Home design is looking up as companies manufacture products that make an impact on a room's sixth wall: the ceiling.

From bright copper coffered to warm wooden timbers, ceilings should emulate and complement the design elements in a home, says Lori Rowley, marketing manager of Armstrong Residential Ceilings, based in Lancaster, Pa. "People spend so much time in a house sitting and lying down that homeowners are realizing they don't have to stop decorating with just the walls and flooring," she says. "A top-notch ceiling design can bring drama or help create a light mood in a room."

Usually, ceiling standards are at least 8 feet in height, but can have vaulted details that reach up to 12 feet tall. In general, the lighter in color a ceiling is, the more open and airy a room will feel. By contrast, dark colored ceilings can make a room feel smaller and cozier.

In many homes, ceilings are blank canvases that can be decoratively painted or paneled, with a unified design aesthetic that is pleasing to the eye from top to bottom. Ceiling design is first dictated by the existing architecture, which can include a curved cove, vaulted cathedral or a recessed tray ceiling, which breaks up a flat ceiling with an inverted or recessed rectangle as a focal point.

For some, transforming an unappealing ceiling is as easy as choosing a complementary paint color to the walls, papering the ceiling with wallcovering or adding fine details, such as stenciling and crown moldings. But for other homeowners, dressing up a textured topper is a ceiling challenge.

"People want to get rid of their 1970s textured ceilings that were sprayed with particles, which resemble popcorn," Rowley says. "You don't have to scrape and paint a ceiling, when you can cover it with decorative tiles."

Armstrong has patented an "Easy Up" ceiling system, which is a suspension system for ceiling tiles that uses metal tracks secured into a home's joists. Tiles or planks are then clipped onto these metal tracks and interlocked together, which are floated right beneath the existing ceiling.

But Rowley cautions that a ceiling should be structurally sound before installing decorative tiles over it. "Ceiling tiles shouldn't be used as a 'Band-Aid' for ongoing water damage or falling plaster," she says. "You can't cover up a ceiling that's coming down."

The use of ceiling tiles is nothing new in America, when tin varieties rose to popularity around the turn of the 20th century. Today's use of ceiling tiles is topping out in below-grade applications as more homeowners use basements for media rooms, bars and "man caves."

Here are some options that will decoratively put your ceiling over the top:

-- Tin Ceiling. Traditionally, uniform shapes of thin tin were stamped with a design and snugly meshed together. For those who want their home to emulate Craftsman- or Tudor-style houses, Armstrong has the Metallaire decorative tile collection that features white, brass, warm copper-plated or reflective chrome-plated finishes. Up to $9.50 per square foot, these ceiling tiles can be used above a bar or kitchen island to create a "wow" effect.

-- Coffered Ceiling. This architectural finish is found in the stone coffers of ancient Greece. Characterized most often in square sunken panels, these ceiling tiles have a modern look that adds a sense of height to a room, says Rowley. Armstrong's decorative "mineral fiber" tiles top out at $3 per square foot and can be painted.

-- Wood Panel Ceiling. Wooden planks are precisely cut and installed side-by-side to adorn high flat or vaulted ceilings. Creating an elegant or cozy cottage feel, Armstrong's engineered pre-stained wood planks have tongue-and-groove construction and cost around $3.30 per square foot.

When choosing a decorative effect for the ceiling, also take into account the style and placement of light fixtures. From recessed cans to grand chandeliers, you can illuminate the ceiling's design by getting the light right. As a rule, the darker the ceiling, the more light you will need in the space.

In a home's great room, where the kitchen, dining room and family room share a continuous ceiling, it may be overkill to tile or panel the entire space. Instead, Rowley suggests using decorative techniques above the table or kitchen island, set off by crown molding, to create a focal point that tops it all.

"Homeowners are becoming more aware of the design possibilities of ceilings, because they are looking up," Rowley says. "People want their personal style reflected on the sixth wall of a room, because they want to live within a space, not in a box."

