COMMENT | WORKING WITH HIGH CEILINGS | WORDS BY JOHN LAW | AS FEATURED IN LIVINGETC
Whilst we love working on properties with high ceilings, that’s not to say that they don’t present their very own problems – whether in terms of acoustics, or finding pieces of the right scale to adorn those towering elevations. Here are my top tips for getting it right first time.
Artwork
In spaces with high ceilings; larger pieces of art can really give that much-needed scale to a room, whilst ensuring the space stays restful. For example, a large-scale landscape in a relatively muted palate can add depth and texture to a room without feeling overbearing. Often the key to ensuring a space can pull this off is to dodge convention. Try to avoid viewing each elevation of a room in isolation and defaulting to the placement of a painting centrally on a wall. Think instead about the room as a canvas overall, of how one wall interacts with another. For example, look at placing artwork over doorways, above larger pieces of furniture or by a fireplace.
Large scale art needn’t be exclusively in the form of large canvas either; it can be equally impressive to group together smaller pieces of art. In a recent project, we displayed ornamental objects alongside piece of art within a glass-fronted armoire to create a larger installation. This playful way of adding interest and depth to the dining room scheme allowed for these pieces to be changed over time, as and when new pieces are collected and new tablescapes created.
A collection of maps, smaller paintings, or photographs, or indeed a combination of each of these can be equally impactful, adding texture, interest and variety to large elevations. What’s important however is that visually they sit well together. This might be through cohesive, complementary framing, or how they are displayed relative to the context of the room. The collection might subtly relate for example to the colour, form and texture of items on, say, a console table below.
Large scale wallpaper designs
Many large-scale wallpaper designs can also create the same impact and drama as a large piece of original art. When arranging art on bold patterns, take care to avoid accidental clashes; this can be done through introducing wider mounts and clever framing to give each piece space. Equally, if a painting or print references a colour or pattern in the wallpaper behind, it can sit more comfortably.
Lighting
Lighting can also be a great way to add a sculptural element with scale and interest to spaces with high ceilings. Take the Gaia pendant and Murmuration installation, both by Ochre Lighting; these pieces are not only organic by nature but also introduce a powerful, moving design element to any scheme. We’ve found such organic pieces to work particularly well within Georgian homes, with their high ceilings. They offer a contrast to the strong, clean lines often found in the architectural detailing of these properties – in panelling, architraves, and shutters, for example.
Acoustics Large spaces, with their high ceilings and potentially hard flooring (such as stone and timber) can make for difficult acoustics To counter this, we often introduce large-scale upholstered panels along walls; combined with textured rugs and interlined curtains.
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