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A Coffered Ceiling & Media Room

Concept to completion: Having vision is half the battle

Like a lot of high-end jobs I work on, I’m sworn to secrecy about the clients. All I can say is, this job was on a pristine 7-acre waterfront property on Long Island’s Gold Coast, overlooking Connecticut and the Long Island Sound. The main house is about 7500 sq. ft. of new construction. It’s a to-die-for spot—the view was breathtaking. Even working on this job was incredible. The funny part is how I landed the work.

(Note: Click any image to enlarge. Hit the "back" button on your browser to return to article.)

Several contractors had been up to the house, but none of them would trim a colossal oval ceiling recess, 35 feet up in the air—built up with all flex moldings.

I was recommended to the client by the local molding and millwork distributor—a friendship I’ve nurtured (to my great advantage) for many years. After several meetings, I really hit it off with the clients—they were impressed with my portfolio (created using iPhoto on my laptop during the slower winter months—money and time well spent!).

These days, I’ll admit that I try not to say “No” to anything, but I accepted this job based on the possibility of much more finish work coming my way, and the creative freedom the client allowed me.

That strategy has paid off: I’ve been working on this job, on and off, for nearly 2 years. The media room, where I installed a coffered ceiling, has been the largest onsite project to date. We’ve also installed custom-raised paneling in the entry, fabulous doorways, over a thousand feet of crown, base and chair rail, with custom mahogany & ipe details, curved stair treads, ceiling panels, wall panels, parquet floors, and niches of all sorts. We’ve even done some custom tile work because the clients felt we were more meticulous than any other contractors working on the project—they felt more comfortable with us doing the work.

Design

I’ve always been a visual builder. I’m not very good with CAD or SketchUp. But I like to offer options to my clients and include them in the decision making process. Ironically, the subject, “How to include your client in their own project” wasn’t a part of the curriculum when I was an architecture student.

The only thing my client knew was that he wanted a coffered ceiling. Of course, in his mind it was really simple, right? Just nail a 2x to the ceiling and build down from there. Use some of the baseboard we already had on the job; add some crown molding. But I’ve been around long enough to know you don’t bite that kind of bait.

To get a better understanding of what he had in mind, and to show him more possibilities, I put together some simple mock-ups made from MDF and scrap crown we had on site (see photo, right). Whetting his appetite was a good strategy. He wanted depth and drama; I needed precise details and measurements. In the process we designed a ceiling he was very pleased with, something he’d never seen before.

We worked through the mock-ups, changing moldings and proportions, and finally narrowed the design down, coming up with profiles that looked right together. One primary reason the final design rang true to the house was because we used a highly detailed crown and casing—the same patterns that we used throughout the home.

While the patterns looked good on the ceiling, the walls needed a different treatment, a break in the thread. I wanted the walls to be sleeker—not as deep, but to share the same symmetry and balance of the ceiling. Numerous issues were overcome in preliminary layout stages as the room wasn’t square, or even a simple rectangle; the windows and mullions on opposite ends of the room were not centered; plus the closet and a corner fireplace made for some interesting challenges. At the very least, I knew I’d have to extend the closet into the room a bit more to give the ceiling more symmetry.

Symmetry

Floor plan of the room. Click to enlarge.

And symmetry was one of the biggest challenges on this job! The room—from the windows to the doors to the fireplace—was laid out without a coffered ceiling in mind, of that much I’m sure. Under the circumstances, I did my best. I started by centering a beam on the door, figuring that was a critical center point. Unfortunately, that beam just caught the edge of the opposite window! I also centered a beam on the side window to the left of the door, but that meant it didn’t fall on center of the opposite window—no, of course they weren’t installed symmetrically! From there I tried to divide the room as equally as possible, landing a beam on the corner intersection to the left of the door, which miraculously aligned with the pop-out of the fireplace to the right. All-in-all, I thought it was more chicken salad than the opposite.

