CasaSugar

Guess What This Ceiling Was Made From?

CasaSugar — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 05:30:38 -0700

Texas-based self-taught carpenter, electrician, and plumber Dan Phillips builds low-income houses out of salvaged items, in an effort to prove that attractive, affordable housing is possible. Here, he's used thousands of small wooden pieces to create the ceiling for one of his projects. Can you guess what they are?

Midday Muse: Painted Ceilings

CasaSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:00:40 -0700

Think outside of the blanc. Put down your Benjamin Moore Decorator's White, and opt for color on your ceiling instead. You may think you're playing it safe by leaving yours white, but you're actually just ignoring the potential there.By painting your ceiling a pale hue of a cool color, such as green or blue, you will visually lift the ceiling, since those colors recede, instantly making a small room feel larger. Conversely, painting a dark hue of a warm color will visually lower the ceiling, since those colors procede, making a large room feel smaller or any room just feel more intimate. The ceiling of this vast room was painted an oceanic blue, extending and brightening it, giving it almost an aquarium quality. Are your ceilings painted? Have you considered painting them? How about wallpapering them?
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Does Your Home Have Soaring Ceilings?

CasaSugar — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:30:26 -0700

I've been looking for the perfect pendant or chandelier for my living room for a while now, but since our home's ceilings are only 10 feet tall, I've had to compromise on size. What I wouldn't give for gorgeous, soaring ceilings in my home! Besides adding a sense of drama, they also add airiness to a home.

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Do You Have a Ceiling Rose?

CasaSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:00:46 -0700

A ceiling rose is a round, ornamental decorative element affixed to the ceiling from which a chandelier or pendant is suspended. They're common in historical Victorian and Edwardian homes (especially in the UK), but they can easily be added to new homes. And so long as your home isn't super modern, they look elegant and relevant with many styles of design. Do you have one?

Photo by Graham Atkins-Hughes

Cool Idea: Ceiling Medallion Light

CasaSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:00:48 -0700

Switzerland-based product design consultancy Life Goods designed the Ceiling Light, which mimics the shape of a traditional ceiling medallion. I've always loved ornate ceiling medallions, so it's refreshing to see the design take on a different function. The design doesn't seem to be in production, but I'll be the first to get my hands on the clever luminary if it ever is. There aren't too many good-looking ceiling lights out there, and there are thousands of rental apartments ridden with eyesore ceiling lights, so I'd love to see this sold at an affordable price point. It's also just a great alternative to a chandelier; it may not dangle down from the ceiling with crystal stones but it's still a glamorous piece. What do you think?

Ask a Professional: I Need a New Ceiling Lamp!

CasaSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:30:24 -0700

Hi Casa,

I'm in desperate need of help. I'm redecorating my living room and need to find a cool ceiling lamp fixture. There is one annoying condition: the lamp has to have a pull cord because the fixture is not attached to a light switch. I'm really loving the French/modern look right now. Any recommendations you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Chi

For this question, I consulted Jeff Smith, who owns and operates EarthFirst Electric, an environmentally conscious electrical company in San Francisco. To see his answer, read more.

Hi Chi,

Yes, there is an option for you! There are wireless switches that can control your fixture. It would be to your advantage to choose a fixture that has a fair amount of canopy space - i.e. the part of the fixture that covers the ceiling. Ideally, it works well if you have enough space that you could fit a deck of cards between the fixture canopy and the wire junction box in the ceiling (the box that holds the wires for the fixture). The box in the ceiling receives a radio frequency signal from the wireless switch, eliminating the need for the pull cord. Wireless switches range in price from 50-200 dollars. The more expensive ones allow for dimming capacity.

If you're based in the SF Bay Area, you can contact me for more information.

