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My husband and I recently purchased a home that we are fixing up. We had a pipe burst that has caused us to have some of the drywall removed to dry everything out. We are thinking of leaving the low beam exposed and possible putting shiplap on the wall behind it as an accent or either just exposing the beam and having it painted or stained. Our question is will that look odd with only one beam? In most pictures there are usually at least 2 beams.
How the beam would look finished
How it looks now prior to fixing the walls, new paint, and floors
No, the "dream picture" is NOT of the same kind of thing that you currently have "exposed" due to a burst pipe. What you have is a 2x8 sandwiched with some other dimensional lumber and utility type joist hangers. No amount of "paint or stain" will make generic dimensional look like a "design element". Actual "beams" that are typically used in "exposed" type scenarios have a "heft" to them that is distinctive from dimensional lumber. Such beams are either from older "rough hewn" milling and hand-worked processes (like a barn raising...) OR made specifically to highlight their chunky aspects...
Frankly trying to mix even actual "ship lap" with an unfinished floor joist is likely to make BOTH look much worse than if they were paired with the kids of material that truly is showcasing older tight grained wood...
From what i can see of the two pictures you aren’t comparing apples to apples. Your inspiration picture has a beam separating two rooms, a Kirch and a dining area. The beam is a natural way to ad separation to those two spaces while adding character and interest. You beam looks like it was just part of a drop down drywall and the only thing behind it is a wall or alcove? If you were to do this it would only chop up the space you have. Not sure what is on either end of that header but il assume just walls. You mentioned ship lapping the wall behind the beam. Is there a reaso. You are trying to highlight this wall? What goes on this wall? What room is this in? Answering those questions might help us help you come up with the best design for the space.
Reading comprehension fail. The "beam" is already there. The OP just wants it to look like a solid wood beam; instead of a drywall wrapped dropped beam.
No, the "dream picture" is NOT of the same kind of thing that you currently have "exposed" due to a burst pipe. What you have is a 2x8 sandwiched with some other dimensional lumber and utility type joist hangers. No amount of "paint or stain" will make generic dimensional look like a "design element". Actual "beams" that are typically used in "exposed" type scenarios have a "heft" to them that is distinctive from dimensional lumber. Such beams are either from older "rough hewn" milling and hand-worked processes (like a barn raising...) OR made specifically to highlight their chunky aspects...
Frankly trying to mix even actual "ship lap" with an unfinished floor joist is likely to make BOTH look much worse than if they were paired with the kids of material that truly is showcasing older tight grained wood...
This. It is not a handsome beam. There is no aesthetic value to having it exposed, IMO.
No, the "dream picture" is NOT of the same kind of thing that you currently have "exposed" due to a burst pipe. What you have is a 2x8 sandwiched with some other dimensional lumber and utility type joist hangers. No amount of "paint or stain" will make generic dimensional look like a "design element". Actual "beams" that are typically used in "exposed" type scenarios have a "heft" to them that is distinctive from dimensional lumber. Such beams are either from older "rough hewn" milling and hand-worked processes (like a barn raising...) OR made specifically to highlight their chunky aspects...
Frankly trying to mix even actual "ship lap" with an unfinished floor joist is likely to make BOTH look much worse than if they were paired with the kids of material that truly is showcasing older tight grained wood...
Quote:
Originally Posted by silibran
This. It is not a handsome beam. There is no aesthetic value to having it exposed, IMO.
Well, there is one alternative. I hadn't mentioned it because I figured this would be short-lived and/or the
OP would see the light and agree with the majority.
The exposed drop beam could be wrapped with 1/2" oak veneer plywood with mitered corners giving it the look of a solid wood beam. But, I say put it back the way is was and call it a day- either way, as I previously mentioned, it'll look good from my house!
The short answer is no. It looks like its a beam with maybe 2' of room behind it? That will look silly IMO. what is that space used for?
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