Depends on if the span and the spacing and size for the fake beams is realistic.

Rarely do they look real and in that picture not even close.

I do believe you have answered your question in the phrasing of said question :)

The corbels in the inspiration pic are particularly bad. Unlike the pros who have already posted, I probably would not have immediately pegged those beams as fake, except that the corbels look so tacky, tacked-on, and ill-suited for the style of the house.

There are other options for ceilings besides faux beams. Can we see a photo of your actual room(s) so we can make more informed recommendations?

No other recommendations needed . I’m going with wood beams For my family room. A friend mentioned the faux beams and I was just curious . She actually had her white wood beams faux painted to look like grain wood and they look amazing.! But ty anyway ..

The picture might show real wood beams placed by a designer of a multimillion dollar mansion but that does not mean they are tasteful or well done in the least. I think the real part to consider with beams is not only if the wood is real or faux but if they look as though they are somewhat structural, if they were meant to be in the space, if their size is proportional, or if they merely added on as decor idea that misses the mark. In some rooms you can make it work and in others, it just looks tacky. Part of what looks strange to me about the room above is the row of windows above the door and below the beams. It is just all wonky.

But, it sounds like you made up your mind on the beams before you posted anyway. Hope they turn out to be fabulous and what you were looking for.

PS - Your pics reminded me of the song Bitch'n Camero from the 80s. Remember that one?

My good friends built a house on a farm that required the tearing down of a 150-200 year old cabin that was later added onto by the original owners (think cabin+white farmhouse). They used the original cabin beams on their family room and kitchen ceilings and used the field stone from around the base of the cabin and house to clad their fireplace. It's beautiful and very authentic looking even though the beams aren't structural at this point. It pays homage to the original house and are conversation pieces for sure.

I'm not sure why some get bent out of shape about non-structural ceiling beams. When done well, they CAN mimic structural beams by using reclaimed timber, etc. The ones in the photo posted, however, are not done particularly well regardless of whether a designer "designed" them or not. The ornate brackets look, for lack of a better word, tacky.

I say if you want them, go for them. No one is going to leave your home and say, "Wow, she used non-structural beams in her living room! How awful!" ;)

Like literature, sometimes things get over analyzed waaaaayyyy too much.

Shead
Exactly!! It’s like all the crown molding in homes and anything you want just for the beauty of it . Not necessarily because it’s needed structurally.. Maybe if I posted a photo of a double wide with wood beam ceilings I’d get all kinds of encouraging advice and thumbs up..

Your question is impossible to answer as authentic and faux = oxymoron.

Kinda like the Rolex you buy on the street corner in NY.

Exactly if you are so concerned with autentic then do authentic, why are you asking about phoney beams if you have all this money.

Patricia why wouldn’t you and all the other pros know the difference between faux and real is the bigger question? I might have all the $$ but I don’t claim to be a “Pro” like all the pompous know it alls on this forum.. Certainly eye opening..

"I want my home to be luxurious and traditional And unique!!"

so, faux wood beams would be neither luxurious nor traditional. maybe they would be unique, but not in a good way. sorry! but you did ask for opinions on this.

what I would suggest? beams, yes -- but painted the same color as the ceiling. or something that looks like a coffered ceiling. that way you can't tell by looking if they're fake wood.

can we see a picture of the living room you're talking about?

This has to be one of the strangest threads we've seen here in a while...

I smell a troll.

So Bobby, has your designer/friend fired you yet?

Bobby

As your client. In another thread you started, I had gotten the feeling that things were getting a bit strained.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5786147/home-renovation

Sorry Bobby, but Lenny D didn't do your ceiling but subbed it out to his cousin Mikey. You just can't trust those boys over at Ninja Turtle Designs. LoL Leonardo da Vinci and Michelanglo are rolling in their graves.

I have similar real wood hand carved beam in my 1927 Spanish revival The corbels are similar as well.

Very authentic for that period

I don't think poly beams and corbels look authentic.