Un-Vaulting a Ceiling

12 years ago

We have a 1980 Ranch House that we are doing an extensive amount of remodeling on. The main living room, about 17' x 18' has a vaulted ceiling that is 16 feet high at the peak. We are removing a partition wall so this main room will flow into the kitchen with 8 ft ceilings. Currently the room feels cold and awkwardly sized relative to the rest of the house. My thought was to go about half way up the vault and make a flat drop ceiling to the tall wall. My architect in training buddy suggested we put two beams across the room to bring the scale of the room down. I would appreciate any other input on the look of the half vaulted ceiling. Also how do you think the dropped ceiling will affect resale?

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Comments (4)

Painted Peggies (zone 6a)
12 years ago
Hi there,

I think we are sort of in the same situation here at my house...our -KITCHEN, of all rooms, is a two=story room. It opens all the way up to the second floor, and is about 16.6 feet high. When we first bought the house it was 'wow', but once you live with it, it isn't so much fun. It is sort of weird having it in the kitchen instead of the family room, too.
I have 3 kids and only 3 bedrooms, so we got some estimates for turning that big open space into a fourth bedroom. We really need the space, and want to keep down the noise and heating issues that the open room creates.
Are you going to put anything ABOVE your new ceiling? We feel that having a 4 bedroom will be better for resale than a 2 story room. We are also closing in our two story foyer to make a loft above, extending the upstairs hallway. We are in the process of scheduling our first sit down with the contractor we chose...I'm so excited!
don92
12 years ago
Why the drop ceiling? that would decrease the value in my opinion.
Why not nail a ledger(or a beam if you have taken out wall below) onto the tall wall and span ceiling joists from there to the point you want on the ceiling? Then use drywall.
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worthy
12 years ago
{{!gwi}}
Beamed Oak Ceiling with rift cut oak panelling
Source: ZOArchitects.com

My vote is with Pedro!

The pic above is of a reconversion back to the original vaulted ceiling.
abbey_cny
12 years ago
spurves, I have something similar in my house. I have a combo living room/dining room, and the living room portion has a vaulted ceiling, while the dining room section has a 9' ceiling . The living room has two large beams which are probably at a little above 9' which span the living room. It does bring the scale of the living room down closer to that of the dining room section of the room while still having the look of the vaulted ceiling.