Written by Kelli Rosen Photography by Morgan
Howarth

When artist John Kiernan, principal of Blue Line Studios, was
commissioned last year to design a custom ceiling treatment for a
Leesburg, VA, home’s two-story library, he knew it was the
ideal project to flex his creative muscles. “The homeowner
wanted a mural based on American history and discovery, based on
books she read as a child,” Kiernan says from his studio in
Warrenton, VA. “My vision was to give it the feel of the face
of a grandfather clock with a gilded compass rose,” he says
of the magnificent ceiling pictured above.

Adorned with incredibly detailed images including Christopher
Columbus, Galileo, Native Americans, and the Wright Brothers, the
exquisite painting even incorporates the night sky with a
constellation pattern, complete with fiber-optic lighting,
identical to the night the homeowner and her husband were married
back in 1985. “It was amazing to see their faces as the mural
progressed,” he recalls. “The most exciting time was
when the scaffold was removed and the ceiling was able to be viewed
in its entirety.”

Decorating the ceiling, sometimes referred to as the
“fifth wall,” is becoming increasingly fashionable,
whether that means commissioning an artist to create a personalized
mural, or simply adding a little color for warmth. “The
ceiling is a vista for the eye that accentuates the other five
surfaces in the room, so I usually recommend at least some soft
color on the ceiling,” says Interior Designer Stephen N.
O’Brien of Easton, MD. “Just adding a cup of wall paint
to one gallon of ceiling white helps to break the stark contrast of
only using the white.”

When selecting a hue for above, consider the size of the room,
especially the ceiling’s height. A high ceiling painted a
darker color can make it appear lower and more intimate. For lower
ceilings – in a powder room, for example –
O’Brien suggests choosing a high-gloss sheen, which will
reflect light and visually enlarge the room.

Wallcoverings can also be installed to make what’s
overhead more interesting. “In England, it is very common to
use the same pattern of wallpaper on both the ceilings and
walls,” O’Brien says. “It creates a very cozy,
womblike space.”

Coffered Ceilings and More

Architectural elements are another excellent way to infuse drama
into almost any space. Coffered ceilings are especially popular in
this area, says Kevin Wales, president of Just Moulding in
Gaithersburg, MD. “I think it’s because newhome
builders are putting them in the model homes and once people see
them, they want coffered ceilings in their homes, too.”

Depending on the height of the ceiling, the size of each coffer
(or each box within the grid design) varies, with deeper coffers
usually installed on higher ceilings. “Within each box we can
also add multiple layers of moulding to create an ornate
appearance,” Wales says. “This can also make the coffer
look like it’s rising up into the ceiling, giving the space
an illusion of depth.” The bigger the room, the bigger the
coffer, he adds.

Other decorative moulding applications – shadowboxing, for
example – are becoming de rigueur as well. (Shadowboxing is
when moulding is used to frame various shapes on a ceiling or
wall.) “This gives you the artistic ability to divide the
ceiling into quadrants,” Wales says. “It’s also
another way to make the room more architecturally appealing by
adding depth to the whole room. By putting a treatment on the
ceiling, it draws your attention upwards, making the room appear
taller.”

O’Brien says tin ceilings are also making a comeback,
especially in Arts and Crafts, Victorian-style homes, and
restorations. He points to a new product from Armstrong called
Metallaire decorative metal ceiling tiles, which are constructed of
steel and available in a dozen patterns and multiple finishes.

Rosettes

Medallions installed above a hanging light fixture, such as a
dining room chandelier, are another way to add architectural flair
to a ceiling. “I’ve done projects where we’ve
even designed the moulding from the corner of the room to the
medallion, to create the effect of four triangles,” Wales
says.

He suggests, however, that you should not underestimate the
effect of crown moulding. “It joins the ceiling and wall
together, softening the transition and finishing the room, just
like baseboard moulding joins the walls to the floor.” Wales
adds that if there’s one ceiling treatment you should
consider, this is it – regardless of your home’s
overall design style. “If you have a contemporary home, for
example, you wouldn’t use the thicker, traditional moulding
but you could opt for a flatter version to complement the baseboard
moulding,” he says.

Crown moulding also allows for greater flexibility when it comes
to paint color on the ceiling. “It allows you to use a
completely different color on the ceiling, which I like,”
says O’Brien, adding that without moulding, it is very
difficult to achieve the desired straight lines to separate the
multiple hues.

Regardless of how you choose to bedeck your ceiling – be
it coffers, historical figures, or wallpaper, the key to success is
honoring the space with a bit of flair. “The ceiling should
be able to have a personality all its own,” says
O’Brien, “even if it’s as simple as just a paint
color.”