Remember the ceiling when decorating a room THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ceilings are the Rodney Dangerfield of homes. They get no respect. But there are plenty of easy ways to make over this oft-overlooked area, from the quirky charm of Victorianera, pressed-tin tiles and beadboard to a simple splash of color. “Historically, ceilings were highly decorated, but it seems as houses have become more modern they have been forgotten,� says San Francisco-based interior designer Cecilie Starlin. “Once again, though, ceilings are starting to get the attention they deserve.� Here are some suggestions — from the simple to the complex — to transform your ceilings from drab white squares into the focal point of a room.
Ceiling medallion Probably the easiest way
“Historically, ceilings were highly decorated, but it seems as houses have become more modern they have been forgotten. Once again, though, ceilings are starting to get the attention they deserve.�
On the Net: THIS OLD HOUSE: thisoldhouse.com
DIY NETWORK: diynetwork.com
YOLO COLORHOUSE: yolocolorhouse.com
Cecilie Starlin San Francisco-based interior designer
THE FAMILY HANDYMAN: familyhandyman.com
• to bring the eye upward in a room is with a ceiling medallion, a white or colored decorative disk typically mounted around a lighting fixture. The pieces come in a variety of styles and can be found in any home improvement store. Another bonus? Today’s lighter polyurethane models are much simpler to install and easier on the wallet than those from
decades past, says Alex Bandon, online editor of Thisoldhouse.com. “I personally like that look in the bedroom,� she says. “It’s a really unusual thing, but it makes a simple bedroom much more romantic and exciting.�
Paint
go bold and throw a darker or contrasting color up above to make the area appear smaller. “Color on the ceiling is not forbidden,� Bandon says. It’s “something you can play around with a bit.� Go with a flat paint on ceilings to minimize light reflection and mask imperfections, says Puji Sherer of the eco-paint manufacturer
If you have tall ceilings or want a cozy feel, extend the wall color onto the ceiling, or
Continued on page 57
Barbara Hinkle OfďŹ ce: 260-854-2414 200 N. Main St., Wolcottville, IN 46795 Phone: 260-854-2020 Cell: 260-350-0450 e-mail: barbhinkle@remax.net www.barbhinkle.com
Working together to make dreams come true.
5 4(05 ;67,2( ‹
:[HUK PU SPUL MVY [OL ILZ[ MVVK HYV\UK ;HJV UPNO[ WYPTL YPI HUK IHYILJ\L YPIZ UPNO[ OH]L Z[HUKPUN YVVT VUS` 1\Z[ HZR HU`VUL HYV\UK Âś `V\ OH]L [V ^HP[ MVY H [HISL I\[ P[ÂťZ ^VY[O P[ )\` [OL I\PSKPUN HUK [OL I\ZPULZZ )L `V\Y V^U IVZZ ^P[O H [\YU RL` LZ[HISPZOTLU[ ^H` SPX\VY SPJLUZL IHY RP[JOLU ^P[O HWWSPHUJLZ HUK HSS M\YUPZOPUNZ NV ^P[O [OL ZHSL 7LYZVUHS WYVWLY[` SPZ[ H[ VMĂ„JL .HTPUN WLYTP[ PUJS\KLK 0U]LU[VY` ^PSS IL L_[YH HUK ^PSS IL KL [LYTPULK H[ KH` VM JSVZPUN *P[` WHYRPUN SV[ ILOPUK I\PSKPUN 43:
5 4(05 :; >63*6;;=033, ‹
;OPZ [V[HSS` YLTVKLSLK OVTL JV\SK IL H ILKYVVT OVTL 3HYNL SHUKPUN H[ [VW VM Z[HPYZ PUJS\KLZ H JSVZL[ ZV ^V\SK ^VYR UPJLS` PM [OH[ [O ILKYVVT PZ ULLKLK *SLHU ULH[ [OPZ PZ SPRL ^HSRPUN PU[V H IYHUK UL^ OVTL 3VJH[PVU PZ WLYMLJ[ PM `V\ OH]L `V\UN JOPSKYLU @V\ HYL YPNO[ HJYVZZ [OL Z[YLL[ MYVT [OL LSLTLU[HY` ZJOVVS I\[ HSZV JSVZL [V ZOVWWPUN :[VYHNL PZ H]HPSHISL HIV]L [OL NHYHNL HUK H ZPKL Z[HPY^H` MVY LHZ` HJJLZZ 5V W\SS KV^U ([ [OPZ WYPJL [OPZ PZ H T\Z[ ZLL 43:
LaGrange County • June 2012 • Page 52