEL CHUDLEY, interior designer