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Bulkhead dilemma

6 years ago

We are planning to remove the red wall between the kitchen and rumpus to make it more open plan. This will require a 7m steel beam that will need to be at least 380mm in height as this is a load bearing wall. The space between the ceiling and upstairs can only fit up to 230-250mm beam thereby requiring a bulkhead right across the room in a strange location.( yellow line)
We were already planing some kind of bulkhead over the proposed island bench penciled in on the plans to accomodate for the rangehood pictured but otherwise we wanted a seamless ceiling throughout.
We are after any design suggestions for the ceiling. (Want to avoid support pole in the middle of the room)

Do we:
Lower the ceiling height of the kitchen family and meals as one big bulkhead up to the rumpus ?

Create different border bulkheads to define the spaces?

Create a bulkhead at the other end of the meals to balance the design.

Can a beam be designed wider instead of taller to take the weight of the house.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Comments (5)

PRO
Dr Retro House Calls
6 years ago
You haven't mentioned the height of your ceiling, but I would guess from the photo that it is only about 2400mm? I would be very careful about introducing a bulkhead, or bulkheads, or lowered ceiling solution into this area as it will feel too low, oppressive, and maybe a little claustrophobic for tall visitors.

Even though you are demolishing the wall to open up the space, the bulkhead as drawn will visually start to divide it up again. A better solution would be to break the 7m span into two smaller spans by incorporating a slender post into the design of the island bench which will support the ends of the two steel beams that are concealed above the ceiling.

The strongest and slenderest post would be a steel pipe post which your engineer would need to design, possibly with just a paint finish to match your trim. These can look great paired, or as a set of three. As they are incorporated into the island bench cabinetwork they don't eat up any floor space. If you need something more dressed up consider something like this photo which becomes a feature, but still doesn't divide up the space.

I would instruct your engineer that the depth of the beams must be conceled above the existing ceiling line, and the steel pipe post (or posts) that support these shallower beams need to be as slender as possible. While a narrow post is a compromise to your wide open space intentions, it will be less of a compromise than an awkwardly placed bulkhead that starts to redivide the space. Your builder would also prefer to install two shorter beams rather than a 7 metre long monster beam!
oklouise
6 years ago
what is the height of the existing ceiling? a single beam would have far less impact than any bulkhead but i'm also wondering if the kitchen and meals areas could be swopped with the old kitchen and rumpus becomes one bigger family area with the new kitchen between the new family and dining rooms and the beam at right angles to the "yellow" line but an engineer should be consulted about suitable options for removing a load bearing wall
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siriuskey
6 years ago
This open plan with a support beam in the kitchen looks fantastic
22anna
Original Author
6 years ago
The ceiling is 2500 high and I do agree lowering it will make it look closed in. Swapping the location of the kitchen will not work for the rest of the space and add expense (we did consider this) The ideal would be no support. Fingers crossed engineers can work something out but not holding my breath After seeing the pictures added maybe we can make a feature of it . It would be more cost effective I’m sure the builder would be happier too.
Thank you all for your responses.
I’ll keep searching for more pics on houzz for ideas.
siriuskey
6 years ago

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