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Building a Home Design Dilemma

Coffered ceilings vs. wooden beams on the double height ceiling

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

Our great room is a double height room. We are debating if we should go with coffered ceilings (see the picture with white coffers) or do wooden beams (illustration attached). The windows in the great room are plan without the grids and the trim is Mediterranean (see attached picture). Which way should we go to drive harmony in the design.

Example of wooden beams ceiling

Example of white coffered ceiling

Our great room look below. Windows do not have the grids.

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Comments (8)

PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Design the ceiling treatment when the space is designed and the spaces around it. Do not make the ceiling an after thought.
Nalin Jain
Original Author
3 years ago
yes the house is under build currently....the builder is offering coffered ceiling. We are debating if we stay with it or go for wooden beams as we personally like the wooden beams but want to make sure that we don't disrupt the design
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I never expected such a strong reaction to a simple question. I think it is a matter of space, style, and personal preference. I suppose it doesn't fit into the OTK philosphy so you are walking a fine line! :) If you are considering it, just make sure the room is big enough to pull off the look, and also make sure there isn't too much going on elsewhere (no really ornate moldings on your cabinets). How about some very shallow ones like in this photo (this is what i'm considering for my great room/dining room combination which is 18'x34' with 12' ceilings. [Other design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/other-home-design-ideas-phbr1-bp~r_33)
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The reason we did the coffered ceilings was because we have 12 foot ceilings, and cabinets all the way to the ceiling would have been cost-prohibitive because it would have needed to be custom instead of semi-custom. I think you could definitely do it with 9 foot ceilings. The beams would just have to be shallower. In fact, our inspiration kitchen, in a kitchen showroom, had much shallower beams than we have in our kitchen. I will put a link below. Scroll down to the last picture in media, and click to enlarge. That is the showroom kitchen for this KD, who gave us the idea to bring out ceiling down by using the boxed beams. I would think that while it would be easier to install the beams before the cabinets were in, it could be done after. Not sure, though. Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen photos with coffered ceiling
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I like to keep it simple. Adding crown molding and trim to the coffered area complicates things. Because then you have to figure out what parts should be what color, where to start color, where to end it. Whereas if you keep it simple and leave it as is, it's a lot easier to figure out. For example, paint the walls and ceiling the same color so you can leverage the natural shadowing that happens with try/coffered ceilings. The edges and details are naturally emphasized by light and shadow. No PITA edges to cut in with paint, no decisions about what color goes where.
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I struggled with same question when we built. My walls are BM Pashmina and I painted inside my cells a slightly lighter color although when you look at the picture it looks the same (Dependent on the lighting). Houzzers recommended to me using the same as wall color or use it at 50%. I would just do as IdaClaire suggests and use wall color. With the height, it can handle the darkness of the color. They also recommended the vertical piece to be considered wall and to be wall color. All white is very pretty as well- just depending on what you like. Good luck!
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kudzu9
3 years ago
Depends on the look you are going for, but exposed beams, to me, are more informal and don't quite mesh with the look you are showing in the 3rd photo. I think coffered ceilings are much more complementary to the more refined style in that last photo.
chispa
3 years ago
I tend to like beams more, but based on the style of the house you show, the coffered ceilings would look more appropriate for the style. Unless you have completely changed the style/feel of the house? Do you have beams anywhere else in the house?
PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
3 years ago
It really depends on the look you're going for. Coffered ceilings are more formal. Exposed beams are decidedly less so, and have a more rustic feeling. Decide first how you want the room to feel. If you're formal people who entertain a lot, go with coffered. If you prefer more casual living, go with exposed beams.
Nalin Jain
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you all....the house is still in the build mode....the third picture I shared is of an existing model. And yes it will look similar barring the windows where we are not doing the grids. It seems like most of you are leaning towards coffered ceilings - right? to maintain the harmony. The confusion we were having was driven by my wife's liking for the beams - but seems like they will be a misfit in the rest of the design....agree?
fenstanton
3 years ago
Agree with all the coffered ceiling votes.
PRO
Beth H. :
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
there are so many diff types you could do. a lot depends on the style you're after, and what type of design you'll be doing.

I love a nice white coffered w/painted insets

Wood would be used if you're after more of rustic type of look

can you do a vault? I love this look

or maybe wood inset

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