Hello friends! The fantastic Erin from Two Story Cottage is back today with another great post. This is something I’ve really wanted her to talk about because I think she’s absolutely amazing at it. So without further ado…
Back in the days before stalking home bloggers, I was doing what every young, newly married homeowner did for inspiration. Watching repeat episodes of Trading Spaces. I dreamed of Laurie or Vern revamping a space in my home. Of course, there were some other designers that might glue Coke can tabs to my wall; is there such thing as over-creativity? Well, the show certainly knew how to make a splash. Hidden in the hideous, were many little decor gems.
One in particular? The fabulous Vern Yip saying, “Your ceiling is the fifth wall.” Huh. That stuck with me like a wad of gum on the bottom of my shoe. In those days, it was probably a well-worn Birkenstock.
My first ceiling treatment was simple. In our last home, the dining room ceiling went from builder white to a pale coastal blue. Cupid stabbed me with a paintbrush that day because the light, airy effect gave me giddy teenage heart palpatations. That house didn’t have particularly strong mouldings or character so the result was charm that I thought only came in 1940-something bungalows.
Moving happened and our new house has fancy woodwork in spades. Lovely custom details. Could a ceiling still make an impact?
You tell me.
The kitchen ceiling is probably my favorite. Everyone thinks it is paint but honestly in person it has a watercolor feel that you couldn’t get with plain ol’ Latex. Of course, paint is a lot easier to get rid of. Don’t worry – we primed before papering.
Lacey’s room has a cottage stripe wallpaper that reminds me of beadboard. The sage green subtlety gives the room the sweet feel that I desperately want to maintain until she is a tween. Then if she wants to go pink and black with peace signs and hearts puking sparkles we can negotiate.
Reid’s ceiling is simple. Bright blue paint that I second guess on a regular basis. It fits him though and it all flows. He loves his “bwue” ceiling and points it out to any and all visitors so we’ll mark it as a win.
The dining room ceiling causes me to pause every time. I have not had a single regret since the moment it went up.
So, the verdict on ceiling treatments? Your house could be a circa 2000-something ditto of every other on the block and it amps up the character or lack there- of. It could be a custom, feature-filled deal like my own and the fifth wall still makes an impact.
One word of caution – don’t do them all. Because over-decorating is for TV. And if you are on a white walls kick like most of blog world, you can amp up the feel with a punch of color on the ceiling like the above photo. 1-2-3- SWOON!
So, tell me have you done anything to your ceilings? Go, now, rock that fifth wall.
I love your ceiling choices! Just beautiful. Vern is full of good advice, isn’t he? : ) I think papering would be a nightmare to me because I would seriously jack it up, but now I am thinking my dining room ceiling could use a stencil or pop of color.
Thanks! Vern is the man. I’d love to try stenciling too! One day…
Love this post and I couldn’t agree more. I’ve painted the ceiling in several rooms in my house, the most recent in my girls room. I love what it adds to the space. http://thelittleblackdoor.blogspot.com/2013/03/one-room-challenge-reveal.html
Thanks! I LOVE your girls’ room! The pink ceiling is fab! Love the overall feel.
Your ceilings are amazing. And I love your writing. You had me laughing. Long live Birkenstocks!
Thanks!! 🙂 I still have that pair on a high shelf somewhere although they are probably disintegrating by now.
Love the look! But I did wallpaper a ceiling…. once. It looked fab but I swear it almost killed me! Someone needs to write a post on how to wallpaper the 5th wall – the easy step-by-step, no fail, paper-stays-up-first-time method. Clearly, I was doing it wrong! But I do looooooove the look.
I think it takes several people and loads of patience. I say that based on watching the guys I hired take care of it. 🙂 I don’t think I could have done it alone with paper falling etc. I do think I could do a smaller ceiling maybe. I’m impressed that you did it! I’m all for DIY when you can but this was worth the dough. I might have paid as much for a chiropractor afterward had I attempted. Or a marriage counselor . Hubby was not up for helping with that job! 🙂
abosolutely gorgeous!! Where is your dining room ceiling paper from? Hints like manufacturer and book name would help! Love it and it would look marvelous in my dining room. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you! It is from the Candice Olsen line by York. The pattern is DE8866 if that helps! The book I got it from was at Sherwin Williams.
Hope that helps!
Great! Thank you. You have such wonderful taste.
I would love to rock my 5th wall in my laundry room. Any recommendations for ceilings that are not smooth. My home was built in the 80s and has the blown ceilings.
Beadboard Wallpaper will go over most anything but I’m not an expert. I do know it will go over some uneven surfaces. Not sure how bumpy your ceiling are. Wish I could be of more help to you!
Love your ceilings! I like anything on the ceiling except the dreaded cottage cheese look, which we remedied in our last home by scraping, then putting up beaded board wallpaper. No one was the wiser. I also love planked ceilings and plan to have them in our new home, currently under construction. And the kitchen ceiling will be painted blue 🙂
We haven’t done a single thing to our ceilings. I love the look of them, and I think anyone who tries it is super brave and the opposite of boring. Me? I’m figuring out that I might just be boring in the ceiling decorating category.
I’m the one still trying to commit to window panels. Loooooong sigh. I’ll get there! promise.
L.O.V.E. your ceilings! In our lake house bathrooms, we (well, my husband) hung wide-plank bead board from Lowe’s then trimmed with crown molding. Each bathroom ceiling is painted a color while the molding and walls are white. Stunning and everyone comments on them! Btw, where did you get your hopscotch rug? Absolutely adorable 🙂