A kitchen with high ceilings offers both challenges and opportunities.
Kitchens with high ceilings have a lot of potential for creative decorating. The high ceilings create a sense of space, making the room seem larger than it actually is. They also provide wall space for extensive cabinets, art, and windows. In addition, the ceilings themselves may be suitable for the addition of skylights.
Extra Cabinets
One advantage of high ceilings is that extra cabinet space can be incorporated without using up more horizontal area. Higher cabinets can be installed above existing cabinets. Because these higher cabinets will not be as conveniently accessed, they can be used to store less frequently used items. A simple footstool can be kept in a kitchen closet for accessing the upper cabinets when needed. Depending on the height of the ceiling, the cabinets can be extended all the way up to meet the ceiling, or they can be built in with a space between their tops and the ceiling. This shelf space can be used decoratively by placing baskets, art, or collectibles on it.
Pot Hangers
If the kitchen has an island, the addition of a cast iron pot hanger that hangs from the high ceiling over the center island is a great feature for any kitchen. In addition to being practical and making pots and pans easily accessible, the visual interest of the copper and cast iron pots and pans creates a visual image that is in keeping with an informal aesthetic.
High Windows
To give the kitchen a more bright and open feel and a better view, existing windows can be replaced by taller windows that reach farther up toward the high ceiling. Since light nearly always enters a room at an downward angle, high windows enable light to more directly illuminate a room for a longer portion of the day. This is particularly important in a kitchen, which is frequently being used in mornings and evenings when direct sunlight is at a premium.
Large Art
High ceilings mean high walls, and high walls can be a great place to hang large and dramatic works of art. Select a single work of art that is in keeping with the decor of the kitchen, and is large enough to dominate the wall on which it will be hung. Abstract painting is often ideal for this purpose, as it creates a background feel for the activity in the kitchen, without presenting competing subject matter.
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