The Lure of Tin Ceilings

Vintage tin ceilings have a special allure…

I have heard people say the floors sold them on a house, but I don’t think I have ever heard anyone other than myself, say “I was sold on the ceilings”.  We bought our Victorian era  fixer-upper 10 years ago, and we are still working on her.  When I get frustrated with the never-ending cycle of repairs and renovations, I look up at those wonderfully ornate tin ceilings, and while I probably should be shaking my fist at them, somehow they seem worth it.  In all there are 5 rooms (4 Bedrooms and the kitchen) which have intact tin ceilings.

This is the kitchen ceiling.  It was the first one I did.  I was especially concerned about this ceiling having a durable yet thin finish.   Any loose paint was removed from the tin.  the ceiling was given a quick wash with a weak TSP solution, then given a coat of Kilz, before a final coat of flat washable acrylic enamel.  The process worked so good, we’ve used it on the other tin ceilings we have done.

My favorite tin ceiling is the one in the master bedroom, which we are restarting our renovation on now.  I had stripped all the wallpaper skim coated the walls and completed the ceiling.  The trim and walls were painted, and hubby had rewired it.  Before the floor and baseboard heat covers could be completed, or new light fixture went in, my husband broke is ankle and things came to a screeching halt.  By the time he had recovered from that, I discovered I we were expecting, and renovations were further stalled.

Our daughter is now 3, and hubby and I have made the decision that we will be in this bedroom this fall.  I have been removing the clutter that has built up in the unused room.  Since the flooring is already sitting in the room, things should move along well once they get rolling.   I am excited to be finally working on this project, and know it will look fantastic once it is complete.