Optical tricks

In the blog post about the Antwerp house of Vincent van Duysen, we consulted the use of venetian blinds in order to make the huge windows less high. This optical trick is to apply for high ceilings as well.  The room with the white shelves has been painted green. This green gives a fresh look combined with the white of the cushions and the red of the upholstered chairs and lamp shade. The ceiling beams have been plastered white as well. The plastering overflows the walls for another 30 centimeters that results in an optical trick of floating ceilings. This image gives the spectator the idea of a bigger space.

The same sort of trick has been done in this New York hotel room. The ceiling and walls have been plastered in the same color. In order to make the ceiling ‘float’ a white ledge has been applied 50 centimeters from the ceiling.

If you are planning to use this optical trick ,applied to the green room; we advise you to start painting the ceiling and the overflow to the walls. If you’ve checked the results and you have approved them, then it is wise to continue with the walls. If the results do not impress you, you can always repaint the overflow in the color of the walls. The same counts for the application of the ledge. Start painting the ceiling and the overflow until the height of the planned application of the ledge. Then paint the walls and stop at 15 centimeters below the height of the application of the ledge. If you like the results you can apply the ledge; if not you will continue painting the gap in the color of the walls.

The photo of the green room is from an old edition of Marie Claire Maison. The one from the room of the Herald Hotel in New York is taken by Emilie Verbeek.