Kitchen with Barrel-Arched Glass Ceiling

Why we love it: Because of all the natural light that streams through this kitchen’s barrel-arched glass ceiling – which was enclosed in a finished attic space. The architect ran three steel trusses across the middle of the space and then bent the framework over the trusses. Frosted glass panes were installed individually into the rectangular openings. The attic above the glass ceiling includes two dormers to capture natural light. Spotlights on tracks in the attic point up to reflect off white-painted walls and illuminate the kitchen area at night.

Architect: McKee Patterson
Interior Designer: Joan Nemirow

Dining Room with Vaulted Ceiling

Why we love it:  Because of the amazing ceiling panel painted with a Navajo-inspired motif. The panel, which is suspended above a massive dining table designed with an undulating “live edge,” adds a sense of intimacy to the spacious dining room. The vaulted ceiling is defined with heavy salvaged timbers; the boards between the timbers were sealed and given a crackle finish for a softer look.

Designer: Mick de Giulio
Interior Designer: Veronica McGraw

See more images from this lakeside cottage.

Foyer with Lacquered Ceiling

Why we love it: Because the decorative medallion on this 12-foot-plus-high ceiling was updated with high-gloss white paint with a blue-gray tint. The same lacquer was used on the foyer’s paneled walls and trim for a gorgeous, unexpected look. Architect Andrew Howard refers to lacquered surfaces as the “new wallpapers.” Click on the next slide for another fabulous ceiling from this same location.

Interior Designer: Andrew Howard
Decorative Painter: Steve McKnelly

See more images from this bold Florida home.

Dining Room with Tray Ceiling

Why we love it: Because of the dusk-blue painted ceiling and cocoa-brown molding that provide a cool counterpoint to all the warm colors – especially the tortoise shell-pattern wall covering. The chandelier is made from slices of agate crystal.

Interior Designer: Andrew Howard
Decorative Painter: Steve McKnelly

See more images from this Florida home.

Dining Room with Domed Ceiling

Why we love it: Because the elegant domed ceiling is punctuated by a stunning 1920s Murano glass chandelier. We also love the Biedermeier chairs whose curved backs echo the curves of the ceiling and the lighting fixture’s graceful arms. 

Interior Designer: Eric Cohler

See other rooms designed by Eric Cohler.

Bathroom with Vaulted Ceiling

Why we love it: Because the asymmetrical walls culminate in a vaulted ceiling with a cathedral-like presence. Silk window panels and an antique chandelier lead the eye upward to admire the intersecting planes that give this ceiling its soaring personality.

Architect: Robert W. Kirk
Interior designer: Gail Plechaty

See more from this French chateau-style home.

Entrance Hall with Faux-Finished Ceiling

Why we love it: Because the direction for this magnificent ceiling was taken from the home’s Mediterranean roots, original woodwork, and marble-tiled floor. The ceiling was faux-finished to look like red leather; and its existing medallions and moldings were enhanced with painted wood graining followed by gold highlights. The walls were glazed, given six coats of high-gloss lacquer, waxed, and buffed.
Interior designers: Willem Racké + Leigh Edwards
Ceiling treatment: Willem Racké Studio Inc.
Custom wall colors: Willem Racké

See more images from this San Francisco Decorator Showcase.

Kitchen with Beamed Ceiling

Why we love it: Because the reclaimed oak beams, along with a greenhouse-style glass ceiling and steel-framed windows, make this kitchen feel like one with the outdoors. French limestone counters, heart-pine floors, and painted cabinets enhance the kitchen’s warm traditional appeal. 

Architect for renovation: Robbin Hayne
Interior designer: Ann Runyon Carter

See more images from this Southern California location.

Bedroom with Striped Ceiling

Why we love it: Because who expects an angled bedroom ceiling to be striped? We didn’t, but we still love the effect when painted coral stripes partner with jade-green patterned fabric and bright yellow benches to create a guest bedroom bursting with color.

Interior Designer: Tobi Fairley

See more rooms in this Hampton Designer Showhouse.

Kitchen with Silver-Leaf Ceiling

Why we love it: Because finishing this kitchen’s trough ceiling with silver leaf makes it the perfect canopy for black cabinets, and countertops streaked with light silver and black veining. Plus, crystal fixtures add sparkling highlights worthy of a pair of diamond stud earrings. (We love the silver barstools, too!)

Kitchen Designer: Robert Schwartz
Architectural designer: Fay Blier
Interior Designer: Erica Feiger

See more images from this kosher kitchen remodel.

