The Lettered Cottage

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Ceiling Ideas

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I haven’t added our dining room tour to the Our House tab in our menu bar yet because it’s still a bit of a work in progress. That being said, the room has changed a lot since we bought the pumpkin-colored place in 2007…

And boy have we had a lot of fun working on playing with it over the past few years!

We had fun creating the “wonder wall“…

…and even more fun decorating it for Christmas last year…

We even had fun using the room as a bedroom, while ours was under construction…

But at some point, we ran out of steam and never really finished the ceiling or the floor in there, so we took advantage of another burst of DIY energy a couple weeks ago, and went back to work on Project: Dining Room.

Kev started by taping himself in there one day and sanding back the original hardwood floor (that was originally covered up by laminate flooring)…

(That awful old kitchen tile is gettin’ the boot at some point too!)

Unfortunately, he sanded his palms back a bit that day too. Zoinks!

So while Kev’s pummeled palms healed up, I got down to business and sealed the floor with three coats of semi-gloss Varathane from Lowes, and after that, we turned our attention up to the ceiling.

Unlike the planks in our guest bathroom and reading room, the wood we uncovered up there was always just a liiiiiiittle too rustic for our taste.

We didn’t have the funds or energy to deal with it when we originally uncovered it, so we just slapped on some primer and leftover blue paint (Sea Salt by SW).

It did the (temporary) trick, but last month I had one of those infamous “I can’t take it anymore” moments, so Kev and I put our heads together to figure out how we could fix it… for around a hundred bucks.

Our first idea involved attaching big sheets of something called eucaboard (from Home Depot) to the ceiling. It was thin, it was inexpensive, and it seemed like a great idea. Keyword: seemed. I thought we could attach them in a big grid-like pattern, and cover up all the seams with some kind of thin, wood trim. Keyword: thought.

Let’s just say that little project didn’t go quiiiiite as easily as planned, and that there may or may not have been some uncomfortably intense moments at the Palmer household as we tried to hoist and hold up the first 4′ x 8′ sheet of eucaboard while one of us nailed it into place. And let’s just say the intensity may or may not have intensified when said nails proceeded to slide right up on through that first 4′ x 8′ sheet of eucaboard at the exact moment someone’s arms turned to wet spaghetti.

Oh yeah….that was a real good time.

Anywho, our (intense) adventure ended with a 4′ x 8′ sheet of eucaboard out by the curb, and a trip to Lowes to see what else we could cover the ceiling with.

Here’s what we decided to try (the second time around)…

It’s a V-groove, wood plank product by EverTrue, and there’s six 8-foot long planks in each pack.

Each pack costs $10.93, and we figured we’d need about 10 of them to cover our entire dining room ceiling. (Much cheaper than any other ceiling plank option that we looked at.)

The planks are super thin, and very light weight. Keyword: light.

We didn’t buy all eight packs right away, because after the whole eucaboard debacle, we weren’t sure if anything was going to work and we were skeered. We took home one pack of planks that day, and I promptly laid them out on a drop cloth and gave them two coats and primer, and two coats of leftover Moonlight White (BM) paint.

Our dining room ceiling is 9′ – 7″ wide, and the planks are only 8 feet long, so we decided to do a little staggering of the seams.

Using our nail gun, we attached one full-length board to the ceiling, and then cut a smaller one to finish off that “row”. Then on the next row, we did it the opposite way, so the “pattern” will look sort of like this when we’re done:

Turns out you can barely see the seams after all, but we just thought it would be weird to have all the shorter planks on one side of the room.

Here’s where we’re at today…

(You can still see some Liquid nails up there from the eucaboard experience…grrrr.)

We’re not quite halfway across the room, and there’s still LOTS of nail hole filling, touch up painting, crown & trim molding attaching, and wall trimming, painting or papering to do- but we’re okay with that. It’s the 4′ x 8′ sheets of eucaboard we have issues with.

PS- We’re hoping to finish the ceiling up soon so we can turn our attention back to the drywalled walls. We want to do something really different there too! (Just have to figure out what that is- LOL!)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lisa

    I bet you are in person just like you write … so fun(ny)!

    glad that even the best out there run into intense moments and bad ideas. thanks for sharing. 😉

  2. Bernie

    Love the ceiling choice you ended up with. I have to say, though, I am most impressed that I have the same wicker chairs in my dining room. Who would have thought that I would be on the same page as a designer I admire (and who is a lot younger than I)?

