Our daughter and son-in-law designed their wood beams. They weren't rustic like your picture, but they were looking for more of a two story lodge look in their family room. I don't know all the specifics of how they got them up there; however, they did say that their beams were one of the worst problems they experienced in their build. Everyone they talked with said it couldn't be done or they didn't recommend it. Both my daughter and son-in-law are engineers. They finally worked out the beam structure below. I've uploaded the construction photo in this post. I'll upload the finished look in the next post.

Good luck with your project!

Here's is the finished look.

Fake beams are easy enough.

They are even available in lightweight composite materials.

We just did some in our keeping room
and are very happy with them. I will post a photo this evening, but we had them made at www.keimlumber.com in Charm, Ohio.

Have you considered furred out and finished trimmed beams and coffers? IMO, the kithen in the photo would have been much more unified and harmonious if they had used finished trimmed beams and coffers to match the trim and cove on the cabinetry. As it is, the natural rough beams in the ceiling overpower the room with too much contrast (and they are obviously not real beams, running perpendicular to each other and sized as shown. Just an idea!

Whatever you do, make the beams deeper than they are wide if you want them to appear real and not veneer.

Good luck on your project.

Here are ours in our keeping room:

"Most get it wrong and it screams fake."

OH so true! I think this is one of the top trends that will leave a bad taste in people's mouth in the coming years. Like the use of all of the fake brick in the 70's. A few years down the road, and everyone shakes their head and wonders what they were thinking.

as I test homes with a blower door, I find
a lot of air leakage where sheetrock meets
beams. the spider webs are a clue!

if you do these exposed beams. make sure
they are caulked & sealed to the ceiling
where they penetrate.

this small leakage site, the length of the
beam..on both sides & ends allows extreme
attic temps and insulation particles
entry into your house.

best of luck.

Really good points you all bring up! I totally agree on the "getting it done right" advice. We feel like if we can't do it to at least look autentic, it's not worth trying. We'll be sure to check out these options and advice. Thanks again.

so old... but @threeapples - what type of wood are your beams?

Sophie is correct. Fake beams are quickly and easily spotted for what they are. Thus, if one can't design and install them in a correct and authentic fashion, they are best omitted.

FWIW, livingreen's photo shows beams which are simply ridiculous given the space in which they are installed. Beams are structural, not decorative.

Other poor examples: