Exposed Beams??

OK so we are closing on Friday on a circa 1960s house. It has paneling everywhere Y UK but it also has beams on the ceiling. Now DH and I said immediately coming down. BUT it seems like everyone we talk to says they love them and to keep them? Am I crazy here? SO to keep the beams or not lemme know what you think. FYI we will be decorating in a very modern contemporary style.

Re: Exposed Beams??

yeah, that's the problem. I have similar tastes as you do (super modern.... we have practically no wood furniture and our favorite furniture store is design within reach) What normal buyers love is simple NOT what we love (beams, crown mouldings, built-in shelving, most traditional 'updated' kitchen cabinetry, and including most home sale toss-ins like ceiling fans and draperies).

I think if you want to sell any time soon, you might want to leave the beams 'as is'. I don't think it's as much of a conflict with modern design as crown moulding, built-ins, or a traditional front door with etched glass...

If you were to dry wall over them, you'd be lowering the ceiling, which isn't that great of a look either...

conversely, if you intend to stay for a few decades, you could paint them... Some of them likely are structural, so you might have difficulty removing them.

On the flipside, beams are a very 'retro' look... you could play-up the 60's aspect of them, and fill the room with knoll furniture

Message edited 5/12/2009 6:17:01 PM.

Re: Exposed Beams??

Message edited 11/28/2011 9:13:22 PM.

Re: Exposed Beams??

funny story. we just closed on a shagadelic house and it has beams in the kitchen. We were standing in the kitchen, 10 minutes after the walk through and DH decided to feel the beam to see if it was glued up or nailed up. We the thing was styrofoam! It wasn't even a real wood beam. It looked like the real thing, it didn't occur to us to inspect it when we looked at the house - we were shocked it was foam Needless to say, it came down VERY easily, LOLOL.
So check your beams, it may not be as hard to take down as you think. And for resale value, if the rest of your house is Mod, then the beams will just look completely off.

Message edited 5/12/2009 6:55:29 PM.

Re: Exposed Beams??

My parents had exposed beams in their house and they just cut sheet rock and enclosed the beam only and painted...it was better than looking at the dark wood beam since it couldnt be removed.

Re: Exposed Beams??

I think painting them is a great idea. I am always worried about taking fixtures down and ripping the ceiling or the wall, causing more damage then you intended. Painting them the same color as the ceiling will go a long way toward making them less noticeable and it should be pretty cheap and easy!

Oh by the way, congrats and good luck at your closing!

Re: Exposed Beams??

Posted by Elbee

funny story. we just closed on a shagadelic house and it has beams in the kitchen. We were standing in the kitchen, 10 minutes after the walk through and DH decided to feel the beam to see if it was glued up or nailed up. We the thing was styrofoam! It wasn't even a real wood beam. It looked like the real thing, it didn't occur to us to inspect it when we looked at the house - we were shocked it was foam Needless to say, it came down VERY easily, LOLOL.
So check your beams, it may not be as hard to take down as you think. And for resale value, if the rest of your house is Mod, then the beams will just look completely off.

Re: Exposed Beams??

if they were foam, I'd definitely keep them in their shagadelic glory

What was our parents generation thinking

Message edited 5/13/2009 2:01:51 PM.

Re: Exposed Beams??

I guess I could try to live with them for a while. So annoying the whole house needs updating but I guess thats why we could afford it ha ha

Re: Exposed Beams??

Here are some pics I found with beams and modern furniture. I would say, live with it for a little while and see if you still like them there. Ceiling are a b*tch to repair after you take something like this down. Of course you could hire someone to fix all the ceilings after you take them down. And like the OP said, they could be faux.

I think the beams could make the space seem lofty feeling, depending the the layout of the house.






Link to last photo

GL!

Message edited 5/14/2009 10:28:20 AM.