  3. Pine Tree Home

    I was staring at this product the other day thinking I may use it in my guest room. Then I got all flustered in the Lowes aisle and kept walking.

  4. leanne

    we did something very similar…but added an extra “frame” of mdf around the perimeter and also in the opposite direction of the paneled ceiling to hide our seams…hard to explain…but it finished it of nicely. ended up with 5 framed sections across the length of the room. i love your wall. i want one.

        • kit @ DIYdiva

          It might have been an unintentional omission but I have to say I agree … no man necessary, but you definitely need the right tools! 😉

          If you don’t have a nail gun yet, I would suggest looking at the cordless versions. They use little fuel cartridges instead of an compressor and they’re super easy to use (especially if you’re doing something like a ceiling).

  6. Steve

    That’s a great product to know about! It would be perfect to put on walls for that cottage look. It looks thin enough that it would still allow casings to stand “proud” of the boards so you wouldn’t even need to take them off.

    • Layla

      Yes! The planks are only about 1/4″ thick, so I think they’d work great on walls that have casing and molding you don’t want to take off!
      😀

      • Jill

        Just what I was looking for in the bathroom to be thinner than the moulding – thanks for the great idea!

  7. Barbara

    I love what you did, it gives another meaning to the term planking. lol
    I needed to be inspired…I just need someone elses elbows to do the work.
    Thanks

  8. terrillr

    WOW! That looks great. And, such a nice surprise when the solution is on the less expensive side.

    • Layla

      Thanks! Working with a limited budget is definitely challenging, but where there’s a will, there’s a way! 😀

  10. Dana

    Thanks Layla, I have been wanting to put some kind of wood ceiling in the living room at our lake house that I am still waiting for you to come help with, and this product might be just the trick. Seems like it would also be good for a wall treatment.

    Are you guys using liquid nails AND nailing it?

    Now, can you tell me where I can buy a Kevin? lol!

  12. CherylK

    Nice job! We did the exact same thing on our downstairs family room and “spare” room ceilings (it’s sort of a dorm room when all the grandkids are here). Then we used it horizontally on the hallway walls and one of the family room walls. It looks great and was super easy to do.

  14. Leah

    Yipeee! This is exactly what I want to do in a few bedrooms – thanks for this post!
    BTW, is that chandelier from Ikea…? : )

  15. liz

    Okay, I needed this. I still have NO idea what to do about our back porch ceiling. This looks beautiful! I might need your help though. ;P

  16. Melissa

    I am so glad I read this post! I agree, what a way to really test a relationship! We had that exact experience with a ceiling project in our rental but we eventually got ours to stay after my poor fingers got pinched to death. Plus, it was 100x’s more frustrating since it is a rental and there was not another option we could do since our landlords are… shall we say, cheap. Love your solution though, may show the landlord and cross my fingers that they might consider something like that.

    • Layla

      Oh boy, that finger pinching stuff is for the birds, isn’t it!? 😀
      I hope you’re landlord is open to this easier-to-install solution! Good luck!

  18. andi

    Love it!! Just this morning as I got ready for work, I was thinking about doing this in the bathroom. Just not sure with moisture, but can’t be any worse than a drywall ceiling. Thanks for the ideas! LOVE TLC!!!

    • Layla

      Hey Andi!
      Just make sure you prime it really good and use a semi or high-gloss paint and it should be fine! 🙂

  19. Sara @The Fat Hydrangea

    Love this!! I have had designer’s block when its come to decorating our sunroom, and I think this would be PERFECT in there! I seriously think I will get started this weekend.. you’ve totally inspired me!

    • Layla

      Thanks Jess! And I hope your hubs is on board too! I promise he’ll love the look…and the bottom line! 😀

  21. Sherri

    That’s going to turnout just awesome, Layla! Looks like it’s something I’ve been trying to figure out how to do for our family room. How are you guys attaching the strips, especially the shorter ones. To the ceiling joists? Thanks, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what’s going to happen with the walls. You guys are so very creative!

    • Layla

      Thanks Sherri! Since our ceiling was already wood, we’re just nail-gunning it directly to the existing ceiling. 🙂

    • Layla

      Hey Nathan! Since our existing ceiling was wood, and the new planks are super lightweight, we’re just nail-gunning the planks directly to the old planks. 🙂

  25. Deidra Dunbar

    I have been talking about using the same product for our living room/dining/kitchen area. I wasn’t sure how it would work out. Love it!

