HELP! ...Paint colors & Ideas for Tray Vault Ceiling

15 years ago

Hi everyone...this is my first post, and I really need some feedback.

***** I Need them "WOW" Factor for my Dining Room! *****

My dining room is 18x20 feet and has a tray-vaulted ceiling. I am thinking about puting a lighted crown mold around the room; however, I am unsure if my color idea will work. I need to stay in the light/neutral range.

I was thinking about using chair rail, but then I think that this will box in the room, so I am wonding about doing a color wash...starting darker at the base and gradually fading into a very pale, light color toward the top. Do you think that this will work?

1. What color should I paint the crown molding?

2. Should I paint the tray vault white or the same light color that toward the top?

Thank you for your ideas & help,

ShebeeB

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Comments (5)

User
15 years ago
1. I belong to the school of thought that says crown molding should be a consistent colour throughout your home. Unless you have a lodge or cabin-type home, painted white, ecru, etc. is usually best.

2. Varying colours of white or varying strengths of paint on a vault or on the tiers of a tray ceiling give it an interesting depth. I personally don't care for tray ceilings that have some of the tiered surfaces or the sides of the tray painted with the wall colour or a contrasting strong colour. Just my opinion.

3. If you're considering painting the walls a darker colour at bottom that fades out towards the top, I can only assume you don't have a very formal dining room, although the dimensions you give would belie that. Your room size is nice and large, and a chair rail would not box anything in---it is really what one expects to see in a large dining room. It also allows you to "logically" paint one colour below the rail and another above.

Good luck with your room!
shebeeb
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks so much for the advice.

I think that I'll keep the crown molding a light color.

I am once again considering the chair rail. The baseboard trim is stained walnut, but I am thinking that the chair rail needs to be painted to match the dining room colors. Do you think this would look odd?

I am looking for a semi-formal look for the dining room.

The great room is next to the dining room; it has a vaulted celing with dark beams, which I am painting to give it a more comtempory feel. Perhaps I will use this same color on the lower half of the dining room?

It's only paint, right?

ShebeeB
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User
15 years ago
It sounds as though you have a VERY formal room, as walnut isn't typically used in a rustic or lodge-type setting.

I think if you have a stained walnut baseboard and light/white crown molding you should either do the stain or the same molding paint on a chair rail. To paint it the same colour as the lower half of the wall would be to ignore part of its raison d'etre---to separate colours or wallpapers on the top and bottom halves of the wall.

If you have a large home that needs painting and have varying types of trim, I would recommend you consider hiring a designer at least for colour consultation. It's just paint, true, but that much paint gets expensive, and of course it is a real pain in the neck to get it wrong and have to RE-paint. :)
shebeeb
Original Author
15 years ago
I took the chair rail out of one of the large bedrooms, that at one time, was used as an office; it is already stained in walnut.

I was was thinking that is much faster to paint the trim first before putting in on the wall. In this room, I seem to be "mind blocked" without a lot of vision. I'll try putting up the chair rail first...without the paint. ...and yes, paint does get expensive. I had more than a few mistakes!

I really am thankful for your help and advice. This room has to look awesome.

I'll post pictures when I am done. Perhaps before if it is a total disaster.

ShebeeB
gk5040
15 years ago
I have several trays and painted them gold, I am not sure if this is an idea you would be interested in. Can you post a pic of your dining room?