Arete Design Company Jax, Jacksonville Beach, FL (2025)

05/12/2023

THE COLOR OF THE STRETCH CEILING

Traditionally, ceilings in homes are made white. But the stretch canvas is available in a variety of colors. This makes it possible to create an original interior, as well as to correct the deficiencies of the room.

There are many shades of the product, but their number depends on the specific texture:

The richest color palette is presented in glossy ceilings, here really appears room for imagination (more than 150 shades). The range includes blue, green, yellow, red, brown, gray and purple. Different tones are represented: warm and cold, light and dark, there is black and white.

A more modest choice of colors distinguishes matte and satin surfaces, they are represented mainly by 10-12 light and pastel tones. Such a ceiling attracts less attention.

Colored stretch ceilings can be used in almost any room. Therefore, it is necessary to select the shade of the canvas, depending on the type of room where it is supposed to be placed:

Bright colors stimulate mental activity, so they are commonly used in working areas - the library or the office. Cold monotonous tones will be refreshing, but at the same time they relax and distract from work. It is better not to use too aggressive shades, so as not to overwork your eyesight.

Modern trends in interior design suggest a combination of contrasting shades. For example, you can use pastel colors of walls and furniture with bright or dark ceilings. Or, on the contrary, expressive furniture in combination with a light canvas.

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05/11/2023

WHICH CHANDELIER IS BEST FOR MY INTERIOR?

When choosing a chandelier for a stretch ceiling, you need to proceed from the configuration, the overall interior and the design of the room:
- For a square room is enough one central chandelier, which will be the main lighting.
- In very large rooms, it is better to supplement the central lighting with spotlights in the corners or desired areas.
- For an elongated room, it is better to provide two identical models. This way the whole area will be illuminated, there will be no dark corners.
- In rooms with architectural features, the center of lighting can be shifted depending on the configuration of the room.

The number of lamps in the chandelier depends on the size of the room and the power of the lamps. Moreover, unpleasant and harmful to the eyes is not only a lack of lighting, but also excessive brightness. Approximate calculation is as follows: for 110-130 FT² - 3-4 lamps are enough; for 130-190 FT² 5-6 lamps are needed; and for the area over 190 FT² - from 7 pieces and higher.

Light sources on a long rigid bar look good on a reflective surface. In an apartment with high ceilings, such as 10FT, such a model will create an interesting ceiling design.

A classic version of such a chandelier is a crystal device, which looks amazing in both classic and modern interiors. If you install such a model on a glossy ceiling, the room will simply play with solar glare, because the gloss will reflect the light passing through the multifaceted details.

The matte ceiling allows you to use any type of chandelier. A good option for a matte or satin ceiling is the classic chandelier with lamps in the form of candles mounted on candlesticks.

Chandeliers with wooden lampshades are probably not the right option for stretch ceilings, because the cloth implies lightness and airiness, and the wood can visually burden the entire design.

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05/10/2023

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN CHOOSING A CHANDELIER FOR A STRETCH CEILING

Chandelier - one possible option for lighting the room, the installation of which on the stretch ceiling has several nuances.

First of all, when choosing a ceiling chandelier and the type of bulbs, it is worth taking into account that the stretch ceiling from the constant exposure to elevated temperature can melt.

Therefore, it is better not to choose incandescent light bulbs over 60W and halogen light bulbs over 35-40W. Energy saving lamps and LED lamps have practically no heat emission and there are no restrictions for them.

The minimum distance from the suspended ceiling to the lamps should not be less than 0.33-0.5 FT (10 - 15cm), for halogen or incandescent lamps, especially the maximum power, it is better to increase it to 0.8 -1 FT (25-30cm).
For the same reason, suspended chandeliers are considered more suitable, because the distance from the ceiling to the bulb increases significantly.

It is desirable to choose a model with plafonds. The variant with them pointing down or to the sides will be suitable - so the light and heat are evenly dispersed. If the horns look up, the distance to the film should be maximum.

The body of the chandelier should not be heated, especially at the point of connection to the ceiling, so a metal base is unlikely to be suitable.

