9. Ornate Plaster Ceiling Medallions & Crown Molding
Introduction
Drawing the eye upward, ornate plaster ceiling medallions featuring acanthus leaves, cherubs, and Gothic motifs frame dramatic chandeliers with historical flair.
What This Idea Means
Victorian ceilings were never neglected; they were treated as decorative canvases. Medallions and layered crown molding add structural weight and classical elegance to the room’s upper boundaries.
How to Make It
- The Medallion: Install a large, multi-tiered plaster or heavy polyurethane ceiling medallion featuring deep relief carvings around the light fixture.
- The Molding: Add deep crown molding along the ceiling perimeter, painting it in a contrasting metallic gold or satin black.
- The Finish: Highlight the raised plaster details with a light wash of dark antique glaze.
Tips and Variations
- Pair a monumental ceiling medallion with a black iron or crystal chandelier to anchor the room’s vertical axis.
- Essentials: Plaster ceiling medallion, crown molding, construction adhesive, gold leaf or glaze.