Ceiling Height - An 'unexpected' decision to make

13 years ago

OK - I might have mentioned (10 or 12 times) that my demo started yesterday. It turns out that by the end of the day I was presented with another decision to make. (Big sigh.....)

I posted my basic layout before - it involves having my galley kitchen and adjoining breakfast room "come together" as more like one space. There was lots of conversation about having an island or peninsula and where an appropriate place (or LACK of an appropriate place) might be for it in my layout posts...I've taken what everyone suggested to me into consideration and made a decision about how we want to handle that. However, you might have noticed I've not yet posted exactly WHAT we are doing with the cabinet layout in the final version. As odd as it sounds, I kinda want to do a final "reveal" of the full layout when the kitchen is actually done. I know - aren't I silly? So anyway - I digress...

We went in to the demo not really knowing about the ceiling in the breakfast room portion of the project. The ceiling height in the kitchen is 97" (say 8'). However, the ceiling in the breakfast room was 88" (less than 7 1/2'). There was lots of stuff going on up there, so the builder really couldn't tell what he'd be able to do in that room until he ripped it out. He hoped to be able to bring it up to 8', but there was the possibility that it would have to stay 4 or 5 inches lower. We took that into consideration when we ordered our cabinets. I was fine with however it turned out. However, when he ripped out the entire thing yesterday he discovered...well, my husband understands exactly what he discovered and explained it to me, but the bottom line is I can either have the ceilings be the same height (with a slight header between them) OR I can have the breakfast room portion of the ceiling be sightly vaulted. It would be highest on the wall connecting to the kitchen wall. I don't have the exact numbers right now (and hubby is sleeping) but I'm going to guess it would be around 9 or 9.5' at its highest.

I think I would like that look, but of course I'm not sure. I don't know if this would help or hurt or not really affect my efforts to bring the rooms together. I also have a little issue with my cabinets (my "bar") at the far end of the breakfast room. Everything was ordered going on the assumption that the ceiling was going to be lower. We're getting crown moulding on the top up to what would have been the ceiling height. I don't think I mind if there is space between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling, but it actually does mess up my plan a little. In the room there is a window centered on the wall with a large wall cabinet on each side...all the way down to the countertop. There was supposed to be a valance between the 2 cabinets sort of giving the appearance of one big unit. I had wanted to hang (and actually purchased) a pendant light in front of the window. If the unit does NOT reach the ceiling, I guess that's not gonna work - with the top of the pendant "showing" between the top of the "unit" (between the valance and the window where there is no cabinetry) up to the ceiling. Did that make sense?

So I guess this is a 2-part query. First, any thoughts on how to handle the ceiling height (vaulted or not) in the breakfast room? Second, any good ideas on how to "fix" my dilemma with the cabinetry at the end of the room.

Here's a general layout of the 2 rooms, but keep in mind that the crazy island/peninsula existence/placement is not final here in these drawings!

Both rooms together...I know you really can't see detail, but I think you can get the basics.

The breakfast room side...ignore that island in the middle. This isn't the final layout for that portion of the room. The highest part of the ceiling is where it says "Opening to Dining Room"

Detail on the bar/hutch:

I really truly appreciate anything that you guys want to suggest about the ceiling height and the hutch. And really, I apologize if this post (and my posts in general) go on and on. I think I'm a frustrated blogger!!! Thanks!! SQ

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Comments (7)

palimpsest
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I think "slightly vaulted", and at an angle in one direction would probably be a mistake.

Why? because it doesn't seem like it would be a natural progression in the house. If the breakfast room were an addition and the roof was a shed roof that slanted toward the driveway, it is likely that the roof would start out at the height of the kitchen (or even lower) and go down from there, unless it were a porch addition that had been enclosed

Having it pop up higher than the other rooms and then slant down, doesn't seem like it would relate the two rooms together, but instead define their separateness. I would recommend the same height.
SusieQusie60
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks palimpsest....and yes, it was a porch addition that had been enclosed. How did you know that? (I'm obviously not very knowledgeable about this sort of thing!!) I really appreciate your thoughts - it's exactly what I'm looking for as far as opinions on "bringing the rooms together."