The Moldings

There’s a base molding in my neck of the woods that we nicknamed “the pregnant lady.” The profile has a bulbous top and a projecting lower area. We used this baseboard throughout the home in a 7 1/2-in. size. I used the same molding for the bed molding—the sides of the beams—in each of the coffers, as well as the bed molding for the surrounding walls in the room. Then I chose a crown pattern that fit with the baseboard/bed molding, which resulted in a properly-proportioned beam with good reveals.

I’ve installed coffers with completely flat, as well as the traditional, U-shaped beams, and with 1/2-in. and 3/4-in. reveals on the bottoms. But on this job, neither one appealed to me. Earlier during the job, in the master bedroom, we created a non-traditional look for the entryway by casing the doors with a large crown profile. We installed the crown between the casing and a deep paneled backband.

Because the whole thing projects almost 6 in. from the wall, I decided to build the deep "backband" into a panel, using the actual backband molding for the front stile.

We installed the White River lambs tongue casing first, then used the CM8856 Crown on top of the casing. The crown actually terminates on the flat of the backband, just before the profile begins.
Because the backband is only 5/8 in. thick, I used 5/8-in. stock to assemble the narrow panel. To secure the 1/4-in. flat panel, I added triangular backing at critical locations.

 

I liked that detail and thought it would be a nice change, something you rarely see on a coffered ceiling. The backband added depth and a nice mitered detail on the bottoms of the beams, and it provided a tight termination—without any reveal—for the inverted baseboard. To make the beam width easy, we used a stock 1×6 for the beam bottoms.

Of course, we built mockups so that we’d have exact measurements for laying out the ceiling and walls, and we made sure the customer approved the design before we proceeded. In this example, our client wanted to “see” the difference between using the backband molding at the bottom of the beam or dropping the sides of the beams. If I had to do this over again, I might try and find a backband that measured a full 3/4 in. thick. Because the material was only 5/8 in. thick, we had to re-saw backing for the whole ceiling (see below).

Click to enlarge

But laying out the beams was only half the preparatory work. The walls would be paneled and toped with crown molding, too, and in some cases the crown would break forward, requiring additional soffit depth at the ceiling.
While our final mock-up didn’t include those popouts, I made sure to calculate that extra depth into the perimeter soffit.
I laid out all the corners, too, both the inside and the outside corners, just to be sure we’d have room for every layer of molding.

The Install

We took measurements from the mock-ups and chalked grid lines throughout the ceiling.

 

We checked the ceiling for flatness quickly, using a rotary laser level, and found few problems. We included a good reveal between the crown and the baseboard—minor dips or bellies wouldn’t show, so we didn’t even bother to string or shim the beam bottoms.

After snapping out the lines, we calculated how many U-shaped, T-shaped, and X-shaped hollow backing pieces were needed. We cobbled together jigs on a workbench to make assembly faster—1x stops that held the pieces in place while we assembled the hollow backing.

Because I don’t have a shop, all my work is done onsite. On this job, we were fortunate enough to work in the project room all winter. To keep accuracy up and dust down, we used the Festool Kapex miter saw and vacuum on a custom-made table.

All the beam joints were glued and spliced with 1/4-in. MDF splines for strength. We used a 1/4-in. slot-cutter in a router and ripped 1/4-in. MDF to 1 1/8-in. strips for splines. Not knowing who would be finishing the woodwork, we sanded all the flat stock down to 180 grit prior to installation. Before installing any of the running molding, we skinned the ceiling with 1/4-in. birch, which made it very easy to cut and fit.

Coping or Mitering?

The crown on this job was predominately coped. Why? It was easier for me, especially after I tried to preassemble several coffers and it just wasn’t working. Don’t ask me why, but coping the baseboard and crown was much easier, especially after I picked up a Copemaster coping saw.

Bill Shaw (copemaster.com) was kind enough to invite me to his shop and give me a crash-course on how to use the machine. I’d seen it at several building shows and thought it was just too expensive. When I saw one advertised locally by a retiring contractor for half the retail price, I jumped on it, and, man, am I glad I did.

