From Paper to Practice: Plastered Tray Ceiling

May 15, 2019

Design • Sustainability

Hand sketching is a vital part of our practice, since it conveys more information than computer-generated drawings can.

Closet with white millwork and a large, round chandelier in a primary bedroom.

Detailed sketches of our designs for a plastered tray ceiling in a primary bedroom suite

In the primary bedroom of this Upper West Side LEED Certified townhouse, a custom plaster ceiling was integral in maintaining luxury from ceiling to baseboard. Carefully hand sketching the ceiling from all conceivable angles made it easy to envision how the plaster details would come together at the end.

Original plaster crown molding recovered during the process of rehabilitating a prewar Beaux Arts townhouse in Manhattan's Upper West Side

Ceiling of a primary suite walk-in closet, which will become a tray ceiling with plaster details

We love to see the evolution from paper to practice as a design element comes to life. When conceptualizing this tray ceiling, we were inspired by original plasterwork from the townhouse that we uncovered during demolition. Attention to detail in the expansive walk-in closet brings it to life.