Side note: If nothing else, this project has really really shown me how much of a "visual" person I am!!! If I can't literally "see" how something is going to be, I have a very hard time figuring it out!!
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Thanks for everyone's help. It drives me nuts when decisions like this, which I think shouldn't be too hard to make, end up being so difficult. And when I think I've finally made up my mind, I keep going back and changing it. My husband is really pushing for an 8' tall shower so I think we will frame the doorway for and 8' opening, but the actual ceiling inside will be just a few inches taller. (Maybe 6") Also, thank you for the comments suggesting using glass for the walls instead of solid walls. While I know that is definitely the style these days I am a very private person, even in front of my husband, so there is no way I would ever be comfortable showering with glass walls around me. Having a glass door is about as far as I can go. This is why I was so curious about the ceiling height since the walls will definitely solid, and I know that will close things in a little bit. Mrs. Pete - If you could see my entire floor plan I think you would definitely have something to say about all the doors I have. What can I say, I do like my privacy. I guess each person just have things they can't live without in their house. As far as towels, we don't use towel bars, we just use towel hooks. One thing that has worked really well for us in the past is to just have some beautiful hanging hooks over the shower door the we put our towels on. I know some people would think we are just crazy for hiding our beautiful shower and door like this, but if we do it this way, both me and my husband are able to reach over the door and grab our towels without opening the shower door. Hence, we get to dry off before getting out of the warm shower. As a bonus, I get more privacy if the towels are covering part of the door. :) Oh and I'm not sure why are architect didn't center our toilet, but I was thinking it was probably because the toilet closet is so wide. (48") I have debated about centering the toilet, but when I was thinking about it, I realized that if I left the toilet where it was I could actually put a small cabinet with sliding doors next to the toilet to hold some toiletries. What do you think?
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It looks like you are on the right track. I think those would look great. Def not bathroom-ish to me. And I agree with not blocking your window nor the arch. Just too pretty to have anything take away from it. So disregard my earlier comment that there was a pendant light to match one of those sconces. Bad idea! :) And, not sure how I even feel about a matching ceiling light. That might be too many of those lights too close together. Those sconces make a statement as it is and I think a matching ceiling light might be too much. Think I agree with the can lights idea. Or, matching ceiling light but remove the bling so the shade is similar but not so much bling. ? Don't know. Just thinking out loud. Do you have an island with pendant lights? Because if you don't you could hang some pendants on either side and that would look pretty too I think. Such a pretty window. So many fun ways you can dress it up! Just for what it's worth, of the choices you show - I think I prefer #1 - which is unusual for me because I lean strongly contemporary and I think #2 is more contemporary. But... I like #1 better. And I like it a lot!
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Oh my gosh...I'm not alone is my insanity? Misery loves company guys, and I really love your words of wisdom, commiseration, and understanding. I have been looking at Houzz obsessively and I do have some ideas of what I want. I have a color scheme....I think, I change my mind from really dark cabinets to white cabinets pretty frequently. Dark will win because that is what my husband wants and I can't make up my mind anyway (I should pose that as a compromise..."well, dear, we can get the dark cabinets that you want as long as I can get the ceiling high cabinets that I want"), the small layout changes that we are making we agree on (yeah!), the color of the walls we already love (painted earlier this year), the floors we aren't going to change, built in appliances aren't in the budget so we will do a freestanding range and fridge. So, honestly, all we have to do is pick cabinets and a countertop (which we also agreed on), easy peasy, right? We have some CAD plans and I do like the way that they look (meaning I like the way that the custom ones look for double the cost). I had a talk with my husband and I think that he is coming around. These will likely be the only cabinets that we will ever put into this house, so when you are looking at such a huge investment, is the price of skimping to worth it? I told him your wise words about regrets, plus we can keep our 20 year old white refrigerator with the broken ice maker for a bit if we need to. I keep calling the backsplash and pendant lights over the island phase 2. I had n't considered doing an inexpensive counter and adding it later if I need to. We have two separate cabinet makers coming tomorrow, so you have given me some good ideas of questions to ask. I'll get there. I think part of the problem is that my husband isn't a researcher, he is willing to make these decisions all willy nilly. So pretty much all he knows is the $$$ amount and if he likes the person he talked to. He also thinks that if we need to we can project manage these things even though we each have very busy full time jobs and aren't available to be here during the day while the work is being done. Me, I would rather pay a little extra so I don't have to be the one to oversee things. Plus I told him that if we did that ourselves then we would end up divorced and then we would just have to sell the house. Anyway, I am going to pore over more of GW and houzz. I think I know what my decisions are regarding the cabinets, but I did just want a little bit of reassurance so I sure do appreciate it. When I get "final" plans, I will post them because you guys sure do have some great ideas.
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blfenton
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
If it was running the other was - so highest at the window - I would consider it. But if it is running towards the DR so highest there I would leave the whole thing at 8'. It's great that you can get that!
motherof3sons
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
SusieQ - Same situation at my house when we remodeled the kitchen. Enclosed backporch turned to kitchen. We live in a Craftsman bungalow and to preserve the roofline integrity chose to have a lower ceiling in part of the kitchen. I agree that the vault may look a bit odd. BTW - Love the name SusieQ - Very near and dear to me if you get my meaning. :-)
formerlyflorantha
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Not sure what you mean by "vault." Is this just a higher ceiling or is it slanted in one or two directions?

