Each week, Mansion Global tackles a topic with an elite group of designers from around the world who work on luxury properties. This week we take a look at how to get the most out of double height walls.

Ample wall space is the ultimate blank canvas for getting creative.

“It lets you play around with the proportions of furniture, art, and lighting in a fun way,” said Christina Simon, senior designer at Mark Ashby Design in Austin, Texas. “Interior designers often try to evoke a feeling of luxury and grandeur in small spaces through the play of light and color, but when ceilings already give you that larger scale, a lot of the work is done. made for you, ”she said.

For ideas on creating wall-to-wall interest, follow these tips from the design pros.

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Play with the proportions

“Double-height walls reflect more light. In the evening there is room to create some dramatic moments with shadows when you have all that space to play. And the light gets a more diffuse shadow compared to the sharper, sharper shadows that come with lower ceilings.

“Because the space is so large, you can use darker colors without compromising the perceived scale of a space. Darker colors make a room more comfortable, but can also make a space smaller. When you have double height walls you can play with darker tones and there is still a lightness. The added natural light from the large windows can highlight your color selection and give it depth.

“Let the eye wander without feeling groundless. Having shelves is a great way to keep some attention at eye level. That said, don’t lose the experience of the lightness of raised ceilings. So when we create decorative shelves, we oversize certain items and make them bigger for a dramatic effect.

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“Uplights and unusual lighting ideas can be fun to play with when the ceilings are high so the shadows scatter more widely.

“Because what is on the ground has to interact with the vastness above, you can be more daring with statements. Colorful graphic tiles, oversized and bold rugs, all of these things work well in spaces with double height walls as they don’t have to compete, but rather collaborate.

– Christina Simon, Senior Designer at Mark Ashby Design in Austin, Texas

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Add art in interesting ways

“Double-height walls and ceilings generally make a space feel larger while creating an airy feel in the space. The expansive space also provides more space on a wall to really showcase bold artwork or create a custom eye-catching focal point.

“With more space to display artwork, you can stack artwork vertically, choose larger-scale pieces to fill the space, or showcase a vertical sculptural installation that adds interest and the depth.

“For an unexpected touch, we recently created a custom designed flower wall in white corian onyx and each flower has been illuminated to light up a client’s dining room. It provides a beautiful focal point, and with the soft glow of the 3D flowers, it creates depth and visual interest for the large wall.

“Plastered walls are a great way to add a subtle textured look that creates interest compared to a flat painted wall. Wallpaper is another decorative way to showcase a bold pattern or design that can create a focal point.

– Nina Magon from Nina Magon Studio in Houston

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Let in natural light

“If you have double windows to double the height, the luxury of the extra daylight is a game-changer. People underestimate the amount of light that is an integral part of design. Washing a space with natural light during the day and the atmospheric glow of the city at night, provides a dynamic backdrop for a home that no architectural or decorative lighting can replicate.

“Customers often think they have to choose between a colorful piece or a typical white box. But the truth is, there is an endless rainbow of whites and beiges, and each can have a radically different impact on space. Our favorite color is Wimborne White by Farrow & Ball, it strikes the right balance between warm and cool tones to signal warm comfort while remaining modern.

– Christine Gachot from Gachot Studios in New York

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Vary the scale

“Having a double height wall makes a room more spacious. It allows eye-catching lighting fixtures and larger scale artwork to be hung, which elevates the entire space.

“Think about where you might need to fill a gap between furniture. Don’t be afraid to bend down and do unexpected things like hang art under a window frame or a sconce, play with your heights and ladder.

“I like to have fun with paint and wallpaper. If you’re worried it’s too drastic, start in a smaller room like a powder where you can go bolder with less impact on the rest of the house.

– Kirsten Blazek of a1000xbetter, a Los Angeles-based design firm

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