Vault in great room only or entire living area?

9 years ago

We are in the process of designing our house plan. We have an open area with the great room, kitchen, and dining area all open to each other and currently in the plan it is vaulted in the entire area. I am thinking I would like to just vault the great room, and make the kitchen/dining area 8 foot ceilings. I don't like vaulted areas that feel too high or airy, but it would feel nice in just the great room (18.5' x 16.5') and then it will feel more cosy in the other area. I also want a chandelier over my table and pendant lights over my island and don't want a really long electrical wire hanging down. I also want my kitchen cabinets to go to the top of the ceiling.'

I just don't know what it would look like from the kitchen area, like a big V in the ceiling. Would it look ok? Does anyone have a picture of a similar layout with just one room in an open space vaulted? Do you know if it would affect the trusses and roof line in a strange way or be fine? Thanks!

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Comments (3)

Oldmaster
9 years ago
Hi iluvry, my layout is just like yours with the great room and kitchen/dining, and I have the entire room vaulted. I only just finished framing, so the pictures would just show one big room.

I do get your point about how vaulted ceiling in the dining room/kitchen makes it harder for the chandelier/pendant light placement. My taste is kind of opposite of yours. I don't care for kitchen pendant light or chandelier above the table, so I'm opting for two matching chandeliers (one in the great room and one between the kitchen/dining), and I'll also have a set of ten potlights surrounding the sides. Personal taste I guess.

Vaulted is not always the best, because it is harder to insulate and can feel colder in the winters with air rising up. Especially if you don't like lofty ceilings then I think you should go for your preference.

Often I find pictures with the entire area vaulted have the kitchen in the back wall, dinning table in the middle, and the great room in the other end. Everything looks very centered, so this is another option you could explore. It doesn't work for me because my windows are along the back wall and can't be blocked by the kitchen.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/healdsburg-residence-farmhouse-living-room-san-francisco-phvw-vp~1942894-Residence-farmhouse-living-room-san-francisco

https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-dining-room-contemporary-dining-room-seattle-phvw-vp~777907-from-kitchen-to-dining-and-living-room-contemporary-dining-room-seattle

https://www.houzz.com/photos/1512-dolphin-terrace-beach-style-living-room-los-angeles-phvw-vp~235531-Dolphin-Terrace-beach-style-living-room-los-angeles

This post was edited by Oldmaster on Fri, Sep 19, 14 at 13:53
iluvry
Original Author
9 years ago
I forgot to mention, I only want to do a 10 foot vault at highest point. So it would go from 8' at walls to 10' at centers in a room that is 16'5 wide. Or maybe even a lower vault? I really dislike the high vaults. Any other feedback for my original post?
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chiefneil
9 years ago
If you're only going to 10' you might as well do the whole thing. 8' is pretty low for a brand new home and might hurt you on resale. If you're already budgeted for a change in the ceiling height, then 9' in the kitchen/dining gives a subtle change and makes that area feel a little more cozy.

I had that exact layout in my previous home, with 9' in the kitchen and dining area, which were open to the great room with 10' ceiling. It was a really nice setup where you didn't notice the difference in height unless you knew to look for it, but it did lend a different feel to each area.