Decorating
Creative Ways to Make a Feature of Structural Beams
Turn your RSJ into something more than just functional with these clever ideas from our Houzz Tours
If you’re wondering how to hide a steel beam or column in an open-plan room, it might be worth considering the opposite. How about you don’t hide it at all? Rather than trying to conceal the bulky structure, take a look at these inspirational ideas where professionals on Houzz have turned an RSJ into an attractive element in the room.
Inside, he used the structural supports to replicate the cross shape, painting them in the same dark red. The steel beams add a striking feature to the room and create a visual connection between the indoors and outdoors.
Take a video tour of this modern renovation with tactile surfaces.
Take a video tour of this modern renovation with tactile surfaces.
Enhance an industrial look
As a nod to the period of this Brighton home, the extension has a Victorian industrial feel with Crittall-style windows and exposed joists.
To add to the look, interior designers Jessica Gibbons and Kat Turner of Field Day Studio painted the steel supports black. “It draws your attention to the structure of the place and connects to the industrial aesthetic,” Jessica says.
Take a tour of this sensitively transformed Victorian villa.
As a nod to the period of this Brighton home, the extension has a Victorian industrial feel with Crittall-style windows and exposed joists.
To add to the look, interior designers Jessica Gibbons and Kat Turner of Field Day Studio painted the steel supports black. “It draws your attention to the structure of the place and connects to the industrial aesthetic,” Jessica says.
Take a tour of this sensitively transformed Victorian villa.
Break up the space
The structural elements in this clever renovation do so much more than support the roof. They also help to divide the space and create visual impact.
Amos Goldreich of Amos Goldreich Architecture made use of the structural framework to create a division between the kitchen and living area. Within this divider, he built shelving, which serves as both practical storage and a place to display decorative accessories.
Take a peek around this cleverly zoned broken-plan space.
The structural elements in this clever renovation do so much more than support the roof. They also help to divide the space and create visual impact.
Amos Goldreich of Amos Goldreich Architecture made use of the structural framework to create a division between the kitchen and living area. Within this divider, he built shelving, which serves as both practical storage and a place to display decorative accessories.
Take a peek around this cleverly zoned broken-plan space.
Incorporate some fun
A supporting beam can offer a great opportunity to play around with shape and colour. Take this extended Victorian kitchen, for example, with its pitched roof at the side. The steel RSJ is aligned with the sloping rooflight and therefore could easily have been left white to melt into the background.
However, designer Amy Stoddart decided to use the structure to bring a hint of pink to the colour scheme. “Painting the supporting steel RSJs pink was a brave but fun touch,” she says.
Find out how a new layout revived this Victorian home.
A supporting beam can offer a great opportunity to play around with shape and colour. Take this extended Victorian kitchen, for example, with its pitched roof at the side. The steel RSJ is aligned with the sloping rooflight and therefore could easily have been left white to melt into the background.
However, designer Amy Stoddart decided to use the structure to bring a hint of pink to the colour scheme. “Painting the supporting steel RSJs pink was a brave but fun touch,” she says.
Find out how a new layout revived this Victorian home.
Make them the main event
The beams in this kitchen extension were not just turned into a feature, they’re actually the key to the whole scheme.
Architect George Woodrow of Woodrow Vizor Architects decided to leave the structure exposed to bring a feeling of space to the room. He then colour-matched the beams to the radiator.
These bold yellow lines are the main visual element and the room really wouldn’t be the same without them.
Learn more about the kitchen in this Edwardian terrace.
The beams in this kitchen extension were not just turned into a feature, they’re actually the key to the whole scheme.
Architect George Woodrow of Woodrow Vizor Architects decided to leave the structure exposed to bring a feeling of space to the room. He then colour-matched the beams to the radiator.
These bold yellow lines are the main visual element and the room really wouldn’t be the same without them.
Learn more about the kitchen in this Edwardian terrace.
Draw attention to another feature
Sometimes you can highlight one element in order to make more of a feature elsewhere in the home. Not convinced? Well, that’s what George Bradley of Bradley Van Der Straeten did when he chose Yves Klein Blue for the paint on these steel supports.
The hue complements the pink tones in the kitchen beautifully, but its main job is to visually connect the room with a sculpture by the owner’s dad…
Sometimes you can highlight one element in order to make more of a feature elsewhere in the home. Not convinced? Well, that’s what George Bradley of Bradley Van Der Straeten did when he chose Yves Klein Blue for the paint on these steel supports.
The hue complements the pink tones in the kitchen beautifully, but its main job is to visually connect the room with a sculpture by the owner’s dad…
…located here, on the living room mantelpiece.
Discover how a genius extension helped link a period home to the garden.
Tell us…
Would you prefer to conceal an RSJ or turn it into a feature? Did any of these ideas inspire you? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Discover how a genius extension helped link a period home to the garden.
Tell us…
Would you prefer to conceal an RSJ or turn it into a feature? Did any of these ideas inspire you? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
The planning restrictions that influenced the exterior of this kitchen extension were also key to the look of the structural beams inside.
In order for the new building to comply with Permitted Development regulations, the area next to the boundary had to be lower. Architect Francesco Pierazzi decided to mark this height difference with a deep red steel cross.
Find the team you need for your renovation in the Houzz Professionals Directory.