New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-21
TIE SUMMER COTTAGE.
CEILINGS WITH BEAMS. WHICH ARE NOT EXPEN.
SIVE

CEILINGS WITH BEAMS. WHICH ARE NOT EXPEN.
sIvE
The fashion. now often insisted on by architects.
~, exp1sing the beams of the ceiling so as 10 show
h construction OF the door above instead o. cover
ing them wlth m undecOratve coat 81 plaster IS
,,ininr favor. Many of the new country cottages
are finished in this way. 1t IS an expensive way OF
treating 4 cei.ins bat II is artistic The picturesque
ceilings Of Old We're generally formed Of hardwood
beams In thu quaint Ens!sh houses that nave
stool for centuries the construction is visible on the
outside rs WEI a. the inside. The corner posts and
All fh. frame are OF the hardest oak, turned DlacA
with tho seasons and the house Is filed IN between
with plaster. : mc efforts have been made to con-
-;rUct cottages q this kind in this country Du'
they are very expensive. and must be- bGlt uhHer
t supervision Of careful and intelligent archltec
for the average builder would treat with contempt
any one who should propose such an "outandish
plan to MIN. So that the majority OF those wao may
have desired 20 build I'm this way nave hal 10 con-
tent themselves with stained shingles ana clap
boards. wiki a pretentiOdS mousse III DITCH VI
stone ANY Of vs. however. can have the beams OF
the ceilings exposed and finished of at but IttIe
more expense than that required by the ordinary
method % covering with plaster. There has been a
sort OF theory IN times past that this method OF mn
shing the ceiling was suitable Only for dinng-roomS
ana halls There j. special reason for sucA the
Org. In some OF the prettiest cottages DelhS ouHt
Law the entire construction OF tIl' HUI dD'NN -
.xroscl 10 view from the floor below, in the dining
room AS well as in the d.ning-room and hall. The
kitchen Is left with plastered ceiling. because II Is
not desirable. to have detail in thoroughly utili-
tartan A ROOM tie first absolute essential OF which
is absolute cleanliness
Where the beams thus exposed in the ceiling
there should be- a layer OF deaden!ng AZ least two
inches thick next below the floor above In all the
best houses. the floors are double with usually an
extra deadening Of heavy paper between them, SO
chat there is very little chance that the sound or
footsteps may be- heard through such floor In
the average house where the floor beams are two by
SIX there will bee a beam OF four inches depth, after
the two inches Of deadening have been pat in below
the moor This beam Is cased. In house OF low
ceilings the cased beam should be about four inches
IN depth IN wi lth. 10 give good eitect IN
n ar.Cr house they must be proc r onately larger.
The simplest way OF preparing such ceiling IN .
lumber and cover the Joints OF the casing which
NAV appear on the face with a pretty. HAT beading
These tine headings are very much used to-day ana
are known among decorators as classic headings"
Among dealers who handle them they cost as much
as four five cents in the round. FOR applcaton
10 the ceiling they must be sp, or ripped 10 use
The builders term. They may be purchased ripped"
at "a somewhat higher price. II the purchaser is in
fh sn anf to 2end d To handle thousand ieet
he may purchase them from the MANUFACTURER at
The inch and the seven-eishths moudings Of this
kind quartered make charming finish for me edge
OF beams which are Casei 70 ieiVe 4 Irlams Lar
space for them giving the effect or beam with or
mental The long beams necessary 10 me
construction of the house generally supplement-.
ed hv cross beams. dividing the ceiling into panels
These panels may be square. or square panels may
the beams picturesque il remains TO decide upon the
uling OF the panels or the decorations or the CELL
ings inside them. Sometimes these panels are Sue
cessflv lecora ted with the brush IN c0nycatOn2I-
lied designs. These pictures are properly done on
TAPESTRIES and sometimes linen burlaps. whlch
go under the same name. heavier materlal can.
not he properly stretched into place. Decorations OK
this Kind need 10 be painted with the greatest care
or they may suggest the millinery palace rather
than the home. The pretty raised japanese papers
which come in cream and gold and in other delicate
cOors offer an excellent paper for a ceiling where
the beams are finished in cream-white enamel or a
delicate light wood. Dark, heavy ceilings may be
appropriate enough for baronial mansions, but are
10 be avoided in the cottage where the ceiling Is
low IL Is fatal error 10 make the celnS darker
than the rest OF the room.
The craze for using natural woods everywhere Is
certainly the wane, and some or the prettiest
cottages are now painted IN enamel finish 10 har-
| lnonize with the prevailing color chosen for inc
room There is reason why ceiling finished In
| natural pine should not look we'll II the side walls
are kept da rker. All Of elaborate mouldlngs on
simple in decoration The beading suggested serves
/ q double purpose. however IL would cost considera-
bly, more in the wOrkman's time 10 make every joint
of the ceiling practically Invisible than these bead
ings cost, and II would require the work II an ex-
ceponally skilled and careful nlsher. by covering
the less perfect joints Of an ordinarily good carpen.
ter, we save all this expense. Rosettes are some.
times put on the beams where the panels cross but
| they not necessary There are various raised
| papers which are suitable enough for the panels OF
| the ceiling. and are less expensive than japanese
'