Building a home from the ground up means you have a blank slate to infuse with character —whether by way of art, furniture, or finishes. If you’re looking to give your home a historic feel with a ...

Q: I love the look of beamed ceilings, especially the rustic look of old barn wood. My house didn’t come with these, but I want to add them. How can I do this on the cheap and still make it look like ...

Dear James: We are empty-nesters and plan to combine rooms for a more open floor plan. Box beans would look nice for some separation. What are some tips for adding box beams to the ceiling? -- Nick K.

Question: I want to add ceiling lighting and a ceiling fan to my living room, but no wiring is up there. I would like to add decorative box beams and run the wiring through them. How can I do this?

Dear Pat: My children have finished school and left, so I want to remodel for more openness. I plan to knock out some walls and add ceiling box beams for accents. How can I install the box beams ...

Q: We recently visited an older home with lovely exposed ceiling beams. Is there any way to recreate this look in our own, beam-covered house? A: Why yes, there is. Believe it or not, faux beams are a ...

Dear James: I like the openness of a high ceiling. Is it possible to remove some roof trusses to convert part of the ceiling to a high, sloped one or would it be too weak? — Gail V. Dear Gail: ...