It is fairly common for an old farmhouse in a cold climate to have a low ceiling. That was the most efficient way to make use of the heat coming from fireplaces.
The owners of this old farmhouse wanted to make the most of their low ceilings while renovating their kitchen and dining area. We exposed the 200-year-old beams and floor joists and opened up the walls to the view with French doors and added a large porch. The difference in the way the room felt and the owner’s use of the space was like night and day.