Are double-height ceilings stylish? Pros assess the benefits, drawbacks | Canada Voices

Double-height ceilings are the architectural equivalent of shoulder pads. They’re big, exaggerated and were popular in the 1980s. They’re also on the rise again, making small rooms seem larger and large rooms feel palatial. But are they high style or simply excessive? We asked design pros and a real estate expert to weigh in.

What are double-height spaces?

As the name implies, they’re rooms with ceilings that are twice as high as standard ceilings. Whereas typical living spaces have a ceiling height of eight feet, a double-height alternative is usually 16 to 22 feet.

Are they a new trend?

Strictly speaking, no. Double-height ceilings have long been common in the grand rooms of aristocratic homes – salons, libraries and parlours of all sorts.

In the 20th century, they became more popular in middle-class homes. However, ceiling heights have gone up and down over time, depending on the cost of heating (more on that later).

What’s good about them?

Advocates say they can create a sense of grandeur, even in modest homes.

Interior designer Stanley Sun, co-founder of Mason Studio, lives in a laneway house in Toronto’s Kensington Market neighbourhood. While his home is relatively compact, at 1,225 square feet, it has double-height ceilings above the sitting area, which rise past a loft space on the second level.

“I love it,” said Sun. “I love the way the light falls through. It’s brilliant on a sunny day. But even sitting back and watching the rain fall when it’s gloomy is just so glorious.”

The light sounds nice.

Sun also likes the way sound passes through the space. “It creates a wonderful way to connect and communicate,” he said. “My partner and I can talk to each other from across the railing on the second floor, without me having to go upstairs.”

So it’s like an analog intercom?

Yes. But in all seriousness, Sun isn’t alone. For Kelly Harvey, interior designer and founder of Kelly Harvey Living in Woodbridge, Ont., double-height spaces create a sense of awe that is hard to match.

“I’m looking for a new house,” she said, “and a double-height space is a feature that I want. They are special, they are elevated, like something you would find in a five-star hotel.”

Where do they work best?

Harvey appreciates them in a great room with a feature wall of glass. “The light is just spectacular with double-height windows,” she said. “And for those who celebrate Christmas, they can hold a pretty awesome tree.”

But to Sun, double-height spaces aren’t appropriate for every room. “A grand foyer might seem like a good idea,” he said, referencing a trend that was popular a few decades ago. But that location makes little sense to him: “The way I think about it is that you’re only in the foyer for a couple of minutes – enough time to put on your shoes and walk out the door.”

Instead, he recommended using extra height where it will be most appreciated.

“They make the most sense where you actually spend time,” he said. “They’re nice in a den or a living room – anywhere people will linger and enjoy.”

Why not just have double-height ceilings everywhere?

Slow down. Many designers try to use them judiciously for sound reasons. Frank Lloyd Wright called this approach compression and release. He often placed low-slung, cloistered entryways and hallways next to expansive living areas. It was his way of amplifying the airiness – by way of a stark contrast.

Plus, there are some downsides to excessive double-height spaces.

Downsides such as what?

Even a double-height fan like Harvey admitted they can be drafty.

“Heat rises,” she said, “so when you have a high ceiling, you need something like a fireplace kicking off heat at the lower level in the winter.”

That said, in warmer weather, if there’s an operable skylight or window near the top, high ceilings can help ventilate stuffy air. But depending on the cost of heating, maintaining a consistent temperature year-round might be expensive. Because they have larger volumes, rooms with higher ceilings tend to require more energy, leading to double-height utility bills.

Double-height spaces can also be a challenge to clean, particularly if there are lofty windows.

“You can usually hire cleaners for the exterior windows, but they don’t always clean the interiors, so that’s a consideration,” said Harvey.

Anything else?

There are implications for real estate.

Excuse me?

Double-height spaces are pricier to both build and renovate because they require robust structures and specialized equipment. And there isn’t always a benefit for resale.

Trent Rodney is the co-founder of West Coast Modern, a boutique real estate firm in West Vancouver. He explained that in conventional real estate logic, double-height spaces are sometimes viewed as a trade-off. “On paper, they reduce ‘usable’ square footage, and many buyers are conditioned to equate value strictly with floor area,” he said.

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That sounds like math.

A little bit. But basically, Rodney is saying that homebuyers often want more floor area for furniture or kids, and a double-height space can eat into what would otherwise be upper-level rooms.

“In conventional subdivisions,” he said, “sacrificing square footage for volume may not always yield a financial return.”

But in architecturally significant properties, “the equation shifts,” Rodney said. In fact, they can contribute to a premium because buyers respond to spatial quality, not just quantity.

What does that mean?

When done well, double-height spaces are a luxury that the right buyer will appreciate. Someone like Harvey.

“It might be a downsize in space, but it’s an upgrade in experience,” she said.

So, what’s the final verdict?

Do it if you want a spiritual awakening in a room where you spend lots of time. Forget about it if you don’t want to worry about heating bills – or trying to find a really long Swiffer.