Good luck,

Jeff

Thanks for the information, Jeff! To add my two cents, Chi, I've found some pretty pendant lamps and ceiling fixtures that might just work for your style, and here's one of those wireless fixtures that Jeff mentioned. I hope these help. I chose some fixtures that were in the French/modern category, and others that would be the easiest, and most practical, to implement if you follow Jeff's smart advice. There are other pendants that would need some rewiring in order to accommodate them, but luckily you have an electrician who already knows your issue, and who's on the job!

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Good, Better, Best: Island-Inspired Ceiling Fans

CasaSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 08:25:38 -0700

When CasaSugar reader Sumnboutme bookmarked a gorgeous ceiling fan as part of the seaside cottage Casa Craving challenge, I was inspired to go on the hunt for two more island-inspired ceiling fans to round out a Good, Better, Best. These easy, breezy fans would work well with Caribbean-style decor or minimalist, natural elements.

Good: I love the angled blades on this light and airy Hampton Bay 4-Blade Fan with Bahama Beige Finish ($199).

Two even better islander ceiling fans, so read more

Better: Sumnboutme's pick was the Mandalay Bahama Beige Ceiling Fan ($330) with palm-frond like blades that emanate a simple elegance.

Best: More formal but just as tropical, the Tommy Bahama Marine Teak Ceiling Fan ($515) echoes the look of a luxurious wooden boat.

Casa Quickie: Reverse Your Ceiling Fan's Direction

CasaSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:00:27 -0800

If you live in the northern hemisphere and haven't yet switched the direction of your ceiling fan's blades, now's the time to do so. You want to make sure that the blades' direction is switched from moving in a counterclockwise direction to a clockwise direction.

To do so, just flip the switch at the base so that the blades rotate clockwise (that's when you're looking up at it from below). By switching your fan's rotation seasonally, you can save 10-15 percent on your heating bill and as much as 40 percent on your cooling bill in the Summer. Plus, it will help to make Winter feel a little bit cozier.

Source: Flickr User Maricel Cruz

Love It or Hate It? Tin Ceiling Tile Headboard

CasaSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:15:36 -0700

I recently spotted tin ceiling tiles used as a headboard in the portfolio of photographer Aimee Herring, and fell in lust! I've always found intricate, tin tiles particularly beautiful, and have thought about using them as a backsplash in my kitchen, but never in the bedroom. It probably doesn't make for the most comfortable headboard when you're sitting up reading at night. And some of you may say it's just not your style. What do you think?
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How-To: Keep Cool With Your Ceiling Fan

CasaSugar — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:00:31 -0700

Trying to beat the heat this month? Good news: Your ceiling fan can help. While it won't help on the most brutally hot days, by reversing your ceiling fan's blade direction, you will be pushing cool air down, circulating it through the house. To find out how to do it, read more.

Shut off your ceiling fan, and make sure the wall switch is in the off position as well.
Standing on a chair or stepstool, find the directional toggle switch.
Flip the toggle switch into its opposite position until it clicks.
Turn the fan on again.
Check to see which direction the blades are spinning. For the Summer, the fan blades should spin counter-clockwise. If the fan's blades are running in the wrong direction (clockwise), then stop the fan again and reset the toggle switch.
Can you feel a breeze while standing directly beneath the fan? Perfect. Then your fan is set for the Summer!

Crystal Flower Ceiling Fixture - $300.00	Innermost Peony Shade - $120.00
Abby Ceiling Fixture - $299.00	Bowman Flushmount - $89.00
Ceiling Drum Clip Shade - $39.00	Scalloped Medici Clip-On Shade - $39.00
Scalloped Linen Clip-On Shade - $39.00	Galbraith & Paul - Large Funnel Pendants - $480.00
Ceiling Fixture - $525.00	Verde Pendant Lamp - $168.00
Roost Crochet Pendant Lamps - $190.00	Lights Up! Meridian Jumbo Pendant Lamps - $590.00
Mibo Rhosilli Dark Large Table or Pendant Shade - $116.00	Artecnica Midsummer Light - $84.00