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Ceiling treatments

Don’t worry you needn’t be stuck with that old acoustic ceiling. Here’s a brief survey of the alternatives.
Open it up. If your one-story house has an attic or crawl space above, you may be able to remove ceiling joists or add more widely spaced beams and forgo the ceiling material. Track lights and hanging pendants are useful accompaniments. You’ll need to finish off the underside of the roof decking, either with tongue-and-groove wood planks or with drywall and paint. And, of course, this would be the perfect time to add a skylight.

Add hollow beams. Certain home styles for example, French country incorporate patterned beams and enclosed ceiling bays (usually painted wallboard). The hollow beams are built up from 2-by lumber and molding, and provide a bonus: the inner raceways are efficient spots to hide electrical and plumbing lines or heating ducts.

Lower it. You can remedy a bumpy or worn-out surface, glaring ceiling panels, or a too-tall space in one of two ways. If there is no framework, install horizontal ceiling joists, then apply a wallboard ceiling and finish it as you wish. Over an existing ceiling, you can nail 1-by furring strips, then add wallboard.
Size up the soffits. An open soffit between wall cabinets and ceiling can house up lighting to "lift" a ceiling. Or enclose the area with wallboard or molded plaster, perhaps extending the soffits past the cabinet fronts and adding recessed downlights.
Remember that wood crown or cove moldings can help dress up any ceiling soffit.

Windows & skylights
After years of timidly testing the balance between the need for privacy and the desire for a view, bathrooms are now taking advantage, in earnest, of available light and sights.
Need to add light? Here are four basic strategies for lightening up without baring all:
• Rise above your neighbors. Put¬ting the bath near the top of your house can give you both panorama and privacy.
■ Annex a view and enclose it. Convert a portion of your landscape to create a low-maintenance view garden. Deep overhangs can cut direct glare; an encircling wall can en¬sure privacy.
■ Install an openable skylight. Roof windows let in light and make a space feel roomier. When open, sky¬lights exhaust stale air and moisture.
■ Maximize light and edit the view. You can combine glass in different forms (panels, blocks) and finishes (clear, translucent) to bring in more light and view while still protecting personal privacy. Generally, transparent materials are suitable above chin height of the tallest occupant. But check the heights and locations of neighbors’ windows.
What units are out there? Windows, available in many styles, may be wood, aluminum, vinyl, or steel. Vinyl- or aluminum-clad wood windows and all vinyl windows require little maintenance.
Though you can have a skylight custom-made, there is also a wide range of prefabricated units. Some can be opened, by motor or by hand a big plus for ventilation.
If there’s space between the ceiling and roof, you’ll need a light shaft to direct light to the room below. It may be straight, angled, or splayed.