SOURCE

Looking up: www.armstrong.com/residential-ceilings

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com or the Universal Uclick Editorial Department at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

If you are at home near your range, there are a multitude of reasons why the stovetop has become a hot spot for gathering in today's kitchen.

"The kitchen remains the heart of the home," says Eliza Sheffield, vice president of marketing for BlueStar, a manufacturer of cooking accoutrements and ranges since 1880 in Reading, Pa. "There's a reason people say, 'hearth and home.' The 'hearth' has changed to include modern-day cooking appliances, but its importance in the home hasn't changed."

The range -- or kitchen stove -- is a stand-alone appliance comprised of four to 10 burners or cooking elements on top, with an attached oven for baking.

A recent survey by Houzz -- a home design website based in Palo Alto, Calif. -- finds that 32 percent of nearly 8,000 participants who are planning home kitchen renovations want a "chef's stove." For many, "dining out" really means "dining in," enjoying meals made on a restaurant-quality range from the comfort of their own kitchen, Sheffield says.

"People want to feel like a 'top chef' at home, and go beyond the basic range," she says. "Preparing food at home has evolved into 'cooking as theater,' where the cook is also having a social experience with family and friends."

Many homeowners feel a professional-looking kitchen is within range, due to a variety of hot options when it comes to functionality, finishes and size. Mainstream manufacturers, such as KitchenAid and Maytag, try to emulate the stainless steel designs found in the pro-grade profiles of BlueStar, Viking, Wolf and Dacor range brands.

When shopping for a range, consider your cooking and baking needs, floor space with gas/electrical outlet availability, and style aesthetic. Gas ranges allow for precisely controlled temperatures. While electric ranges don't have a flame, they also don't immediately cool down when the heat is lowered on cooking elements. An induction-style range uses an electro-magnet below a ceramic cook-top surface, which quickly transfers heat to pots and pans only.

Ranges vary in width from 24 to 60 inches, with price tags from under $1,000 to more than $4,000. Sheffield says BlueStar's 48-inch professional-style range is one of their most popular sellers, and starts at $7,600.

BlueStar's freestanding ranges are handcrafted and made of steel with up to 10 cast iron grates on top, depending on its size. More than 750 colors and finishes are available so customers can "build their own BlueStar," Sheffield says.

Many professional-grade ranges offer custom-color, textured finishes or stainless steel exteriors, with customizable knob colors. Stainless steel and metallic textured finishes can construct a contemporary culinary creation, while a rainbow of custom colors suit '50s chic- and Euro-inspired kitchens. Lilac-colored Radiant Orchid is Pantone's color for 2014, and BlueStar is set to satisfy people's purple penchant in their range options.

"Today's kitchens are floor to ceiling cabinets -- even the refrigerator is clad in cabinetry," Sheffield says. "The area surrounding the range is a place in the kitchen where homeowners can make a statement and the range can literally stand out."

Often, the range becomes a focal point of the kitchen with a larger, eye-catching backsplash on the wall between the range and the hood venting. A pot filler faucet plumbed into the wall behind the range makes this space one that really cooks, without having to leave the stovetop and go to the sink for water.

Customizable stovetops on ranges can support the way a home cook really cooks. A griddle for pancakes or charbroiler can be placed over burners, while a French top insert for simmering sauces or wok ring can lead to more global gastronomy.

Larger freestanding ranges have spacious single or side-by-side ovens, often pairing a convection heating element in a conventional oven for the uniform circulation of heat. For a baking bonanza, many of these ranges can accommodate full-size commercial baking sheets.

While an island is no longer uncharted territory in the kitchen, some homeowners opt for an industrial cooktop built into it. Instead of an integrated range, homeowners can cook on the island cooktop and bake in the wall ovens. Double wall ovens installed at eye level can offer twice the cooking capacity and generally run up to 30 inches wide. Double ovens can be ideal for occasions that require several different dishes to be cooked at the same time at different temperatures.

Modern in technology, Sheffield says these ranges also have a classic style, which inspires people to get back to their food roots in the kitchen. "People are hungry for the way their grandmothers used to cook in their kitchens," she says. "While these ranges are an investment, they are built to last and will pay dividends in good food."

