Amazing double-height spaces

From gorgeous oak-frame spaces to minimalist modern rooms, these beautiful lofty spaces will set your imagination soaring

- MICHELLE GUY & NATASHA BRINSEAD

Knowing what a double-height space is can be a little confusing — in many ways it is not dissimilar to a room with a vaulted ceiling. However, what the term really describes is a space that spans two whole storeys, uninterrupted. One voluminous space from ground floor right up to the underside of the upper storey’s ceiling. Unlike a vaulted ceiling, double-height ceilings can be flat, just as with a standard ceiling, like in this scheme designed by Square Feet Architects.

Double-height spaces add drama, a wonderful sense of spaciousness (even in smaller homes) and instant character in any house they grace. Here, we have pulled together some of the very best examples of well-designed double-height spaces around, from those that have been created to work with the original form of a building to designs that have been planned in from the off.

CREATE CONTRAST WITH ORIGINAL CEILINGS 

If you are lucky enough to be converting an old barn or a building with beautiful existing beams, then leaving the space as a double-height area will really ensure the full character of the property can be enjoyed. In some cases, planners insist on keeping spaces double height so as not to interfere with existing openings or windows.

This project is something of a masterclass in how to convert a barn. The owners wanted to be respectful to the 17th-century timber frame and so built an interior structure to house the kitchen, pantry, cloakroom and mezzanine office that they wanted in the space. A suspended lighting track has been set at the height of a regular ceiling to give a more intimate feel to certain areas of the floorplan.