    I am so glad you are always brave enough to take the plunge first…and make it through so you can tell about it!

  26. Patti

    omgosh, I love when I come upon a timely post for something I’m planning to do. The sheetrock in my master bed ceiling is starting to crack and I was out yesterday looking at some kind of light wood to cover it! Thank you Layla! You had me laughing at your “intense” situation there … been it, done it!

  27. Lisa sraders

    Hey, Layla – that is looking very fresh and snazzy! I would love to add something like this to our bowling alleyish kitchen/tv area, and am wondering how hard this is to do when you have potlights – do you put up the pieces then trace? I would have no idea how to do this…thanks if you can answer!!! Blessings!

    • Kevin

      Hi Lisa! I’m just kind of winging it when comes to cutting around our recessed lights. I used a jigsaw to make the cuts, and it did take some time to figure out. I measured over to the hole to get a starting point, then measured across to mark the width of the opening. I measured every which way I could, then used a string attached to a pencil as a way to draw my circle radius (caveman compass style). Probably not the most professional way, but it worked. You also have a little room to play with because the lights have a little metal collar around the bottom that will cover up any less than perfect cut lines. I hope that wasn’t too confusing! 🙂

  28. Amy Johnson

    We did the same thing in our kitchen, bath and porch. I have LOVED the ceilings and get so many compliments. We are slowly going to use this solution in all of our “public spaces”. As an added bonus, any imperfections either don’t show up or just look like character, unlike the “popcorn” ceilings we covered up–YUCK! Enjoy your new ceilings!

  29. Ellen

    It’s looking good! I know the stuff you started with…. glad you didn’t finish up with it… the planks you ended up using will definitely give you the look you are after. We’ve used that on a ceiling and as wainscotting in a room too. It’s wonderful stuff! 🙂 Can’t wait to see the ceiling finished!!

  30. Allyson

    Wow! That looks so good I just had to comment! Wish I could figure out a place in our house to do that!

  31. Joyce

    I’ve been wondering what I could do in my kitchen/dining area/family room. This is it!! I love your home and creative ideas, Layla!!

  34. Elizabeth

    That is so creative I have cottage cheese / popcorn…on my ceiling and would love to scrap it off and do something with texture. You guys are so talented it makes me dizzy…LOL PS Layla you have a stormy barn pic on your dining room wall would love to know how to get a copy didnt see it in your photos….Thanks for the great inspiring ideas…!!!

    • Kevin

      Hi Elizabeth! The barn picture in our dining room was taken by Layla’s aunt. It is Layla’s grandmothers barn and was shot on film, so we don’t have it in our shop. Thanks for the kind words! 🙂

  35. Monique

    This ceiling is going to be so beautiful but I bet it’s not an easy job. Remember slow and steady wins the race and you’ll have the ceiling completed soon. Love your house.

  36. Frances

    Oh. My. Goodness!! This is EXACTLY what we need! We’ve been remodeling our dining room/sunroom (we made our very own Wonderwall as well!!!!), and we ran into the same dilemma with our ceiling! We were going to use 4’x8′ paneling but, like you discovered, isn’t the greatest option for a ceiling. So, here we thought we were going to have to fork out an arm and a leg for the more expensive planks. This post couldn’t have come at a more perfect time!! We may just have the same dining room, hope you don’t mind, ha ha:-). You guys are the best!! I’ll have to figure out a way to post a pic on FB or something when we’re done- it is looking awesome (probably because it looks just like yours, lol)!

  37. maria costello

    First – a BIG thanks for the ceiling idea. We have been living with an ugly, cracked ceiling for the last couple of years – this is what I’ll use to finish that ceiling up!

    And I used your holiday dining room idea to start a “holiday idea” board on my pinterest site!!

  39. kit @ DIYdiva

    It looks fab, and I’m so glad you mentioned the cheaper option… I’ve been looking for something to use under the covered porches of my current house, and this might fit the bill.

    Also, I’m totally sympathizing with the eucaboard experience… I have had similar experiences with hanging drywall on ceilings. Ones where the sounds I make are basically all consonants. However, if someone was trying to put 4×8 sheets of anything on the ceiling, I might recommend renting a drywall jack, which will hold a board up flush to the ceiling while you nail it… and keeps you from the dreaded spaghetti arms!

