Does this look stupid?

[Zebra]

OK, I have a feeling you're all going to say "Yes it does!"
However, I shall be brave and risk ridicule.........
This is all a bit subjective, rather than really authentic, so you might just all shrug your shoulders and say "Do what you like," but here goes....
While I've had no ceiling in my bedroom, I've loved being able to see the tie beams in the ceiling, and so I wanted to put the ceiling back above them and leave them exposed. A modern fashion and not how it would have been, I know.
But if I'd exposed them all the way to the edges it would have been a cold bridge, so I've come up with a rather elaborate plan for revealing only the middle sections, and making sure that where they break through the moisture barrier is far enough into the room that they will be warm and not attract condensation.
You've got to imagine this all lime plastered in a coarse finish with curves at the edges.
Half of me says "Old houses are full of funny features, it'll look great" and half of me says "Put it back the way it was meant to be."
Whatdya think?

 

[LadyArowana]

My guess is that once it's all finished ( even assuming you go with the visible beam option ) you will not even really notice it, it will just become part of the background. When we removed a nasty false ceiling we found steel beams underneath, structural and not original ( part of the division of our apartment from the adjoining one ). Various options were considered in terms of reinstating a covering and in the end I decided to just paint them and leave them. Various people thought this wasn't great and that they would be odd. I incorporated them into the lighting plan and now they are not something I even "see".

 

[JoceAndChris]

Oh, you know what I'm going to say so I'll save the letters for something else.

I'm staggered and impressed by all you do for your property though Zebra.

 

[Feltwell]

Hmm. Part of me says "Yes, do it, but it would look a lot better if it was nice interesting wobbly timber rather than dead straight machine-cut", but another part of me says that that is wrong on so many levels!!!

Of course it would have been covered up. But it isn't now. So whatever you do has no effect on what was there originally. So I think the ultimate answer is do what you think will look best in your eyes. You're doing a huge amount of good to your little much-abused house, but it's had so many changes from what was there originally that this would be a very, very minor one - and it's clearly not the original roof anyway.

On balance, I think I'd do it, it will be an interesting feature to stare up at from bed (no comments, please).

 

[JoceAndChris]

It would look so lovely tented. Seventh piccy down:
http://southernchateau.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/fabulous-dressing-rooms-and-closets.html?m=1

But in white, soft muslin, with a smattering of colonial and campaign objets, very sweet for a zebra.

 

[LadyArowana]

It would look so lovely tented. Seventh piccy down:
http://southernchateau.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/fabulous-dressing-rooms-and-closets.html?m=1

But in white, soft muslin, with a smattering of colonial and campaign objets, very sweet for a zebra.

Very lovely, but Zebra's view of the romantic "Out of Africa" safari type experience might not be quite so positive :lol:

 

[FamilyWiggs]

i think if you like to lie in bed and look at some of the structurual elements of your house, then that is fine by me. Flat ceilings are dead boring - and all the "interesting stuff" lies above.

Go for it - and post us some pics though!

 

[MdB]

We have a bonnet ceiling upstairs with some of the A frame ends left exposed. It definitely makes the room more interesting and is something I would do again. Go for it!

 

[Moo]

er ..... what, exactly, is a bonnet ceiling?

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

Zebra,

Personally I'd reinstate the ceiling. Use lath and plaster or some other trad approach of you don't want it dead flat.

However, if you do decide to leave the structure exposed you should consider the increased risk from spread of fire, as you have removed the fire protection afforded by the original plasterwork. In the event of a fire your roof structure would be a greater risk. This could be mitigated by the use of intumescent paint.

I presume that you can insulate above the rafter level so that you don't end up with a cold ceiling?

 

[MdB]

er ..... what, exactly, is a bonnet ceiling?

Chamfer at top left / top right shown badly in the pic below. The term may well be cornish (it is what our builder called it).

 

[Penners]

Oh dear! There's nothing more difficult for a man than replying to a woman's "Be honest - how do I look?" question! I long ago learned that "be honest" actually means "tell me I look nice, or you're in BIG trouble"!

So it looks very nice, Zebra.

If that's what you wanted to hear, don't read the rest of this post.





I think it looks awful. But I don't have to look at it. So if it pleases you, you should stick with it.

 

[LadyArowana]

Oh dear! There's nothing more difficult for a man than replying to a woman's "Be honest - how do I look?" question! I long ago learned that "be honest" actually means "tell me I look nice, or you're in BIG trouble"!

Leonardo was so worried by Mrs L asking these sorts of questions that he built her a special room so she could check for herself. http://www.macchinedileonardo.com/index.php?machines-interactive-models#12

 

[Zebra]

Ha ha! I knew it would come, after all the reassurance, dissent! And do you know what, in my heart of hearts, deep down, I agree with the dissenters! Thank you all for your kind encouragement, but it looks stupid! It was my bloody idea, so I thought about it for ages, and then I did it, and now family and friends are saying "coo, lovely!" and I agree with you Penners, JoceandChris, Andrew! If I really liked it, I wouldn't be asking you all!!!
The beams are not all machine cut, about half of them are, but some are wonky and have bark on. (As I said, you have to imagine it where the shiny foil insulation is all covered with woodwool boards and lime plaster.)

I liked looking at them when there was no ceiling, but like this it just doesn't work. So thank you all! You've made me realise how I really feel about it, and now having confirmed I don't like it, I'll have to put it back to how it's supposed to be - even more work! Oh Gawd what a fool I am. Perhaps at least it's a sign I'm starting just a little bit to develop an eye for the traditional.......

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Now that shiny silver stuff really does look good. In 250 years' time someone on here will be asking Penners (for he will still be here) whether to leave it exposed when they renovate your place!

:wink:

 

[Penners]

I agree with you Penners

WELL...! There's a phrase I haven't come across before! I rather like the sound of it - I might suggest it to Mrs P.

 

[Penners]

Now that shiny silver stuff really does look good. In 250 years' time someone on here will be asking Penners (for he will still be here) whether to leave it exposed when they renovate your place!

And I'll tell you what my answer will be:

"Are you my son? Have I had me tea? Lean over a bit further, will you nurse?"



Plus ça change....

 

[Zebra]

Changed it, put it back to normal. Just done the plastering today.



What did that take, just over a year? If only all mistakes could be put right so quickly......

 

[DJH]

Looks nice Zebra. You don't fancy a year on the Irish Serengety do you? I've some plastering to do...

Doug

 

[Penners]

Good decision, Zebra, and nice work. I particularly like your traditional light fitting.