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Heating up: BlueStarCooking.com, click the "Build Your Own BlueStar" link on the right.

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com or the Universal Uclick Editorial Department at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

If your home is feeling stuffed after the holidays, it's time to take stock, trim down and whip it into shape.

"Like working on personal fitness goals, getting your home organized seems to be on most persons' lists for New Year's resolutions," says Ginny Snook Scott, chief design officer and vice president of sales and marketingfor California Closets (californiatclosets.com), based in Berkeley, Calif. "Disorganization is directly correlated to stress, while an organized space can lead to a sense of calm."

The easiest way to create a Zen-like zone at home is to simply have a place for everything, and then keep everything in its place. But that can be easier said than done.

Scott says the majority of people seeking organizational assistance from professionals need help tidying bedroom closets and kitchen pantries. "Often, the parts of our homes that become the most disorganized are the places where many people use the space," she says. "Or people will just throw things into a closet and quickly close the door."

But not even an organizational guru can perform magic on a monumental mix-up without first clearing away the clutter. "The cleaning out phase is one that can cause people the most anxiety," Scott says. "Some people have difficulty starting the process of clearing out, so they can never move into the organizational phase."

Scott says to start by straightening a small space. "Pick a single task for organizing -- the hall closet, pantry or linen closet -- which can be accomplished in three hours or less," Scott says. "After you have success organizing a smaller space, you have a head of steam to accomplish the looming larger tasks, such as the master bedroom closet or garage."

Any organizational task must begin from the ground up. Get everything off the floor and, as you start to go through items, place them into one of four piles: keep, repair, discard or donate.

-- Keep: The keep pile should be filled with items you will use. But that doesn't necessarily mean you have to live with everything you keep. "Many people are sentimentalists, and don't want to get rid of everything," Scott says. "You don't have to be so quick to throw things away, but you shouldn't have to move your child's art project every time you're looking for a shirt in the closet."

Instead, Scott says, pack and move special sentimental items into a closet's extra-high storage space or into the attic.

-- Repair: The repair pile actually takes stock of items that no longer work. A broken chair that needs to be fixed might need to be discarded or donated, while one of your favorite shirts that's missing a button is a simple repair.

-- Donation: The donation pile will have items you've outgrown, which includes everything from clothing and sporting equipment to dishware and decor items. Chances are, if you haven't used an item in two years, or had forgotten about it entirely, it's time to purge it.

-- Discard: The discard pile includes items that are broken, but can also include well-worn items that used to mean something to you. "If you're having a hard time figuring out what to keep, place those items into a suitcase and store them away," Scott says. "If you haven't thought about those items in three months, it's time to get rid of them."

After culling through items in a space you want to organize, you can employ professionals, such as a local California Closets franchise, to dissect the disorganization. But be prepared to spend at least $500 for organizational services, with some projects costing thousands of dollars if customized built-in shelving and drawers are part of a revamped repository.

After clearing the clutter, Scott says there are three steps to organizing any storage space:

1. Categorize larger similar items by hanging or shelving "like" items together. Drawers and cubbies are also useful during this first step of organizing.

2. Containerize smaller items by placing them in baskets or see-through plastic cartons with lids. Then place these in the appropriate shelving unit, drawer or cubbie space.

3. Personalize by labeling shelves, containers, cubbies or drawers with their contents. This is especially helpful in a shared space, so people know where to place an item after it's been used.

Make sure to shed light on the task at hand when reorganizing a space by installing overhead track lighting or task illumination with lamps or wall sconces. "Dark closets minimize what you can see," Scott says. "And if you can't see where items go, there's a likelihood the space can go from organized to disorganized very quickly."

Creating clutter-free areas are common sense when it comes to placement of items in a space. "The items you use most should be at eye-level and easiest to access," Scott says. "Also, look for lost storage space -- underneath a staircase or a nook in the entryway -- as places to keep everyday items stowed and in tow."

-- Professionally put-together: www.CaliforniaClosets.com

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com or the Universal Uclick Editorial Department at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)