What is it about raked ceilings that Canberrans love in houses?

There’s one sure-fire way to give a home a feeling of spaciousness and that’s to include raked ceilings. These make effective use of space by inclining ceilings towards a single high point.

Matt Shipard of HIVE Property says raked ceilings are popular with buyers and the perception of more space can definitely add more value to a home.

“They are drawn to these homes,” he says. “I could show two similar properties and buyers will more likely respond to the appeal of the one with the raked ceilings.

“It’s perception more than anything. The homes could be the same size, but the raked ceilings convey a sense of grandeur [and] more space, and they also draw in light and improve ventilation.”

Terry Ring of Architects Ring & Associates says the adoption of certain rooflines is as much a function of fashion and personal choice for many wanting homes designed.

“Pitched roofs, however, do convey certain practical advantages in terms of siting, say, solar panels and air-conditioning units,” he says.

“They are also more amenable to introducing insulation and wiring and so on – tasks that can require different thinking with, for example, flat roofs.”

Ring says that raked or vaulted and coffered ceilings within interior spaces could certainly inject a “wow” factor into a home.

“They tend to evoke a feel-good reaction from guests or buyers that’s attributable to that intangible equation that draws together light, space, ventilation, scale and proportion,” he says.

• Effectiveness: Pitched roofs are the perfect design for climates with significant rainfall as the slope ensures heavy falls are directed away from the surface, reducing the possibility of waterlogging.
• Amenity: Raked ceilings can increase the sense of height within a home while the design also allows for larger windows and skylights that can help maximise the volume of light and ventilation.
• Added value: There’s no doubt that raked ceilings can add some “wow” factor to a home. The feature can help differentiate a property from its competitors and increase the desire to acquire.

Check out our top pick of homes with raked ceilings for sale:

Weston

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Here’s a family home that’s perfectly at ease in its environment and aligned with the zeitgeist of the times.

This Weston residence is designed for sustainability and is capable of off-grid living – and it’s just 13 minutes from the CBD. Who said you had to go bush to live an eco-friendly life?

The exterior timber façade, complemented by a strongly pitched roofline, hints at a rustic provenance, but inside the story takes a dramatic U-turn.

It’s a case of “back to the future” with an expression of the best in contemporary living. A design highlight is the raked ceilings that draw in natural light and increase a sense of spaciousness.

The entry leads onto hardwood flooring supplied by recycled timber specialist Thor’s Hammer.

Two bedrooms, including the main – highlighted by an en suite with a raw concrete bath and shower – are located at the front of the home.

That leads into the central hub with a kitchen-dining zone and a separate living area.

The kitchen continues the rustic feel with concrete benchtops and exposed brickwork. NEFF appliances and a generous walk-in pantry provide everything a chef needs.

Downstairs are two further bedrooms that share a large rumpus area and a main bathroom. There’s access to a double garage and a big storage room.

The home’s sustainability features include triple-glazed windows and rooftop solar connected to Tesla battery storage.

Price guide: $1.6 million+

Private sale

Agent: HIVE Property, Matt Shipard 0408 218 179

Or try these:

Calwell

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Price guide: High $800,000s

Auction: 5:15pm, October 24

Agent: The Property Collective, Eliana Rojas-Terry 0432 659 790

Deakin

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Private sale

Price guide: $2.599 million+

Agent: HIVE Property, Josh Morrissey 0437 799 234

Griffith

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Private sale

Price guide: $2.895 million+

Agent: Belle Property Canberra, Louise Harget 0412 997 894