Have you seen the kitchens and other rooms with essentially a bump-up feature some distance from the walls? Sometimes there are even lights recessed up there that face upwards. If you have the budget and time and if this is a room that is for more than breakfasts, you could perhaps make some kind of spectacular ceiling effect that would be the making of the room. This would also allow you to keep your planned perimeter cabinetry.

FWIW, I'm sitting on the question of whether to put a cabinetry valence over windows. Every time I think I'm resolved to do it, I back off. I just don't see it done very much. Would urge you not to make a scallopy one as drawn in sketch. Out of fashion right now.
SusieQusie60
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks to all - I'm definitely seeing a theme so far. And I think it kind of agrees with my gut. I just want to be sure I'm not overlooking something really super obvious and beneficial to going with the vaulted look. And I am very thankful that I can get the 8' ceilings in there. As I said I was fine with going with a lower ceiling in that area, but #1 - I'm glad I can get them to pretty much match now, and #2 - I've been really happy with the 8' in my current galley kitchen, which I guess is sort of the standard height, right? Sure it would be nice if both rooms could go higher, but if that's not going to happen, at least they're at 8'

Why motherof3sons - whatever can you mean? Just kidding...I've always liked SusieQ as a little nickname. My husband is a big fan of the song!!
SusieQusie60
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks florantha - the ceiling is definitely slanted in one direction. From the dining room (highest) down to the double window by the driveway (lowest). Actually - what you said did give me a thought: Can I put a little soffit JUST on that one wall - so that the cabinetry does reach the ceiling. IF I'm imagining it correctly, I think it would look ok. And I could go ahead with my plan to put a pendant there.

And no - I'm sure that the valance (which is on order) will NOT look anything like what I drew. I just made it scallopy so that it would be sort of obvious that it was a valance!! I'm positive that's NOT what we're getting. Not only would it be out-of-fashion, it would definitely NOT fit with the rest of the cabinets or kitchen. I definitely do appreciate your saying that though. I think I'm going to see how it looks (the valance I mean - and assuming I can work out the whole going to the ceiling thing) and if I don't feel it's done well, we'll figure out how to make it right.

SQ

Ceiling Height - An 'unexpected' decision to make

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Ceiling Height - An 'unexpected' decision to make

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