Video: Exposing the Wood Ceiling Beams

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Mr. B, you are really in possession of a cute on-air talent thing. The facial hair is a tad WNYC-TV-ish, but even that is starting to grow on me. Um, let me rephrase that.

But seriously, this would make such a cool niche show--This Hip Old Urban House--some kinda regular webcast, BCAT, Channel 21, I dunno, but this is really worth developing. A TV show that captures the experience of a reno-wonk conversation on a really good house tour...that would be even better than bringing back the Gilmore Girls!

Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at October 24, 2007 10:13 AM

In lieu of dust and debris (unless we sealed the beams...no good for the wood), we decided to dry wall over our 120+ yr old ground floor beams in our semi-finished basement. back when we wanted to keep them bare, the GC said we'd have dust (for years) as the new construction settled with the old house...

Posted by: Action Jackson at October 24, 2007 10:35 AM

I like the feature too - a weekly short clip showing some kind of reno tip is great. My personal faves would be like this one - a non-traditional use of the features in a home.

I can watch more mainstream, although useful, tips on This Old House, or similar DIY oriented shows. If you could find enough features and projects that are unique to row houses, or any kind of Brooklyn home, you would really fill an empty niche.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at October 24, 2007 10:55 AM

I've liked this look everywhere I've seen it, even though these houses weren't done this way originally. I guess it works because these were working kitchens, not fancy rooms, and I think it's cool to see 3-4-inch, old-growth oak joists. If you put up sheetrock and caulked it, I don't see how dirt could come through. I wouldn't have minded a little more length/detail in the report, but even this little short brings action and inspiration to the site. Nice!

Posted by: Rehab at October 24, 2007 11:02 AM

I find this a little odd. Much angst is vented here (by Mr. B in particular) about exterior details that are not in keeping with historical building styles. But I don't think any brownstones were built to have exposed beams -- it was decorative plaster on those ceilings, was it not? But why do Brooklynites want the interior of their beautiful row houses to look like this? They don't live in the country.

Posted by: guest at October 24, 2007 11:05 AM

the ceilings in the floors are pretty low. with the beams opened up the room feels much bigger. there wasn't any detail to begin with and the ceiling was falling in

Posted by: guest at October 24, 2007 11:14 AM

I hear you, Guest 11:05-- technically you're right. But somehow it works for me; there would have been a cast-iron stove, possibly an outhouse out back. The beams don't seem out of place. Question: Anybody know what kind of floors these places had? Wide planks?

Posted by: Rehab at October 24, 2007 11:20 AM

I've only seen or heard of people exposing the beams on the ground floor, and maybe one example of the top floor. Neither of these floors are historic recipients of decorative plaster ceilings, as they were both service floors, for the most part. While I agree that EXTERIOR details should be respected, I don't think people should have to feel that they live in a museum. Most of us who have had to change the original use of brownstone rooms, in order to accomodate apartments, or even kitchens, bathrooms, etc, have made choices of what to keep, what to reposition or partition off. With that in mind, I think ceilings can be fair game.

People do all kinds of non period, or out of style things to their homes. Some things can come out looking great - those beams in the video look really good. How many people have Tuscan kitchens in 19th century houses? Turkish bathrooms, or French country bedrooms? Some things come out better than others, but we all like to incorporate our culture and travels into the places we live.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at October 24, 2007 11:22 AM

I think it looks beautiful. And so does Mr. B.

Posted by: guest at October 24, 2007 11:23 AM

this place has the 4 inch sub floor- which is what is being used as the floor. The wife doesn't like it much for the kitchen because it's pretty hard to seal it perfectly so food gets in the cracks.

Posted by: guest at October 24, 2007 11:27 AM

I like the video tidbits also but that theme music somehow annoys me.

Posted by: guest at October 24, 2007 12:06 PM

don't love it. we just closed our beams up...the awful dust-the noise, and the dark feeling of heavy stripes above just wasn't working for us. funny, because when we first bought the house, we liked the look. i thought that sheetrocking over the beams would make the space feel so much smaller, but, in fact, it was the opposite-it feels airy and clean now...

Posted by: guest at October 24, 2007 12:19 PM

I have exposed beams in the living room in my garden floor in CG.
The last tenant removed the tin ceilings in order to open up the room-- the landlord was not happy! This floor is only 6' 6' high so it was kind of helpful in making the room seem more airy. I do not have any problems with dirt. The only problem is that there is no material that serves as sound insulation to the bedroom above.

Posted by: vinnie_barbarino at October 24, 2007 1:10 PM

the apartment on the bedstuy house tour had exposed ceiling beams... absolutly beautiful!

Posted by: guest at October 25, 2007 12:38 AM

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October 24, 2007

Video: Exposing the Wood Ceiling Beams

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