Ginnny,
I checked my photos and don't have any of the mix you are talking about. We are thinking of doing a similar treatment, so "YES" I think it will look good! As long as it ties into other woods you are using and the painted trim ties in with other areas it will 'make sense' visually. I am thinking that it is also pulling the warmth of the wood floor tones up to the ceiling. Hope that helps, be sure and post pictures when you have them-we are quite a ways out!

We are doing mix of stained and painted wood / trim in our French style house. It looks wonderful together. All of my trim is currently still covered up with tape and plastic because the painters just finished but I'll snap pictures later this week once all of the plastic, tape, and paper are off.

kaydles,

That would be great to see some photos of your home. I would love to see how you are bringing in French touches.

luckymom23, I agree also about that the wood beams would look good with the wood floor.

I guess my biggest concern is how fancy can I go with the white painted crown molding and the trim around the arched doorways into the dining room while using stained beams?

The trim salesman showed me some beauiful fancy crown samples and I would love to put them up. One is wide, with a small carved pattern at the bottom edge and the top edge. The middle part is a nice plain curve. I think I could go with this one without it looking too fancy.

There is another crown that is fully carved that is beautiful. My dining room furniture is very fancy mahagony Chippendale style from Thomasville. It is not French or country at all so I may put printed fabric covers on the chair tops to try to tone it down a little.

I guess I am wavering between going with some fancy carved moldings but at the same time using the stained beams in the middle of the ceiling.

Any feedback or advice is appreciated.

Thanks for listening.....

Ginny

We opted not to do the crown in our beam rooms since we thought it would conflict. So, I'm anxious to see how Kaydles house is coming too. I'm sure it's going to be beautiful and I'll slap myself for not doing the crown.

"Do you think using the stained beams in a coved ceilng in the formal dining will work with fancy ivory painted crown molding around the ceiling perimeter?"

I personally would not like that... and *I* would not do it.

You might be able to get away with a look as 'eclectic' as that, but I was thinking more of boxed beams or a coffered ceiling with crown molding. I think if the beams are *too* rustic, and the crown is the extreme opposite-very ornate, you might end up with an odd look. Perhaps you could decide what is most important and work around that, for me it is the combination of warm wood, and white...sort of a theme running through our home. So, the crown will be simple but hefty to work with the heavier look of the coffered ceiling and the wood will be smooth finished not rough so it isn't so far off from the crown. Does that make sense?

Here are some pictures I have of similar ceilings, they don't have the mix we are talking about but perhaps they will help you visualize some possibilities.

In picture number 2 I could easily see the coffered ceiling being done in wood, HTH!

luckymom23,

Thanks for the pictures. I could really see the coffered beams in the 2nd picture in wood also. I was actually thinking of using the stained pine beams with maybe a small matching corbel on each end. They would not be weathered or distressed. But they would be plain, not dressed up with molding.

I am still trying to figure out what I want to do. I visualized this idea from the start but once I saw the fancy crown molding possibilities, I got a little nervous. If I went with just a nice layered crown without any designs on it, do you think then it would look good?

I mean, I see many kitchen photos with the beams on the ceilings and white crown moldng mixed. but a kitchen is a lot more casual than a dining room. Hmmm, maybe if I tone down my furniture a little, then it might work.

I am babbling now...