With some quick math, I knew how many “long” left hand copes and how many “short” left hand copes I needed for the entire job. I first butt-cut all the longs and shorts. Then I flew through coping them with that miracle machine. By the time the coffers were complete, I’d even perfected the dreaded double cope. There were a few corners I mitered, especially the acute angles that were 69 or 70 degrees (measured with a Starrett protractor—another tool that works great for me since I’m not good at translating math numbers to my miter saw).

Acute Corners

We used the Kapex for nearly the entire project. The family was living in the house, and they allowed me to cut and sand everything inside the home, but we did our best to control dust. Unfortunately, the Kapex couldn’t cut everything, at least not nested in position. For the acute angles, I brought out my old and trusted Dewalt 708 sliding miter saw and a homemade acute-angle jig. With a little tweaking, the extreme miter was “butters,” as my colleagues and I like to say.

The Paneling Layout

The paneling on this job wasn’t that complicated (well…the matching “his and her” 50-in. TV screens weren’t easy), but I still mocked-up every detail, especially since the paneling intersected with the ceilings. Without mockups, there’s just too much room for error, which not only slows you down, but trips you up, too, and saps enjoyment from the job.

Mock-ups also help me sell and up-sell a customer. I am not a “sales” kind of guy, but part of my job is offering clients options, like the backband idea on the coffers. And sometimes those options help make a job more profitable. Mock-ups not only help my clients visualize a finished room, but they allow me an easy way to explore material and labor costs. I can help the customer decide which options can be done quickly and inexpensively, and which ones may take additional time, labor, and expense.

While playing with mock-ups, I try to look at everything—and I mean everything—from light switches to ceiling lights; from window and door locations to heights off finished floor; from stile reveals and flanking doors to wall outlets and heating and A/C ducts. As I tell my customers: I let the room and its characteristics speak to me, ultimately helping in my layout and design choices.

Vertical and horizontal lines are what make a good design. If a door or window has mullions or muttin bars, I try to incorporate those lines into my design. Mock-ups let me do that quickly and efficiently. Mock-ups also allow me to get final approvals from my clients. Sometimes I’ll have them sign the mock-up itself! That way, if there is any disagreement later, the mock-up becomes a great insurance policy.

His and Hers TV Screens

When my client requested his and hers matching flat-screen televisions, I thought he was kidding. But he wasn’t. Apparently, he and his wife could never agree on what to watch. I’m not a marriage counselor, I’m a carpenter, so I try to give people what they ask for!

Fortunately, the television wall was non-bearing and framed with 2x6s. Once the clients selected the specific televisions, we opened up the wall and re-framed for the matching niches, relocated AV chases, and ran the wiring and cable. Framing the openings allowed me to incorporate the two niches with the ceiling beam layout, and also allowed me to tie the niches into the wall paneling/crown molding design.

Pre-assembly wins hands down

We assembled boxes for each of the niches and installed the casing around the niches right on the walls. Yes, that’s crown molding inside each niche. We butted the stile-and-rail frames tight against the casing, which was extremely thick on the outer edge.
Most of the style-and-rail frames were pre-assembled on the floor with pockets screws. I own a Kreg Foreman which makes any pocket hole job much faster. After each frame was assembled, we’d flip it, then hit it quick with the Festool pad sander to knock down any high spots or squeeze outs.
Because the casing was so thick, we built the face frames around the casing, tightly clamping the stiles and rails to the back of the casing.

 

In some cases, like the frames around the niches, we had to split the frames and assemble them right on the wall. We used dominoes to ensure strong, well-aligned joints.

 

Anyone can hang crown, but I try to think about the design, too. I add bump outs—like speed bumps for the eyes—so people will slow down and look more closely at the scenery, instead of mashing the gas pedal to the floor and missing all there is to see. Bump outs and returns are subtle queues that reflect the care and craftsmanship I put into my jobs, details that differentiate my work from that of other carpenters.

We pre-assembled the molding on the mantelshelf using Collins Spring Clamps.

In case you haven’t guessed already, I hate doing cookie-cutter stuff. I try to add some sizzle to the steak—sometimes that’s what sells your next job. Since the mantel-shelf is the focal point of the room, I knew that adding some extra dimension would help it stand out a bit more (see photo, left).