  40. Sherri Langford-Farrell

    Layla,
    We’re using the same product in our kitchen above the cabinets and on our pantry. My husband loves the easiness of use. We also used it on our kitchen island under the counter where the barstools sit. Just haven’t come up w/how we’re going to paint/stain it. I’m thinking of using Annie Sloan’s Chalk paint w/wax to give it a glazed look. Great products!!!

  41. Wendi

    I am luvin’ EVERYTHING you do! So here’s my question….My cozy, cottage decor guest room is available and I live 1.5 miles from the beach….When are you, Kevin and the nail gun coming for a visit? 🙂

  42. Skuba

    This post comes just in time. We are going to be redoing our breezeway which used to be the porch attached to the outdoor kitchen. We’ve got some of that grate v-groove wood up on the cealing now but it is in bad shape and when they added the kitchen onto our house it didn’t quite meet up with the house so Grandpa just slapped up a board going perpendicular to the rest of the boards. Well we are now going to put up old barn siding on the walls and looking for a cealing to match so our choices are wood planking like you have or old barn tin roof haven’t decided yet. I can’t wait it is going to be one big change.

  43. Heather

    YES!! We were JUST talking about how to tackle our kitchen ceiling when we redo it ( we’re working on that now.. argh) This is PERFECT as I was talking about plank ceilings. Now I want to go read the wonder wall story.. woohooo

  44. Leen Curinga

    Hi Layla and Kevin! I love the look of this! Do you think we could put it over textured ceilings…oh, what are they called??? you know…the stalactite looking stuff…

    How many times did you have to say “Be Nice” during the Eucaboard experience?

    Leen

    • Kevin

      Hi Leen! We did have a few tense moments! haha I actually held a piece of the planking up onto some of our popcorn ceilings to see if it felt like it would work, and I think it would! We are going to give it a shot in one of our “popcorn” rooms, we will probably use a little liquid nails on the bottom side of each plank, along with the brad nailer, just to make sure it holds good. I think it will work because it’s so light weight. Hope you and the family are doing well!!! 🙂

  45. kathy h

    It looks so good!! I’m impressed. And, thanks for giving such eachy to understand directions. I’m going to share this idea with the hubby and maybe try to tackle it in one of our smaller bedrooms. We are covering popcorn, so just wondering if you know or could find out a couple of things for me? With popcorn, would we just nail into ceiling like you did, or will be need to install some sort of base first? and with popcorn, will it won’t be flush, so that might be a problem, eh? (I HATE POPCORN CELINGS…UGH!!)

  47. Sara

    Any thoughts on how you would do this on a texturized drywall ceiling? I would LOVE to do this in our great room (huge space from living room to kitchen! Thanks for the tips!

    • Layla

      Well, I guess you could either scrape them first, and then attach the planks, or if it’s level enough, you could just apply Liquid Nails to the back of a few planks and nail them into place to see if you’re happy with the look.
      Fortunately one pack is pretty cheap, so it doesn’t cost too much to experiement! 😀

      • kathy h

        Thanks Layla and Kevin! I can’t wait until you guys try it out on your popcorn ceilings. I’m crossing my fingers it goes smoothly so I’ll be able to run it by the hubby!

        Thanks so much!

        Kathy H.

        • Suzanne C.

          Wow! I just came upon this blog! It is great! And, I happened to start reading this discussion about covering the popcorn ceiling. I too have been finding out what to do with my popcorn ceiling. What a great idea. I have to go to Lowes and check out these planks. I hope to see some pics of someones finished project! Thanks.

  48. Roy Merideth

    I’ve been reading your blog for a while now. I wish we would have had more of your creativity when we lived in our old 960 square foot home. I would have used some of your ideas to update the place. We did plenty of restoring and reworking, I just like some of your ideas much better. 🙂

  49. Julie M. ~ The Little Red Shop

    Thank you for the tip! Is it like real bead board, minus the bead? The 1966 additions to my 101 year old house are entirely lined with barn wood/shiplap. Sometime, way back in the day….they put NASTY ceiling tile and paneling over it. Some of what I’ve uncovered has been poorly patched and I’ve been putting off dealing with it. Your ceiling is looking fabulous, so I will keep that product in mind!

    Have a great week!

    : )

    Julie M.

  50. Nicole Heath

    What a transformation. I LOVE the wall/shelf look – I pinned it myself. Definitely would love to have that someday.

    The ceiling is looking great – can’t wait to see it complete.