Ceilings

Introduction

Depending on various property types, location and design periods, architectural features and ceiling details can greatly vary between from ornate, intricate detailing to almost none existent.

Country/Rustic Property Details
Wooden Beams

Ceiling beams in older properties often form the frame supporting the structure of the house, or can be added to newer, or existing buildings, as an aesthetic design choice.

Wooden beams can be sanded to look clean and contemporary, they can be painted or stained, or exposed & untreated for a more rustic look.

The interaction of wooden beams and the ceiling/wall will depend on the age and authenticity of the feature.

Usually beams are part of the original structure of a building, so we aim for a more 'aged' feeling with a slightly more 'imperfect' look - especially where the ceiling plaster meets the beam, & paint runs or creates unevenness between the two surfaces.

Joints, Details & Supports

Bracket Support
An additional piece of wooden beam that supports the above beam by strengthening the corner.

Mortise & Tenon Joint
Small beams are pushed into the larger beams. They are fitted close together with a slight shadow gap.

Iron Straps & Fixing Plates
Iron plates that are bolted onto the beam to support corners and joints

Hammer Beams
Triangular beam structured with tall vertical space in between

Boxed Beams
Beams arranged in a 'waffle' pattern

Linear Beams
The majority of the beams run in one direction

Pitched Beams
Beams that run along a pitched or vaulted ceiling

Beams and Panelling

These planks will always run in the opposite direction to the beams and are often a wood-effect finish or white painted wood.

There are 2 ways that ceiling beams and a panelled ceiling can be installed:

Installing around the beam
In more modern spaces with smaller, cleaner beams; wooden panelling can be added in between the beams for an added aesthetic feature. The panels are fitted tightly between the existing beams and are fixed by being pinned to the beneath surface.

Constructed under the beam
In more classically built spaces, the ceiling planks could be part of the actual construction of the property, meaning that they would run under the beams. These are likely to have more of an aged look, with more imperfections and gaps.

Contemporary Property Details
Slatted Ceiling

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Slatted Ceilings & Built-in Lighting

Classical Property Details
Coving

Ceiling cornices are made from moulded plaster and come in a variety of designs and intricacies based on era. They are mainly used in period properties, where coving was originally used to make the interior more ornate and decorative.

Below you can find some sites we commonly use to spec cornices:

https://www.oracdecor.com/en_gb/coving
https://www.stevensons-of-norwich.co.uk/products/plaster-products/cornice/

Cornices are traditionally painted white, and can be painted to contrast or match the wall and/or ceiling colour. Recent trends are seeing them painted brighter colours to make more of a design statement.

Being made from plaster, the texture is minimal & smooth. We may see detailing such as paint strokes or specks of 'dust'.

To see how a cornice is fitted and joined, see the link below:
https://www.oracdecor.com/en_gb/installation-videos

Bespoke Cornice Styles & Features

Occasionally we see cornice designs made from unique materials and styles for a more bespoke look, some of which you can see below, including carved wood or stone.
More modern designs are seeing the cornice being used in new ways, including a way of hiding curtain tracks, or with recessed strip lighting for a unique, contemporary look.
These styles aren't as common, and will always be specified by the stylist if required.

Ceiling Panelling

Ceiling paneling comes in many different shapes and sizes. Similar to wall paneling, a real world reference image needs to be used in order to correctly design the space. This especially needs to happen when it comes to interaction with Light fixings and appliances.

References can be found here:

R:\05_REFERENCES\01_PRODUCT_TECHNICAL_SPECIFICATION\03_REAL_WORLD_REF_IMAGES\_CEILING AND LIGHTING\PANELING

Plaster Moulded Panelling (smooth, painted finish)

Coffered Panelling (painted wood pieces with smooth plaster centre)

Tiled Panelling (made from a lightweight artificial material with a faux authentic finish)

Ceiling Roses

Plaster ceiling roses come in many period designs and are used for decorative purposes; usually used as a light fitting surround.

Larger ceiling roses can form the major focal point for a decorative ceiling for a more statement look. They don't necessarily need to feature a light, as they can be made with or without a hole to accommodate a light fitting.

Modern Ceiling Rose

Art Deco Ceiling Rose

Victorian ceiling Rose

Georgian Ceiling Rose

Industrial Property Details
Steel Beams

Iron & Steel ceiling beams are usually found in industrial and large commercial buildings that may have been renovated into residential housing. They are also being more frequently used in modern constructions and extensions as a trendy aesthetic.

Metal beams form the structural framework of a building, with exposed fixtures such as nuts, bolts and joining welds.

The finish can be an untreated, exposed metal or can be painted in which case we would see paint strokes and imperfections.

Metal beams are likely to need supporting columns, if featured in a larger, more open space.

Joinery

Welded Joints
Melting and fusing the metals together. We would see imperfect join lines where the 2 beams meet

Bolted Joints
The flat plates of the beams are attached to one another using chunky nuts and bolts.

lighting- spots

Examples of previous spot lighting are important to use. Alongside references for real world fittings.

References here:

R:\05_REFERENCES\01_PRODUCT_TECHNICAL_SPECIFICATION\03_REAL_WORLD_REF_IMAGES\_CEILING AND LIGHTING\SPOT LIGHTING

lighting- pendant

Please refer to British Standards for distances on how pendant lights should be fitted.

It is also important to consider wiring and how the light fits to different types of ceiling. To assist this, see real world references here:

R:\05_REFERENCES\01_PRODUCT_TECHNICAL_SPECIFICATION\03_REAL_WORLD_REF_IMAGES\_CEILING AND LIGHTING\PENDANT LIGHTING

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