A few years ago, I read an article somewhere about how you can make base molding look like it grew out of the wall by softening the return, using a 22 1/2-degree mitered return rather than a 45-degree miter. Ever since reading that article, I’ve been hooked on the technique. I use that detail on chair rail, crown, even base molding, because it’s an elegant, soft, and subtle way to terminate a run.

The client saw pictures of 22 1/2 degree mitered returns in my portfolio and loved it, so we used that technique throughout the house, from base to crown.
I used the same backband molding on top of the apron, which added another layer of symmetry.
I added bump outs to the baseboard, too, where I felt the runs were too long and needed a visual break. We were supplied with shorter material for that room, and the bump outs also helped us avoid splices.
Dog-leg panels made it possible to use roughly the same size panels, even around the niches.

 

Even though the height was restricted, I used the same panel-design in the hearth, to help tie the fireplace to the walls.

 

———

AUTHOR BIO

Ken Barone studied Architecture in the late ’80s. Upon graduating, couldn’t find a decent-paying job, and ended up in consumer electronics. More than 10 years passed, and after losing his father to Lou Gehrig’s disease, Ken realized something was truly missing from his life. His passion for building, designing, and working with his hands full-time, wasn’t being satisfied. After working with several “high-end” carpenters, Ken founded “Spotless Contracting Services” (http://www.spotlessgc.com/), which specializes in interior and exterior renovations.

Ken truly enjoys working with molding and trim work. His company’s tag line is: “Paying attention to every last detail,” and it shows. A true believer in education, Ken takes every opportunity to educate himself and his clients on new trends and techniques.

When Ken isn’t behind the saw, he’s thinking about being behind it, or at least what tools he can acquire for his next project. Ken can often be found helping out on friends’ projects, or even a friend of a friend’s project, giving advice and sharing techniques he’s picked up along the way.

Ken loves spending time with his wife and three young children, and takes every opportunity to be at his daughters’ dance recitals or his son’s hockey games. Occasionally, he and his wife can be found enjoying some time together riding his Harley or old convertible to the east end of Long Island’s wine country, or the beaches and restaurants of Montauk Point.

Comments/Discussion

36 Responses to “A Coffered Ceiling & Media Room”

  1. Gary Katz

    Catchy title, Ken! And great story! Thank you for contributing to the magazine!!
    Gary

    Reply
  2. Andy Clifford

    Great work Ken. I really enjoyed reading your article and glad to see you’re keeping busy.
    I too have done quite a bit of work here on the Gold Coast of LI..clients I can’t talk about either : )
    Be well neighbor..

    Reply
  3. Brooke Rush

    Ken,

    Really nice job and some very cool details. I love seeing projects where a customer still appreciates what we do. I am going to try to use some of your details.

    Keep up the great work. I hope things turn around soon and we can all get back to doing projects like this.

    Reply
  4. Charlie

    Fantastic piece of work. Great job describing the steps you took and explaining why you took them. Looks like you did a beautiful job

    Reply
  5. Michael Fenster

    Ken,
    you do such excellent work-when i am ready to use your company i will. I am very proud of your accomplishments

    Reply
  6. Brad

    Great job and an even better job of interpreting it to the page. It is good to see that quality work is still appreciated. Thanks.

    Reply
  7. Brian Cinski Jr.

    Work of the first class for sure. I liked how you made mock ups to visualize the installation.

    Brian

    Reply
  8. Joe Stoddard

    Love it- Terrific work Ken.
    Any chance of getting some final “beauty shots” of the stained and/or painted final product? I’d be interested to see how that was treated.

    JLS

    Reply
  9. Mike Hawkins

    Ken,
    Nice article and great work. I like all the little details and all the layout work thinking ten steps ahead.
    Mike Hawkins

    Reply
  10. Joseph Christman

    Your work looks great, and your approach to clients and your crew sounds even greater.
    I especially appreciate how once everything is well planned, you can then have the freedom for those “flourishes” like the bumpouts and 22.5deg returns.
    Great job, very well written article

    Reply
  11. Dean Fitrakis

    Some really nice work Ken, I saw the same quality workmanship at my sisters house, even though it wasnt on the Gold Coast. Fisrt class all the way.