Butler’s Pantry with Vaulted Ceiling

Why we love it: Because the ceiling’s silver-leaf finish gives this humble butler’s pantry the same level of glamour as the rest of the home. A hand-blown glass pendant decorated with delicate bone-china flowers casts a sophisticated glow while calling attention to the porcelain serving pieces displayed in white glass-front cabinets.

Interior Designers: Kara Mann and Kristin Nelson

See more from this Lake Forest home.

Sunroom with Coffered Ceiling

Why we love it: Because the coffered detailing with tongue-and-groove boards in between the beams lends this newly built sunroom the patina of age. A reproduction iron chandelier with tole shades enhances the masquerade. Click on the next slide to see this same ceiling architecture used in the kitchen.

Architects: Robert Turpin and Sonya Misiaszek

See more images from this mountain location.

Kitchen with Coffered Ceiling

Why we love it: Because the kitchen’s coffered ceiling (part of the same house as the sunroom in the preceding slide) soars with its white-painted finish – a fitting frame for the stunning mountain views outside. The reproduction chandelier sports an Old Tin finish achieved through old-fashioned oxidation, rather than a commercial finishing process.

Architects: Robert Turpin and Sonya Misiaszek

See more from this mountain location.

Bedroom with Beamed Ceiling

Why we love it: Because the bedroom’s beamed ceiling partners perfectly with the woods-inspired palette, beadboard-paneled walls, and rustic attitude. A twig-adorned sconce between the windows draws eyes upward to the heart-pine fifth wall.

Interior Designer: Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey

See more from this century-old cabin.

Great Room with Southwestern Ceiling

Why we love it: Because the 20-foot-high ceiling is constructed with latillas, the Southwest’s traditional peeled-pine tree limbs laid in a herringbone pattern. The latillas are supported by vigas, which are peeled tree trunks used as rafters. This timeless look adds a sense of history to this 10-year-old home.

Designer: Patti Burdick

See more images from this desert location.

Bathroom with Domed Ceiling

Why we love it: Because the stormy-blue domed ceiling is embellished with gleaming pieces of silver-leaf wallpaper: a fitting topper for the focal-point tub with marble surround that sits below. Creamy white-painted trim and tranquil blue damask-print wallpaper add to the room’s serenity.

Designer: Suzanne Kasler

See more images from this Indianapolis home.

Dining Room with Lacquered Woodwork

Why we love it: Because of the high drama that comes from woodwork being lacquered in chocolate brown. We also love the Murano chandelier – which looks like a golden sea creature – that descends from the circular ceiling treatment. An abstract Pat Steir painting adds to the dramatic effect.

Architect: Warren Meister
Interior designer: William McIntosh

See more from this elegant Brooklyn location.

Kitchen with Barrel-Vaulted Ceiling

Why we love it: Because this graceful barrel-vaulted ceiling is executed with bricks laid in a running bond pattern, with herringbone “ribs” used as accents. The lightweight bricks are actually half-inch veneers, which makes them easy to install.

Living Room with Vaulted Ceiling

Why we love it: Because of the dramatic contrast between the ceiling’s deep brown stained trusses and the room’s buttermilk-color plaster walls. The vaulted ceiling starts and 12 feet and soars to 21 feet, giving the living room a spacious – but not overwhelming – feel.

Architect: Jim Sneed
Interior Designer: Brenda Gold Levy

See more images from this cottage.

Dining Room with Octagonal Ceiling

Why we love it: Because the triangular spaces between the beams are adorned with canvas painted with a scroll-and-vine pattern. Together with the French doors, this ceiling treatment helps the dining room feel like a conservatory.

Architect: David Neff
Interior Designer: Jennifer Garrigues

See more from this Connecticut home.

Bedroom with Wood Plank Ceiling

Why we love it: Because the wood plank ceilings perfectly complement the bedroom’s sweet, old-fashioned style. The angled ceiling construction results from the bedroom’s placement beneath the second-story eaves of an 1817 farmhouse.

Why we love it: See more architectural details in this light-filled California home

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Traditional Home  /  Design

Style-Setting Ceilings

From the Editors of Traditional Home
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Bedroom with Stenciled Ceiling

Why we love it: Because blue-and-white stenciled designs on the panels of a coffered ceiling grid create a charming, ultrafeminine effect. Walls are painted a deeper shade of blue. Note:
The bedroom ceiling was initially coffered to accommodate the large white chandelier.

Interior Designer: Brad Boes
Painter: Thomas Blee-Carlyle

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