Wooden ceilings might have a rustic sensibility but this natural material can easily be incorporated into contemporary schemes, delivering warmth, tactility and texture to a surface that is often overlooked. From modern chalets to new builds with soul and mid-century renovations, this edit shows how a wooden ceiling can add character to even the sleekest of interiors.
This home celebrates playful surfaces
This Melbourne home is defined by the contrasting materials on the floors and ceiling. Underfoot, speckled terrazzo is the star, while above stained-ash boards clad the ceiling. Colour is the third element that makes this home truly unique – in the open-plan dining area, a custom-designed spiral staircase by Studio Doherty is powder-coated in ‘Summer Waters’ paint from Dulux’s Australian division.
The pioneering sustainable home in Sydney
Given this is Australia’s first carbon-neutral residence, it’s little surprise that wood is at the core of both its construction and design. This cosy living area is clad in recycled hardwood (which was also used for the kitchen island, doors and floors throughout the home) with the yellow ‘Togo’ sofa and armchairs by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset adding a pop of colour. The coffee table is from Sydney-based mid-century-furniture store Rudi Rocket, while the sideboard is a bespoke piece.
Joinery is the star of this renovated home
With its extra high ceilings, vast windows and pale wood surfaces, this home nestled on the edge of a village near Aberdeen is light and airy. To add some contrast, kitchen firm DK&I suggested this dark-slate finish on the cabinetry of its bespoke design, bringing a moment of darkness. The pendant lights above the island are the ‘Ambrosia’ by Ciszak Dalmas for Marset. Dividing this space from the living area beyond is a custom-made shelving unit by joinery firm Angus+Mack.
The modern cabin that’s an ode to cedar
The cabin is, perhaps, the natural habitat for wood-clad ceilings. Rather than rustic and homespun, the result in this home nestled in the woods near Vancouver is calm, minimalist and all natural. Homeowners Patrick Warren, partner at Frits de Vries Architects + Associates Ltd, and partner Kevin chose Douglas fir for the structure, window frames and stair treads, and cedar for the interior and exterior cladding.
The beachside home clad in hemlock wood
Like ‘a bento box’ is how architect Tom Kundig describes this wood-clad home his firm designed for a couple in Sydney. They chose hemlock wood, which is native to North America where the firm have their office, as the hero material to clad ceilings and walls throughout. The warm tactility is a counterpoint to the cool steel construction of the exterior, while picking up on the natural beauty of the surrounding coastline.
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The Swedish home with wood inside and out
‘I love natural materials because they withstand time with dignity,’ says entrepreneur Martin Nygren. When building a contemporary barn-style home in Sweden, he turned to the natural warmth of wood to set the tone. Outside, stained-wood clads the exterior while inside eaves clad in wide oak planks add height and drama. Structured lines and polished concrete flooring are a sleek counterpoint.
A pioneering architect builds a home in São Paulo
Wood clads much of the walls and ceilings in the stylish home of architect Arthus Casas. In the bedroom, the double panelling creates a nest-like effect, as though the room is suspended far above the city vista below. Joinery was also key to creating a spacious home, concealing technical elements and storage. ‘The interiors were intended to be neutral and calm; a backdrop for my books, artwork and objects,’ he explains. ‘The idea was to let proportions, light and texture define the space, rather than bold colours or decorative touches.’
The Swedish home of a design heavy-hitter
Siberian larch clads much of this home owned by String’s co-founder Peter Erlandsson. ‘We used a lot of stained wood to marry the home’s inside with the greenery outside,’ says Peter, who worked with Swedish architect Per Friberg on both the construction and interior. Alongside the extensive use of wood, Peter’s love of Danish design defines this home. In the living room, a ‘Tulip’ side table by Eero Saarinen for Knoll is flanked by a pair of Børge Mogensen’s ‘The Hunting’ chairs for Fredericia, while a ‘PH Snowball’ light by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen hangs above.
This 1970s home on the outskirts of Melbourne is part of a niche movement dubbed ‘Bush Modernism’, which describes the interpretation of modernism by Australian architects and builders in the early 1900s. Often, they feature native materials. This 1969 property incorporates cedar, eucalyptus and spotted-gum timber, as well as original terracotta floor tiles, all of which homeowners Sean Fennessy and Jessica Lillico were keen to retain while creating a contemporised home; they did just that with the help of architect Adriana Hanna.
The LA home with enviable vistas
Architect David Montalba chose Western Red Cedar for this low slung but deceptively capacious home nestled in the Hollywood Hills. Echoing the beauty of the surrounding hillside views, natural materials feature throughout the home. The kitchen is an ode to wood; beneath those cedar ceilings is white oak joinery, alongside Bensen’s ‘Tokyo’ dining chairs in oak and leather surround a custom black-walnut dining table by Berkeley Mills, while the soaped-oak bar stools were sourced from Mater.
