A Notch Up - the ceiling

I love to add interest to ceilings a la some of the pictures in my post: All Taped up. But my favorite is this one that I painted and decoupaged in my dining room. I would have loved to repeat something similar in the family room remodel but the ceiling is rough plaster and you need a smooth surface to do painted techniques...so, I was a bit stumped? Than an idea struck!

I sent away for these. And this is what I did. First I put up a very inexpensive molding leaving a 24 inch border. The border was painted the same color as the walls; the center of the ceiling was painted white. This lends an amazing visual effect, adding dimension and depth, creating the effect of a recessed ceiling. This was nice but I have always wanted a ceiling with decorative plaster accents and this was my chance!

First, I applied rope trim around the molding to give a touch of color and finish off the edges. Rope trim is a wonderful way to add definition between contrasting paint colors in older houses where walls and ceilings aren't straight. Then in each corner I applied a decorative onlay - easily glued on, spackled and painted the same white as the rest of the ceiling.

Here is the before...(this picture was taken before I painted  the ceiling border the in the wall color)



And here are...the afters

I am very pleased with the results. Actually, doing the ceiling was easy; the hard part was trying to take these pictures! (I so want a wide angle lens) I hope you like it and it has inspired you to do something creative with your, "fifth wall": your ceiling.

Resources:  Crown-molding.com

                   Trimsplus.com