Cofferred Ceilings - The 5th Wall

Let’s get away from boring white flat ceilings. Ceilings do not have to only be purely functional tops to rooms they can also serve as embellished complimentary architecture. We are not talking about simple vaulted ceilings or trey ceilings, we are looking at cofferred ceilings and how they intentionally add dimension and style.

Sure cofferred ceiling have been around for a while, actually for around 2000 years where they were built to look like carved stone, but ever since the 1800’s they have served as a statement of elegance and fashion. Many of America’s greatest mansions utilize these ceilings including The Biltmore Estate and The Studebaker Mansion.

A traditional cofferred ceiling sets out a grid of boxes sunken up into the ceiling; this is also where the ceiling gets its name from. The sunken boxes can incorporate elements such as beadboard, wallpaper, or lighting.  The remaining beams, around the boxes, are many times decorated with various types of molding.

Modern day cofferred ceilings, while often times forgotten about during the designing process, take a more simplified approach their classical prototypes during the Renaissance.  They help incorporate elegant woodwork throughout a room and can also help fragment a large living area. Coffers can make ceiling appear taller, which is normally preferred, and they help to soften the acoustics and eliminate unwanted echos.
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Unfortunately even with all the benefits a cofferred ceiling can bring to a room they are often times forgotten about when determining a design with a builder or remodeler. The fifth wall of a room deserves just as much or more design consideration than the others.