As for the nuances of installation, you need to understand that nothing is attached to the cloth itself, because the film is not strong enough for this. Lighting devices (as well as cornices, fire detectors, etc.) are fixed to the floor slab through hooks or embedded. And after the installation of the stretch ceiling, holes are made in it, through which the lighting fixtures are installed.

The location of the chandelier must be thought out in advance. When installing, you need to know the type of mounting the chandelier and the exact dimensions, so it is assembled before installing the ceiling.

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05/09/2023

STRETCH CEILINGS IN SMALL ROOMS

The main problem of small rooms is not the size, but the proportions. In cramped spaces, discomfort is felt because of the lack of space and light. Literally expand the walls is unlikely to work, but if you properly decorate the ceiling in a small room and choose the right design, you can visually correct this deficiency.

Here are a few design tricks for a small room:

- in small rooms, it is better to use glossy coatings of light cold shades - they visually erase the boundaries, giving the space more volume due to reflection. An illusion of space appears.

- there should be a lot of light in small rooms, so the stretch ceilings in them are often turned into a light fixture. Such an effect gives depth and visually expands the space.

- in square rooms with a ceiling above 8.8 ft. set stretch ceiling structures bilevel, thereby getting rid of the effect of the well, which is inherent in such a space.

- in long tall rooms, multilevels and asymmetry are appropriate. The lower levels are placed along short walls to visually change the proportions of the room. You can also use transverse lines, visually expanding the space. A light strip along narrow walls or spotlights located in a circle also help to create the right illusion.

- if the room, on the contrary, is squat, it is better to be limited to a one-level finish. The short part is "expanded" with the help of proper lighting, installing a number of spotlights across.

- the palette should not contain more than three colors: mottling is poorly perceived, crushes the room into small parts and brings chaos.

05/08/2023

WE JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU ...

that our customers can get a design project of your future ceiling, prepared by our professional designer, absolutely free of charge! This will help you to imagine the result of the upcoming installation and assess how harmonious the future ceiling will look in your interior.

Also, our employees are always happy to advise you on the possibility of installation of the desired ceiling and lighting elements, taking into account the design features of your room, will help with the selection of texture and color of the fabric, will answer all your questions
Call us now and we can schedule an appointment to get you an estimate.

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05/05/2023

STRETCH CEILINGS AND CEILINGS FAN

Most people believe that when installing a stretch construction, you should buy special lighting fixtures, but the usual devices will have to give up.

In Florida, such a familiar device with a great popularity are ceiling fans with a light - convenient and practical, allowing not only to quickly cool the room, but also to effectively ventilate the room.

Having a design of vertical type ceiling fan is attached to the ceiling as a usual chandelier with a hook. Installation involves lowering the hanging element to the desired height and a small incision of the leaf to pull the wires and the chandelier rod.

Therefore, nothing prevents you from enjoying the hot summer day with a light breeze while resting under a perfect stretch ceiling in your room!

The only thing worth considering is that the ceiling fan chandelier on the suspended ceiling should be purchased in advance, so that the experts installing the suspended system can properly determine its location.

05/04/2023

STRETCH CEILINGS IN LARGE ROOMS

One of the important benefits of stretch ceilings is that they can be installed in almost any room. They are suitable for large living rooms, classrooms, offices, and even for clubs, restaurants and swimming pools.

Basically, all films are available in sizes no larger than 16.4 feet wide. With a larger size will inevitably occur though insignificant but still sag.

So what if your space is more than 16 feet wide? There are several options:

- Install a divider profile or use LED lines as a divider. They divide the room into sections and the stretch ceiling is attached in each section separately and then joined together.
- Weld the seams of the stretch ceiling. Welding is done on a molecular level, so the fabrics retain high strength with the thinnest thickness of the weld. The seam itself is visually noticeable only on the glossy surface due to the refraction of light. On matt and satin surfaces the seam is not visible.
- Set a more complex tiered design. The ceiling can be made in two or even three tiers, and both monochrome film coating and materials of different textures can be combined here.

05/03/2023

STRETCH CEILING IN COMMERCIAL SPACE

The ceiling in the commercial spase must meet a number of requirements:

First - the ceiling finish must contribute to the conservation of thermal and electrical energy.

