Ceilings
Two-tone paint. Using a dark or dramatic paint color on the ceiling doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing decision. Like the opposite of an area rug, painting just part of a ceiling can help define a particular zone, like how this open-concept home has a gray paint used over just the kitchen, ending roughly at the edge of the island.Lining up the edge or edges with another element in the room will help it make visual sense, like how in this room the ceiling stripe ends at the same point where the wall finish below changes.
I personally match the ceiling to the walls quite often when using light neutral shades. While it may appear white on your screen, the walls, ceiling and molding in this project are all Benjamin Moore’s Classic Gray, a subtle, warm gray shade. In an older home, using an all-over hue is a great way to deemphasize imperfections such as sloped ceilings that don’t meet walls in a perfectly straight line.Houzz guides to decorating with neutral colors
Gray. Using a darker hue on the ceiling than on the walls visually brings the ceiling down, which can make a room feel more intimate. Using a neutral gray shade (or one with a hint of cool blue) achieves this effect without drawing too much attention, so the room still feels serene and sophisticated. This makes gray a great choice for bedrooms, dens and nurseries, bringing a peaceful, cozy atmosphere.Pros Share Their Favorite Light Gray Paints
The dining chairs are covered in a bright raspberry fabric on the inside and a taupe on the back for balance. Daher curated a selection of colorful art pieces to hang on the walls. “Art is always an important finishing touch to a space,” she says. “If there wasn’t art here, it would still be colorful, but it would be lacking.”
Pantry barn doors. Here’s a lovely use of the barn door trend: opening a pantry. Because the doors slide on a rail, the kitchen or pantry doesn’t need clearance area for a swinging door, allowing more space for other uses. The wide pantry doors can also be left open for easy access. These barn doors create a pretty design accent with their gray paint and black hardware. Barn doors: custom, designed by Carly Visser, CVI Design; flooring: Santee Oak, Medallion collection, Naturally Aged Flooring; cabinet paint: Baby’s Breath 873, Benjamin Moore; island cabinet paint: SW 0077 Classic French Gray, Sherwin-Williams; wall paint: Passive 7064, Sherwin-Williams; pendants: Elk 66138-1, Elk Group International
PanelingWood planks are most often seen on the floor, but they look just as beautiful above.While wood-paneled ceilings are often associated with cottages and farmhouses, they can work with a variety of styles of home. Panelling works well for transitional homes, especially in controlled doses like the small strip seen here, bringing texture and richness to the ceiling that a solid color can’t match.
Q