Hello everyone,
We have an open space of about 4.6m x 12m (15 ft x 39 ft) that combines the kitchen, dining room, and living room. Currently, a rough ceiling height of 2.77m (9 ft 1 in) is planned, and with a 15cm (6 inches) floor construction, the finished height will be around 2.62m (8 ft 7 in).
I have planned the lighting with recessed spotlights as well as openings for the mechanical ventilation system. The structural engineer mentioned that for the manufacturer of the precast ceiling, 180mm (7 inches) Halox conduit is always used, and each electrical box costs 100€ net.
Now I am considering three options:
- Have the spotlights fully installed and hope everything fits as planned. Then have the ceiling plastered.
- Lower the ceiling slightly, I estimate by about 7-8cm (3 inches). This would sacrifice some height but provide all the benefits of a suspended ceiling. A recessed shadow gap would also be possible, which I really like. Then the ceiling would be skimmed, sanded, and painted.
- Raise the ceiling by half a brick (~12.5cm / 5 inches). This would be allowed according to the building permit/planning permission and still fit with one stair step. This would result in lowering the ceiling by about 10-15cm (4-6 inches). Then skim, sand, and paint.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure how these different ceiling heights would feel. How would you approach this and what would be the recommended height for lowering the ceiling? Would you prefer to use metal profiles or wood for the suspended ceiling?
We have an open space of about 4.6m x 12m (15 ft x 39 ft) that combines the kitchen, dining room, and living room. Currently, a rough ceiling height of 2.77m (9 ft 1 in) is planned, and with a 15cm (6 inches) floor construction, the finished height will be around 2.62m (8 ft 7 in).
I have planned the lighting with recessed spotlights as well as openings for the mechanical ventilation system. The structural engineer mentioned that for the manufacturer of the precast ceiling, 180mm (7 inches) Halox conduit is always used, and each electrical box costs 100€ net.
Now I am considering three options:
- Have the spotlights fully installed and hope everything fits as planned. Then have the ceiling plastered.
- Lower the ceiling slightly, I estimate by about 7-8cm (3 inches). This would sacrifice some height but provide all the benefits of a suspended ceiling. A recessed shadow gap would also be possible, which I really like. Then the ceiling would be skimmed, sanded, and painted.
- Raise the ceiling by half a brick (~12.5cm / 5 inches). This would be allowed according to the building permit/planning permission and still fit with one stair step. This would result in lowering the ceiling by about 10-15cm (4-6 inches). Then skim, sand, and paint.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure how these different ceiling heights would feel. How would you approach this and what would be the recommended height for lowering the ceiling? Would you prefer to use metal profiles or wood for the suspended ceiling?
N
nordanney8 Sep 2025 10:34GeraldG schrieb:
that is actually supposed to be mostly indirect lighting.Spotlights and indirect lighting are practically mutually exclusive.Tolentino schrieb:
Why so many spotlights then? I should probably explain what this plan is for. It’s purely the ceiling design. The spotlights near the wall are meant only to illuminate the wall. They have a relatively narrow beam angle to create this arch pattern. In the kitchen, I would install spotlights to brightly light the countertop. In that case, it is more about bright and well-distributed light than creating a cozy atmosphere.
The attached element in the living room is intended mainly to provide indirect lighting through the LED strip, combined with the spotlights on the wall. The spotlights in the suspended ceiling panel would be there to brightly light the table in case you need light for any activities. Whether these are spotlights, panels, or a ceiling fixture does not really matter for the ceiling plan.
Floor lamps and similar lighting will be added later where additional light is needed.
GeraldG schrieb:
The toilet and shower will be replaced there anyway. That doesn’t matter; the room will still be very cramped, and if something happens, no one will be able to get in.