Secondly - the ceiling in the commercial space should be able to absorb sound. This is especially true for call centers, reception areas etc. At the same time, there should be good acoustics.

Thirdly, if in the same building there is, for example, a music studio or dance class, and other similar institutions, the ceiling finish should protect from outside noise, i.e. have good sound insulation.

Fourthly, the lighting should be comfortable for the eyes and have no negative impact on eyesight, which is especially important for people who spend most of their working hours in the office. In addition, the right lighting contributes to a better perception of your products by potential customers.

In turn, PVC ceilings perfectly meet the above criteria, and have many advantages required for commercial premises:
-non-combustibility - for offices, materials that do not support combustion are used;
-high light reflection of light and glossy coatings;
-hygienic - they can be cleaned with a damp sponge and a mild household detergent;
-environmental friendliness - PVC is used for production of plastic windows, children's toys, and kitchenware;
-speed of installation - a few hours;
-possibility to hide communications;
-resistance to odors and dirt;
-room for design imagination;
-warranty - 10 years.

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05/02/2023

THE CEILING AS THE MAIN SOURCE OF LIGHT

One of the most spectacular interior tricks is a fully luminous stretch ceiling. It looks weightless, as if floating in the air, visually expanding the space.

To create such an effect, a translucent canvas (translucid) is used. It is a kind of vinyl covering that is slightly thinner than usual films and lets in up to 50% of light. It is available in light colors and used to organize lighting.

Behind the translucidal canvas set the source of light - LED-lights attached to the base of the overlay, they are located along the perimeter, in the center, or make complex patterns.

When the lights are turned on, the covering begins to shine, like a big lamp. When the light is turned off, the surface looks like a normal canva.

When you choose this lighting option, it looks like the ceiling is much farther away than it actually is.

However, while a fully luminous ceiling can replace the main light source in a room, it can also be combined with a chandelier, which looks also absolutely amazing!

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05/01/2023

STRETCH CEILING IN LOW ROOMS

Rooms with low ceilings impose certain restrictions on the choice of finishing materials. You need to choose the décor in such a way as to visually make the room appear larger and higher.

We've gathered for you some practical solutions to help you cope with this problem:

- Use stretch ceilings with a glossy texture, due to the mirror reflection the height of the room "doubles". It creates the feeling that the room is higher than it really is. Moreover, the richer is the color of the material, the more reflective its characteristics become.

- Reject the voluminous central chandelier, giving preference to built-in lighting fixtures, LED lighting around the perimeter of the suspended ceiling (floating ceiling) or translucent fabric (translucid) which, when the light turns on, begins to shine like a large lamp (uniformly glowing ceiling). So you visually increase the space of the room, making it higher.

- In small rooms with low ceilings, it is better to install the design in a light color scheme. Saturated shades will be perceived heavily, will create a tense atmosphere.

- Unobvious, but sometimes the best solution is to install a two-level stretch ceiling: Along the perimeter of the room, make a box, which will be below the main level, located in the center. The box should be matte, and the central part - glossy. Due to the different textures, the perception of the room with a low ceiling will change dramatically.

- To visually raise the ceiling, choose a canvas shade 1-2 tones lighter than the walls. The room, decorated in the same color palette, will seem higher and more voluminous.

- Using a curtain niche with LEDs: drapes falling from the ceiling visually stretch the room.

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04/28/2023

THE FLOATING CEILING

This is an innovation in interior design, creating the impression of the ceiling "flying, floating" in the room and not touching the walls. Many people like the feeling of lightness that it brings to a room, the sense of something mysterious, cosmic. The soaring ceiling looks very effective in any residential interior, visually increasing the space.

The floating effect is achieved by installing a light source at a certain angle around the perimeter of the ceiling niche. As a source of light LED strip is used, it shines on the wall, erasing the boundary between the ceiling and the wall. The ceiling niche itself can be absolutely any shape and size, you can create a separate "floating" figures on the ceiling. The simplest ex*****on - repeating the shape of the perimeter, it gives depth, makes the finish more complex, which has a positive effect on the atmosphere of the room. For decorating spacious rooms, you can use multi-level soaring ceilings.