    Reply
  12. Brian Earley

    Fabulous work Ken and yes equally well done description of it. Blessed to have clients who’ll allow you the creative freedom to make their world a much nicer place. Keep it up

    Reply
  13. Stef B

    Fantastic work Ken. We need more carpenters out there like you!

    Keep up the great work and inspiration!

    Reply
  14. larry haun

    Hi Ken,
    An old rough framer can still appreciate fine work. Beautiful to say the least!
    Was wondering though—are the rich a little edgy about letting us commoners know what they do with their money these days?
    Wish I could study with you. Larry Haun

    Reply
  15. Dan Apgar

    Great article. Ken that is a dream job you did there! Incredible details. I hope someday to be able to accomplish jobs of that caliber. My hat is off to you.
    That is some FINE craftsmanship.

    Reply
  16. Nicholas Davie

    Ken,
    Incredible craftsmanship! You don’t find much artistry on the job site these days. This job is simply beautiful. Thank you for sharing the story and techniques associated with it’s creation.

    Reply
  17. Lanya LaPunta

    I have to admit that I am easily impressed.

    However, this work goes exceedingly beyond impressing me.

    It totally blows me away.

    Not only do I thank you for sharing and explaining your artistry, I thank you for simply creatig such beauty.

    Reply
  18. Rebecca Fortney

    Ken–
    wow! You truly are amazing! I never realized how technical all of this is, but the finished product is beautiful! Congratulations on the article, and on the project it concerns!

    Reply
  19. Rich

    Ken,
    Truly outstanding work. Your attention to detail and perfect fit are reflective of someone who cares and really loves his work. You have a lot to offer and are a true master.

    Reply
  20. Laura Kennedy

    Kenny –
    What a great way to showcase your talent! I am so happy you are getting the recognition you deserve! Spectacular!

    Reply
  21. Kreg mcmahon

    Excellent! My hat off to you! (or should I say my bandana!). Really enjoyed the awesome details. What a great job. And that is the best kind where you can have freedom and do what you do best!!!!!

    Reply
  22. Matt Follett

    Speechless. Beautiful body of work Ken. I’m with Joe; let’s see some update photos after finishing.

    Had one logistical question. On the built up casing that protrudes ~6″, what kind of door stop system do you plan to use? I don’t even want to imagine the door bumping into that beautiful casework. Just curious on your approach. Again, truly impressed.

    Reply
  23. Rob Johnson

    Another captivating read on TiC. Very well recounted and illustrated. If only we had these kinds of projects over here (UK). I too would take Kreg McMahon’s bandanna off, but he has not yet released them on the FOG!
    A high spec job from a high spec craftsman, thankyou for sharing it, Ken.
    Rob.

    Reply
  24. Jim Houghtaling

    Ken,

    Your attention to detail is an example for all of us to follow. I really appreciate your contribution to all carpenters, new and experienced. This is the kind of project that makes us strive to be our best.

    Jim

    Reply
  25. Sarantos Gianakouros

    Ken, Its awesome to see that such craftsmanship still is going strong in a world of fast food, instant messages and cheap throw away products, great work and lessons on trim carpentry, thanks for sharing..

    Reply
  26. Greg martin

    Awesome article. Inspired me to begin taking more than just before & after pics of cool projects. The process is great info also. thanks.

    Reply
  27. Carl

    Fantastic job Ken! I am about to embark on a similar ceiling project. I noticed that your original layout is not what was in the pictures (almost full size boxes on either side of the fireplace in layout vs picture showing ~1/4 size box) . I am struggling with an odd room/ceiling layout like yours and would appreciate any final room pictures (larger view) to get a perspective.

    Thanks

    Reply
  28. Bob

    Ken,
    When will you develop a DVD for trim work and design?

    Or, you might think about a youtube site which would be less cost of producing a DVD. There already is a sight named the wood whisperer, your sight might be named after your web site, Spotless.

    Your style and installation are truly remarkable.

    Reply

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