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Decorating wall expanses can be a tall order
John O’Connell
Copley News Service
Great rooms with walls rising two or more stories can give a home a
feeling of grandeur. But those tall walls can turn into a headache for a
homeowner when it comes to decorating.
Making rooms with lofty, cathedral ceilings cozy and welcoming can be a
challenge.
“In the last five or 10 years, new homes with great rooms and cathedral
ceilings have really grown in popularity,” said Marianne Bibo-Russel, an
interior designer and owner of Bibo Gallerie in Peoria, Ill. “But those
high ceilings can intimidate some people when they go to decorate.”
The biggest mistake people make is trying to do too much, Bibo-Russel
said.
“People have a tendency to try and fill up every space with art pieces,”
the interior decorator said. “You want to make a statement, but you
don’t want to fill the entire wall. People will hang 10 small pictures
on a wall, when one or two large pieces would look much better.”
Several years ago, interior designer Donna Quinn of Yardley, Pa.,
recognized the challenges larger walls presented to her clients. She
started Tall Walls Inc. to deal with the decorating dilemma. Her company
specializes in large-scale artwork-like paintings or tapestries,
oversized furniture, special lighting fixtures and numerous accessories
designed to complement tall walls.
“If you do nothing, a big, bare, white wall will look extremely cold,”
Quinn said. “They have to be decorated so as not to look cold and
overwhelming.”
Old Victorian homes typically have tall ceilings, but nothing to the
extent that are seen in new home construction, Quinn said. In new homes,
walls can go from the floor to ceiling in one expanse of more than 24
feet.
“That brings a whole new meaning to tall walls,” she said. “It’s
commonplace now for middle-class people to be living in grand spaces.”
In decorating a tall wall, begin with color, Quinn said. Color can be
dramatic and comforting in a large room with lots of wall space.
“Color draws the eye,” she said.
Paint walls a dark color and the ceiling a few shades darker than the
walls, she recommended.
“This gives the feeling that the ceiling is closer,” Quinn said. “There
are people who love white walls. If you choose to leave them white, use
very large, bold pieces of art to create interest.”
Large pieces of artwork or a collection of smaller pieces hung together
as one unit are better than small pieces hung separately. A single theme
collection, such as a series of framed botanicals, works well, Quinn
said.
“If you have furniture like a sofa or table by the wall, the art should
be hung in relationship to the furniture,” she said.
In general, artwork should be hung so the center point of the picture or
group of pictures is at eye level. While a good guideline, there are
exceptions.
“If there is no furniture, it’s okay to center the art on the wall,”
Quinn said. “But for art that is hung higher than eye level, the image
or subject matter should be bold enough or large enough to be
appreciated.”
Above a fireplace, one large painting can make a dramatic statement,
Bibo-Russel said. This also draws attention to the focal point of the
room, which is typically the fireplace.
Interior designer Cathy Craig suggested adding crown molding to tall
walls for visual interest. But it should be very large molding, or it
won’t be effective, she adds. If beefy molding is not in the budget,
consider installing much narrower molding about 12 to 15 inches from the
ceiling line and paint that section to create a border and a feeling of
a lower ceiling.
“Victorians would use wainscoting to break up the wall and fill up the
space with wallpaper or artwork,” Quinn said. “That still can be done in
these contemporary homes.”
Choose large-scale furniture for rooms with tall walls. In comparison,
standard-size furniture and standard-size art will only emphasize the
disproportion in scale in a very spacious room, Quinn said.
“Dainty Queen Anne styles are quaint but they are going to feel lost in
a room with soaring ceilings,” she said. “Tall armoires, bookcases and
oversized couches will work better in a room with tall walls.”
Unless “properly grounded,” furniture can appear to float, the designer
added. “A large area rug with rich tones will help ground the furniture
to the floor.”
On her Web site, www.tallwallsinc.com, Quinn offers a number of
decorating tips. Among them are:
Add texture. Especially in monochromatic color schemes, texture adds
visual interest and depth to rooms. Use materials like metal, grass and
wood, along with fabrics and glass, and watch how the room comes alive.
Instead of just using framed prints, choose multidimensional sculptures
and mixed media objects of art to create a more stimulating environment.
And when you do choose framed prints, look for unusual frames and
matting to create texture and depth.
u Accessorize. No room is complete without the right accessories. This
is the jewelry of the room. Show restraint when accessorizing a room.
Remember, less is truly more.
If it’s not a wonderful piece, then lose it. Tall walls need tall
accessories. Create vertical interest with objects that reach for the
ceiling. Choose fabulous candlesticks, chunky vases and tall plant
stands to bring elegance to the room. |
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larger view
ALWAYS PRIME BEFORE
you begin painting to ensure a smooth, professional finish.
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