The (gl)ass ceiling

February 3, 2012 5:40 PM

How can I take advantage of my office ceiling? I have a fairly small office, but recessed bookcases run around two of the four walls to about 10 feet high, and the ceiling is about 12-13 feet high. I like the high ceiling as is, but can't help thinking that I should be hanging something kick-ass like a pterodactyl. Or a dirigible. Specific links would be wonderful. Thanks!

P.S. Thoughts about a cool small rug for a small expanse of carpeted floor also welcomed.

posted by Clyde Mnestra to Work & Money (17 answers total)

I really like the custom star mobiles made by this shop on etsy. I have 2 of them and they are really beautiful and elegant. She also sells supplies to make your own.
posted by Ostara at 6:02 PM on February 3, 2012 [1 favorite]

Yes please hang a pterodactyl. And post photos. Thank you.

More seriously, though, a really great pendant lamp would probably look good.

Look at these examples.

Sadly, there are no pterodactyl links I can give you.
posted by lollusc at 6:04 PM on February 3, 2012 [1 favorite]

Seconding Ostara on mobiles. Many modern mobiles are quite striking (if pricey).
posted by MonkeyToes at 6:06 PM on February 3, 2012

At one time I had a high ceiling. I bought a box of pumice stones, hot glued short bits of fishing line to them and thumbtacked the line to the ceiling making a very realistic asteroid field. Added in were small toy versions of various fictional spacecraft. This may or may not be appropriate, depending on your job.
posted by Ookseer at 6:28 PM on February 3, 2012 [5 favorites]

Best thing I ever saw hanging on a ceiling was a bean bag chair, rigged up on a pulley so it could be lowered in a hurry for chilling out.
posted by Pink Fuzzy Bunny at 6:31 PM on February 3, 2012 [1 favorite]

Darn near any ceiling-mounted anything from Big Ass Fans.
posted by bz at 7:07 PM on February 3, 2012 [1 favorite]

Or, I once saw a tuba that had been converted into a ceiling lamp. It was very cool.
posted by bz at 7:08 PM on February 3, 2012

Look for kites: crappy Pterodactyl, TIE Fighter
posted by artychoke at 7:11 PM on February 3, 2012

I'm lusting after this rug-- bold statement, low price tag.
posted by picklebird at 8:13 PM on February 3, 2012

oops. no link. here it is.
posted by picklebird at 8:13 PM on February 3, 2012

How about a model train that cruises around the room on a track hung about a foot below the ceiling?
posted by spilon at 8:17 PM on February 3, 2012 [4 favorites]

Table hoist!
posted by Confess, Fletch at 10:13 PM on February 3, 2012

Affix a bunch parachuting army men.
posted by oddman at 4:29 AM on February 4, 2012

Stuffed alligator.
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:38 AM on February 4, 2012

Pterodactyl kite (60")

large pteranodon skeleton (47")

flying electric pterodactyl kit (52", also comes in 80")


Solar system mobile (53" wide)

something more traditional

Or you could project something from the floor to the ceiling.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 9:08 AM on February 4, 2012

Response by poster: Some great suggestions here -- thanks, everyone, and keep 'em coming.

P.S. Crocodile/alligator was just the kind of out of the box idea I was looking for. As to the why question, posed in that link, I assumed it was because of the cabinet of curiosities idea. Which is not a bad metaphor for my office.

P.P.S. Model train may be a bit hard to pull off for reasons of scale and height. And skill.

P.P.P.S. One think favoring something that flies is that I am across the street from a large office complex, and have a pretty tall window. The idea of having something that dives terrifyingly at my window is pretty appealing.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 11:43 AM on February 4, 2012

Air Swimmers Remote Controlled Flying Shark. FWIW, my 8-y.-o. pointed this out as "WOW, cool!"
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:40 PM on February 6, 2012