Interior designer, Michael Smith, was chosen by the Obama’s to re-design our nation’s presidential home.

Bravo President and First Lady Obama!  Michael Smith is a master antiquarian and will be the perfect designer to sift through the reported warehouses of antiques owned by the American people and designated for the White House.

Mr. Smith is a highly regarded and accomplished designer with an impeccable reputation. His aesthetic is at once classic and modern, which seems to suit the Obama’s style to a T.  I think Michael Smith is a great choice for this prestigious assignment, and I know he will bring a fresh and interesting design to this important Home.  I wonder what he will come up with for the girl’s rooms?  I hope we get a peak!

Last weekend I was enjoying dinner with my children as we began to discuss different rooms and the feeling they create.

The restaurant we were dining in had a relatively low ceiling that was coffered, with architectural interest.  We all agreed this ceiling height felt right for the space, worked well with the overall design of the room, and most importantly was low enough to avoid the undesirable echo created by the pairing of hard surface floors and high ceilings.  

Each person had a distinctive memory about  a space where they felt the ceiling height contributed to the overall feel of a room. A hotel bar in Florence, Italy where the low slung ceiling and white wood paneled walls made the space feel warm and inviting, a beach house in the central coast of California and a loft in downtown Los Angeles.    

As each person at the table discussed their personal feelings about ceiling heights, I thought about how important, although not always initially noticed, ceiling heights are.  Everyone agreed a room with a  low ceiling is perfect to sleep in or dine in because of the intimate feeling.   Although, I can appreciate the beauty and drama of a soaring ceiling, I do wonder if our partiality toward low ceilings had to do with the cold weather that night. Would we’ve had the same feeling on a hot summer day?  

I know from my design experience that large spaces with high ceilings are a luxury, but often the goal, when furnishing these spaces, is to create groupings grounded with rugs to bring a more human scale to the room.  Our interior spaces influence our moods and are important to our psyche and ceiling height is just one element to create our desired outcome in a space.  What are your experiences and feelings about ceiling heights?