[becolouring]

Evening. I have a client who wants to run the ceiling paint a few inches down the walls in her living room, entryway and hallway. You can actually see this in the photos. The issue I'm having is the different lengths between the ceiling and door casings, closets and even a kitchen entry way.

For example, the entry way to the kitchen is 11 inches while the front door is six inches. Does my bleed drop 11 inches or keep it a six inches and leave a white strip over the kitchen? Should I be using the floor as my guide instead of the ceiling? It's a standard NYC apartment with eight ft ceilings.

Hope I'm explaining this correctly. Any advice, suggestions most appreciated.

TIA,
Steven

 

[celicaxx]

I don't really understand the question/idea. In painting a ceiling generally it's the better case scenario to get some paint on the wall if you're painting walls, to properly fill the corner up/etc, but I don't think you need beyond an inch or so to do that, certainly not 6+ inches like you have there.

The only other thing I can say from an interior design perspective I've seen once with an OCD Polish client that could possibly had been a trend in Poland is he painted all the walls and ceilings white, but to avoid cutting in and I guess do a neat geometric design he would run masking tape in a box around the walls, corners, ceiling, and baseboards would all have tape on them and the wall color that wasn't white would be inside the box, but it would mean straight lines somewhat regardless of how square/level the room was, and no need to cut in at all. It looked interesting, but I wouldn't do it myself.

So anyway, with this client I wouldn't leave it that way unless it's getting painted over, and even if it's getting painted over, it would be better to leave it an inch or less so there's not dark brown to cover up with the wall paint. Otherwise I dunno, I would pick something like 1" even consistently around the whole house if they insist on ceiling paint on the wall.

 

[Joe67]

Evening. I have a client who wants to run the ceiling paint a few inches down the walls in her living room, entryway and hallway. You can actually see this in the photos. The issue I'm having is the different lengths between the ceiling and door casings, closets and even a kitchen entry way.

For example, the entry way to the kitchen is 11 inches while the front door is six inches. Does my bleed drop 11 inches or keep it a six inches and leave a white strip over the kitchen? Should I be using the floor as my guide instead of the ceiling? It's a standard NYC apartment with eight ft ceilings.

Hope I'm explaining this correctly. Any advice, suggestions most appreciated.

TIA,
Steven

My question is why do people do such weird things? Like ask for brown ceilings? And ask to have their ceiling paint on the tops of their walls? Weird.

But it goes to the point. Your question is pure aesthetics and the only one who can answer is the client. It's about what they think looks ok.

So...in those situations, I make my best guess largely based on whatever takes the least amount of time/hassle, while making sure that I don't do anything that's overly hard to change. Then ... I just wait. They don't say anything bad? Great! You're done. They say "well, that's a little weird..." That's fine. Have them make the call and go with it. (Some of this is also reading the client on the up-tight vs laid-back spectrum).

If the latter (having to change it) will be a real problem (hassle/time/labor), just explain it to them and make them pick before you start.

 

[MikeCalifornia]

It's weird, but to each her own I guess. I might recommend using frog tape on top of your level line however low from the ceiling she wants to go. This will help her visualize and then you can just roll on top of the tape and pull when done. Probably a little cutting the line back where it bled.

 

[stelzerpaintinginc.]

I'd suggest choosing a distance from the ceiling to match the width of tape you can get. Since the viewing angle is up high, your line should be relative to the ceiling height and not the floor. Not only would this look the most "ideal" IMHO, it's also the easiest possible solution for you. Get a roll of 2" & 2.5" and see which one looks best. I'd be inclined to choose the narrowest 2" to avoid the tops of door jams looking like a racing stripe of wall reveal.

This project would be absolutely perfect for the tape-caulk method recently discussed in another thread. Butt 2" tape tight to ceiling on wall, caulk, paint, unmask, collect check, laugh on your way out because of the stupid decisions HO's make after watching diy shows.