There are several undeniable advantages of using such a design:
- Soaring stretch ceilings divert attention from rectangular corners. This softens the situation, makes it more airy.
- The living space visually looks larger, which is important for small rooms.
- The construction of floating structures opens up great possibilities for interior design. In addition, you can change the color of the lighting, which greatly enhances the decorative function of the finishing element.
- Backlight consumes little power, while the LED strip is able to provide quality lighting in a room. The intensity of light can be adjusted.

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04/27/2023

STRETCH CEILING AND CEILING VENTILATION

In Florida, most rooms have ceiling ventilation. Many people think this might be a hindrance to installing a stretch ceiling. However, it is not.

If the ventilation hood or shaft is in the ceiling space of the room and the suspended structure of the planned stretch ceiling naturally closes them, it is necessary to install the hood through the fabric of the stretch ceiling with special structures.

For its installation in the space between the ceilings, a duct is inserted with one side attached to the ventilation hood and on the other side to the cage to which a protector ring is subsequently fastened in order to protect the stretch ceiling covering from rupture. In the ring make a hole to connect through it directly to the ducts located under the coating hood.

Ducting is usually made of corrugated pipe or plastic elements. It is very important that the design is absolutely airtight, otherwise there may be a violation of the normal circulation of air in the room, blowing or pulling the ceiling film especially during the operation of the ventilation hood. In addition, the airtightness of the ventilation structure laid inside the stretch ceiling protects it from accidental ingress into the inter-ceiling space of various insects, of which Florida is so rich.

Properly installed stretch ceiling does not disturb air circulation in the room, does not interfere with the exhaust ventilation, and does not have a negative impact on the microclimate in the house.

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04/26/2023

STARRY SKY

Many people like to contemplate the night sky, which is why its image began to be used on the ceiling structures. The twinkling of the constellations allows you to relax, unwind and get rid of bad thoughts.

This spectacular type of ceiling, often put in bedrooms and children's rooms. Star twinkling here is the best way to sleep, relaxation, romance.Starry sky amuses children, trains eyesight when considering the sparkling elements. Children like the ceiling aesthetically, and it is a source of pride in front of their friends. Also galaxies are often placed on the ceiling in the living room. Under the starry sky it is good to communicate with guests, watch movies.

Choose, as a rule, a glossy canvas, black or with an image of galaxies. To simulate the stars in the stretch ceiling, holes are created, through which the fiber optic threads are pulled (individually or in bunches). Then they are cut from the outside - flat on the surface or, allowing them to protrude by 1-2 millimeters. When the projector is turned on, light is conducted along the entire length of the fiber optic strands, and the surface of the ceiling begins to glow with hundreds of small lights.

To create in your home an atmosphere of peace, mystery and romance, using a stretch ceiling - the starry sky will help our experts Arete Design Company !

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04/25/2023

PVC OR ALUMINUM? PROFILE FOR A STRETCH CEILING

The stretch ceiling construction consists of a canvas and a plastic or metal profile (also called a baguette) which is mounted under the base ceiling. The baguette is the most important component of the entire ceiling system, because it bears the entire load.

A good profile should be strong, robust, easy to install and tension the ceiling, and be able to withstand the pulling force without any problems. In addition, it must firmly clamp the canvas and prevent future tearing or release.

There are two types of ceiling profiles - aluminum and plastic.

Aluminum profile for stretch ceilings provides an opportunity to complete the installation of the structure in the shortest possible time, as well as to quickly dismantle the film if necessary. Such baguette has sufficient rigidity, which provides a high degree of durability and reliability, it easily withstands a huge force of tension of the leaf, and it is best suited for fastening large massive films.

PVC baguettes, unlike aluminum ones, are lighter, slightly cheaper, and easier to handle. They bend well, but they are not suitable for too large and therefore heavy canvases - under the heavy load, the plastic profile can bend or even break.

Arete Design Company uses a more reliable and durable aluminum profile. We are 100% confident in the quality of our materials and the professionalism of our employees, which is why we provide a 10 year warranty on our ceiling systems.

