Dear James: I like older styles and decor, especially some decorative metal ceilings. Can I still get the metal materials, and is the project suitable for do-it-yourselfers?—Greg C. Dear Greg: The decorative metal ceilings consist of separate panels, and they are still available and becoming more popular. The decorative panels are not very heavy, so…

NEW YORK—The U.S. government’s deadline to raise the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling could be sooner than expected, raising the prospect of a short-term debt limit extension, analysts said on Tuesday. Goldman Sachs analysts said weak tax collections so far in April indicate a higher probability that the so-called “X-date,” when the government is no longer…

When in Rome, look up to the heavens in the nave of the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola and you’ll be in for a sweet surprise, as the lofty heights of heaven appear as real as you and I. Yet builders didn’t construct the nave’s dome and vaulted ceiling; lay Jesuit brother Andrea Pozzo…

Dear James: It gets too noisy in the kids’ playroom. Are acoustic ceiling tiles difficult to install myself, and are there attractive ones made for home use? — Michelle Y. Dear Michelle: Most people like the sound-deadening characteristics of acoustic tiles, but then they think they must look like those big, ugly tiles in a…

To take advantage of the space beneath a second-floor deck, consider installing an underdeck. As a ceiling to the underside of the deck it also protects the area from rain and snow. The vinyl material acts as a ceiling drainage system and creates a ground level outdoor room or useful found space for storing bicycles…

One of the best ceiling coverups is tiles set in a metal grid, especially in a basement to conceal pipes and wires. But the metal grid can become pitted and rusted over time, so you have two options. You can remove the tiles, and prime and paint the grid for a fresh new appearance. Or…

Dear James: I think our small living room would seem larger and more open with a sloped ceiling and a skylight. Can I change the flat ceiling to high sloped one? — Kathy J. Dear Kathy: Increasing the height of your ceiling by sloping it and adding a skylight will certainly make your living room…

Designers call a ceiling the “fifth wall” that can attract attention in a room. And a tin ceiling with pressed panels in an intricate pattern definitely does the trick of transforming any ordinary room to one with personality. The panels also do wonders to conceal a hodgepodge of repair patches in an old ceiling. You’ll…