 

[RH]

Just tell her it’s a stupid idea and then do it the right way.🤨😗😉

 

[becolouring]

My wife and child don't listen to me, this woman is going to listen to me? 😉

Just tell her it’s a stupid idea and then do it the right way.🤨😗😉

 

[finishesbykevyn]

Stuff like that is usually done in places with higher ceilings, and usually incorporated with some sort of trim.. Gonna make that place feel small..Either way I'd leave atleast 2" above highest door frame..

 

[cbinc]

I always say to do what the HO wants(and is willing to pay for). the trick is to make it LOOK straight and even. most ceilings are not straight and even...and make sure the HO tells you how far down to go...exactly.

 

[copper custom coating's]

a Lazer level might help and do the caulk tape trick you can get a pretty cheap lazor level from a website called struggleville

 

[Holland]

@becolouring

Can we get an update? Pics?

 

[Redux]

I was thinking that rather than a straight line, a drip-art border with the ceiling paint dripping down onto the walls might be interesting.

 

[thepm4]

Are you comfortable installing a paint grade molding? I would spec/insist/install a 3/4" molding found with ease where you are located. I would state that the ceiling color is strong and needs more of a definitive "stop" than a tape line.

As far as scale of the drop down, it's something to work out with client.

Imo, the drop down needs to die into the top door casing about 2"-2.5" to look intentional and would be enough to handle the walkway to kitchen.

 

[thepm4]

Are you comfortable installing a paint grade molding? I would spec/insist/install a 3/4" molding found with ease where you are located. I would state that the ceiling color is strong and needs more of a definitive "stop" than a tape line.

As far as scale of the drop down, it's something to work out with client.

Imo, the drop down needs to die into the top door casing about 2"-2.5" to look intentional and would be enough to handle the walkway to kitchen.

Oops meant to write "needs to die into the door casing"...forget the word "top"

 

[RH]

I was thinking that rather than a straight line, a drip-art border with the ceiling paint dripping down onto the walls might be interesting.

I’ve seen that done before. Not intentionally mind you.

 

[RH]

a Lazer level might help and do the caulk tape trick you can get a pretty cheap lazor level from a website called struggleville

Or maybe even a laser level.😗😉

 

[Executive Painting]

Evening. I have a client who wants to run the ceiling paint a few inches down the walls in her living room, entryway and hallway. You can actually see this in the photos. The issue I'm having is the different lengths between the ceiling and door casings, closets and even a kitchen entry way.

For example, the entry way to the kitchen is 11 inches while the front door is six inches. Does my bleed drop 11 inches or keep it a six inches and leave a white strip over the kitchen? Should I be using the floor as my guide instead of the ceiling? It's a standard NYC apartment with eight ft ceilings.

Hope I'm explaining this correctly. Any advice, suggestions most appreciated.

TIA,
Steven

It’s a European thing.. I saw this in Italy and it startled me. Can’t help examine all the craftsmanship while traveling. I’ve seen the ceiling paint color come down the wall about 1.5 - 2” and actually creates a cool effect and a clean crisp line when done right. I think they do this since a lot of the corners in older houses there are not strait so rather than follow the crooked ceiling corner, they make their own “faux ceiling line”.

 

[Piccolo]

Good afternoon. Maybe you'd better stick a tape around the perimeter after all. And the same distance from the ceiling, no matter how high it is. Visually, it will be the same for the customer

 

[becolouring]

Hi all, thanks for all the input and advice. I wanted to share some photos of the finished ceiling. Not sure if it's noticeable but the lines are laser straight, if that's a description. Again, thanks for sharing your opinions and thoughts.

 

[futtyos]

Hi all, thanks for all the input and advice. I wanted to share some photos of the finished ceiling. Not sure if it's noticeable but the lines are laser straight, if that's a description. Again, thanks for sharing your opinions and thoughts. View attachment 115166 View attachment 115164 View attachment 115165 View attachment 115167 View attachment 115168 View attachment 115169

Is the client happy with this?

futtyos