Addressing the Ceiling

"Traditional and contemporary need each other." 

-Genevieve Gorder

That quote perfectly describes my design style, and Genevieve seems to be a pro at it.  She did a great job connecting the old and new in this recent nursery design (brought to you by the oh so classy paused screen of my TV--this is what you'll get until HGTV updates their designer galleries).  But I digress.  There are plenty of traditional pieces of furniture and accessories in this space, but they're perfectly offset by contemporary aspects, keeping the room from looking too stodgy.  

One of the ways she achieved this was by painting the ceiling with woodland creatures.  Adding playful elements to a surface that is often forgotten makes a great impact on the room's overall feel.  The idea of addressing the ceiling isn't just restricted to nurseries though.  Adding detail to the most overlooked part of a room can make a huge statement in any area of your home.  Let's look at a few ideas.

Board planks-Painted or not, a boarded ceiling will give your space a more custom look.

Coffered-If you want to take your ceiling an architectural step further, opt for a coffered ceiling.  It is timeless.

Moldings and medallions-Another way to add some architectural elements is through ceiling moldings and medallions.  Coupled with a contrasting paint color (as shown below), these elements can become even bigger showstoppers.

Paint-This is the easiest and most inexpensive way to update your ceiling.  While patterns are great, a solid color can do the trick as well.  As long as you keep the design simple (please don't go all Van Gogh on me), you'll be doing good, not harm.

With all of these, please remember that less is more.  Every ceiling in your house doesn't need to be bedazzled.  It's nice to have a surprise around the corner.