Even if they're painted over, as in Image 2, exposed beams immediately add character to a room. They can have the charm of age, add the softness of a natural element, and bring texture to ceilings. If you work with them, you can have an effortless and not kitschy country look (Image 7). If you have more modern taste, beams will complement the clean lines and angles (Image 3) and can provide interesting contrast (Image 1).
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Images: 1. via I Suwannee 2. Design*Sponge 3. Vart Nya Hem 4. via Post and Beam Living 5. Ina & Matt 6. Design*Sponge 7. Keith Scott Morton for Country Living 8. Tanya Lacourse for Apartment Therapy 9. Lonny 10. Post and Beam Homes
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Exposed beams are one of my favorites features, ever. Ever. Right up there next to built-in bookshelves with the little rolly ladder.
Don't like 'em quite as much when they're painted, though.
I love love love these. In my future dream house I want a kitchen with all white cabinets, wood beams and a butcher's block countertop. (For some reason wood in the ceiling and counters seems so much better than wood tone in the actual cabinets.)
Fantastic selection of various interiors with exposed beams. I've got them in the 18th C part of my house and they are certainly one of the best features. Thanks for showcasing these.
Gorgeous images. I love the look of exposed wood beams
Wood beams are what made my husband and I fall in love with the place we live in now. They totally gave the place a beachy relaxed feeling.
We just bought a house in downtown JC, when we tore out our existing kitchen we found beautiful wood beams which we wanted to leave exposed. However our architect told us that they wouldn't pass a fire inspection unless we used a super toxic paint which meets the fire standards. Has anyone else run across this problem? Should I get a second opinion? Also we did not want to have to paint them ...
Exposed beams are very attractive. They're uncommon around here, perhaps because having to build to resist high wind means alternate construction techniques are preferred.
We have exposed beams in our living room, but a previous homeowner painted them white. I so wish they were natural again, but I'm not gonna get up there and do it :(
Re the fire hazards involved in exposing ceiling beams in the kitchen... YES, I just ran into the same problem. A fire marshall advised me that my homeowner's insurance would not pay out on a claim if there was a fire in the kitchen, because a standard ceiling acts as a fire barrier to the floor above. So I left my kitchen ceiling intact, but I had beams installed underneath. Yes, it's redundant, and I did not gain the additional ceiling height I had hoped for, but I did get my beams and they look great.
I have a small kitchen (10 x 12), so I used four 12-ft beams which I got at Home Depot for very cheap.
what kind of sofa is that in the first pic?
WoW!! I am in love with the collection you have!! <3 - Let me know your opinion on this image http://www.woodlandbeam.com/wp-content/gallery/silverleaf/box-beams-on-vaulted-celing.jpg here fan seems it made from beams :D lol