Your opinions please - 10' or 12' ceiling in entry?

14 years ago

I just discovered this forum and am finding it so helpful! We are planning to build a one story ranch style home that will be 3400 square feet. The ceiling height varies from 9' to 10' throughout the home. We are very undecided about what the entryway celing height should be. The plan has it at 12' but we could easily change it to 10'. When you open the front door the entry is 8 1/2 feet wide and about 17' 9" deep and then turns down a gallary or hallway. I'll add a link to the plan below if that will be helpful (we are putting up walls around the formal dining room so that will not be open to the entryway). We're not sure if 12' celings will feel like an elevator shaft or if it will be beautiful. Any opinions and advice woud be very helpful to us. Thanks!

http://www.builderhouseplans.com/luxury-living-on-a-single-level/pid/114107194

Comments (8)

imwonderwoman
14 years ago
Hi buildingsoon: I am a lover of tall ceilings, the higher the better. You just can't go wrong. It also gives you the ability to have a great chandelier. Now, if you are having downlights only in the entry, then go with 10. My entry hall has a 10 ft ceiling with pendant lights (old Edwardian home from the 1920's) and I would love to have 12 foot instead, the lights are a bit low. I am short but we have a friend who is 6'6 and he always ducks around the lights.
macv
14 years ago
link

Here is a link that might be useful: link
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gopintos
14 years ago
I read somewhere on here about the coziness of a lower height ceiling in the foyer. Sounded like a very nice idea.

Of course this was after our 2-story foyer was well underway but I still liked the idea. That was an area I did not research, as I always just thought that this is where I wanted my "wow".

You are very wise in researching it and finding different styles & ideas for the one that suits you. I should add I dont have any regrets though. (yet) We hung our chandelier yesterday and it is amazing! I have chosen to paint in a warm buff color, & adding a bit of a Tuscan feel in hopes to warm it up and say welcome.
shelly_k
14 years ago
We have a similar size ranch going up and we have 11 ft ceilings throughout the main living areas including the foyer, and 9 foot ceilings in the perimeter bedrooms. We are just framed up, but so far I like the feeling. We may do a coffered ceiling in the kitchen and family room. We are doing a chandelier type fixture in the foyer but I haven't picked it out yet. Good luck!
worthy
14 years ago
High ceilings were the norm till the 20th Century Post-WWII war era.
gopintos
14 years ago
Oh thanks for posting that. Very interesting. I especially loved the last sentence. I have included a fountain in the foyer so I think this will be an extra special place especially at night :-)
flgargoyle
14 years ago
I'm going to take the opposite tack. Since our next house will be very small, I don't want to 'wow' everyone in the foyer, and then have them feel like "Is that all there is?' I'll make the foyer ceiling lower, and let folks be gradually be impressed as the rest of the house unfolds. I guess 'impressed' may be too strong a term, but you get my drift.
mommyto4boys
14 years ago
I would go with the 12' ceilings, the plan can handle it. Also it gives you so many cool options for decorating. Especially increases your light fixture choices. I had a 10 foot tall "elevator" for a powder room and now it is my favorite room. It has a gold ceiling, 12" tall crown moulding, a mini-chandelier and elegant wall paper. Amazing what the tall crown and ceiling color did for the room.

Your opinions please - 10' or 12' ceiling in entry?

Comments (8)

imwonderwoman

macv

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