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04/24/2023

STRETCH CEILINGS AND SOUNDPROOFING

A stretch ceiling consists of a frame and a canvas, between which and the ceiling structure there is an air space. Such an air space reduces the propagation of sound waves, that is, it is partially an insulator of sounds.
In addition, and the stretch ceiling itself, that is, the canvas, gives a small but soundproofing. The level of sound insulation depends on the thickness, texture and density of the film. The thicker the material, the higher its effectiveness.
According to experts, it "dampens" on average about 5 dB. For example, it perfectly copes with echo, especially if you choose a film with texture.

In order for your stretch ceiling to provide the best soundproofing it is necessary that:
- There are no large cracks or gaps in the ceiling slab;
- The distance from the false ceiling to the decorative surface should be not less than 2 IN;
- The construction should be mounted to the ceiling surface, not to the wall.

However, to be sure to get rid of noise, it is better at the stage of preparation of the ceiling for finishing to perform its soundproofing with modern materials.

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04/21/2023

STRETCH CEILINGS FOR BEDROOM

The stretch ceiling in the bedroom must match the atmosphere of the room. Quiet, relaxing compositions that allow maximum harmony and peace are appropriate.

The color of the stretch ceiling in the bedroom should match not only the style of the room, but also its functional purpose: to calm and soothe, contribute to relaxation and sleep. The optimal choice would be white, beige, cream and milk cloths. Priority is given to tones of warm shades.

Black is rarely used in the bedroom ceiling, because it can create an oppressive atmosphere.

Glossy ceilings, whose surface has a reflective effect, repeating everything in the room, can greatly expand the visual perception of space. However, not everyone will be able to relax in such a "mirrored" room.

The most suitable for the bedroom, in our opinion, the following interior solutions:
- A combination of two or more shades.
- The transition of the ceiling on the wall in the area of the headboard.
- Zoning with a different color or a different height level.
- The use of photo prints.
- Introduction of central or secondary (decorative) lighting.
- Effects of a starry sky, reproduction of galactic nebulae, snow-white clouds.

And what would you like to see the ceiling of your bedroom?

04/20/2023

STRETCH CEILINGS FOR BATHROOM

Bathroom arrangement - it's quite a specific task, because this space is characterized by regular fluctuations in humidity and temperature. Separate point in this matter is the selection of finishing for the ceiling, because it is an element of the room to the greatest extent exposed to the above mentioned effects.

Occasional heated steam, condensation, temperature changes - all these factors indicate that the coating, which has no resistance to moisture, will not be able to withstand these operating conditions.

Ultimately, a bathroom stretch ceiling coating must meet the following requirements:
- Resistant to steam and water splashing;
- High mechanical strength and durability in harsh environments;
- Ability to wet cleaning and cleaning of the ceiling;
- Antistatic properties;
- Good decorative properties;
- Resistance to fungus and mold.

Most meet these requirements stretch ceilings made of PVC film elastic and waterproof material, resistant to long-term exposure to moisture.

04/19/2023

STRETCH CEILINGS FOR LIVING ROOM

The main reason for choosing such a ceiling covering for the living room as a stretch ceiling is a neat appearance and a wide variety of design. You can choose not only different colors, but also texture, shape and pattern. These properties allow you to fit stretch ceilings into almost any interior.

The use of stretch ceilings in the living room allows quickly and easily fix imperfections of the existing ceiling covering during the repair, avoiding lengthy and expensive works on evening the surface and achieving maximum aesthetic expressiveness. It is possible to emphasize the functional areas, as well as to add volume to the room and "raise the ceilings".

For finishing ceilings in large, spacious living rooms, complex and voluminous designs and vibrant shades of material are suitable. The most common solution - two-level stretch ceilings in the living room. They have the most flexible expressive possibilities, not overly complicating the design of the room. In addition, having two levels of fabrics of different patterns and textures, you can achieve the effect of expanding space and increasing the height, which is especially desirable in the living room, which is the main room in the house.

For small rooms, you should choose a monochrome fabric of light shades. Expand the space and visually increase the area of the room in a small living room will help glossy ceiling. A combination of the color of the ceiling and the color of the furniture looks interesting.

In general, no matter what size and height your living room is, installing a stretch ceiling in it will be the best solution!

Arete Design Company Jax