Exposed Ceiling Beams

One of the design considerations that can make a room particularly appealing is the ceiling treatment.  It influences the the whole character of the room, just as the sky influences the mood of a garden.  I love a beautiful ceiling in any room, and I've been collecting ceiling ideas for a while. There are so many wonderful ways to play with that space.  My first fun ceiling was covered with clouds for my daughter's childhood bedroom. 

Lately, I'm really drawn to unpainted beams.
 



 

This is a latilla ceiling. 
The spaces between the viga supports are filled with sticks.

The texture is wonderful!  I think the feeling of being enclosed by a simple hand-made shelter can be as warming as an open hearth.

 



 

Even artificial beams, like the example above, can evoke that rustic charm.

 

These more polished beams are beautiful with the saltillo tiles and simple white walls.
Notice how they work with the exposed supports over the windows and door?

 

It's important for rustic beams to look as if they might actually be supporting something,
rather than just stuck on.

 

 

 More elegant rooms feature ceilings as beautifully crafted as a piece of fine furniture.

I found inspiring examples of unpainted wooden ceiling around the globe.

Here are just three:

Italy

 

France

 

Sweden



The last photo is also Sweden, white-washed, but I love this room.
That said, it would have been richer if the beams were limed, instead of dead white.

 

I found these images here:
epicroadtrips.us
aicmillworks.com
gmagoldie.hubpages.com
fabulousandsplendid.blogspot.com
housebeautiful.com
architecturaldigest.com
snuut.com
ambienceimages.com
fourthfloorwalkup.com