Window goes higher than the ceiling

[Ryan Dressel]

Hi all,

I just replaced two 40 x 60 inch bedroom windows, and in doing so, discovered that the existing ceiling drops down below where the very top of the window is.  It was hard to tell before because everything was so ugly that I didn't notice (windows where installed repeatedly over each other with 50+ year old worn trim).

My conundrum is that I am trying to add trim around the windows, and can't think of a way to hide the above problem.  Has anyone encountered this before?  Option A is to simply put a stool and 2 vertical pieces without a top horizontal piece; or Option B --   Put a horizontal piece across the top and hope it doesn't look weird.  I suspect it will look weird because there won't be a flush connection due to the gap of the window depth...

Raising the ceiling to the roof line would be awesome, but also unnecessarily expensive for a rental.

Thoughts?? 

Thanks in advance!

Ryan

[Ron Flatt]

I would have put in shorter windows.  I purchase a home that they had lowered the ceiling and it covered part of the windows.  Looked like .....  from the outside.  It was expensive but I replaced the wood windows with insulated windows that were shorter.  I trimmed out all windows with larger trim, to look uniform and give eye appeal.  The tenant that was in it was paying $400 rent, after the rehab, new tenant is in at $675.  I few windows, central heat and air and a coat of paint is paying off.