One Collection, Endless Ceilings: How to Configure the TARA Modular Panels

When Irish-born, New York-based designer Clodagh partnered with American Tin Ceilings, the goal was clear: create something that had never been done in tin before. The result is the TARA Collection, drawing inspiration from the ancient ridges of the Hill of Tara in Ireland and the meditative stillness of raked Zen gardens. It is also a modular pattern than can be arranged in many ways. There’s really no end to the creative ways to use Tara. 

But what does "modular" really mean in practice? This guide breaks down the four TARA panels and shows you exactly how they can be mixed, layered, and arranged to create dramatically different looks—all from the same collection. 

Meet the Four Panels 

The TARA Collection is built on four distinct tile types, each one a piece of a larger design vocabulary: 

• Tara Angled — Linear lines set at a diagonal, creating movement and visual tension 
• Tara Curved — Sweeping arcs that soften a space and evoke organic, flowing forms 
• Tara Straight — Clean, parallel ridges for a calm, structured look 
• Tara Filler — A complementary panel that bridges and balances the other three 

Together, these four panels are the building blocks of every configuration below. 

Configuration 1: The Quiet Grid 

The simplest and most approachable configuration, this layout uses a single panel type — Tara Straight or Tara Curved—repeated uniformly across the ceiling. The result is a rhythmic, meditative surface that adds texture without visual noise. 

Best for: Bedrooms, meditation rooms, spa environments, or any space where calm is the priority. 

Design tip: Pair this configuration with diffuse, indirect lighting to let the ridges cast soft, shifting shadows throughout the day. 

Configuration 2: The Directional Flow 

Here, panels are rotated 90° from one another in an alternating pattern. The shift in line direction creates a sense of movement across the ceiling, drawing the eye along the room's length or width. 

Best for: Hallways, long dining rooms, open-plan living spaces, and commercial corridors. 

Design tip: Orienting the directional flow toward a focal point — a fireplace, a window wall, or a bar—subtly guides guests through the space. 

Configuration 3: The Statement Field 

This configuration layers Tara Curved panels with Tara Filler tiles to create a rich, almost botanical surface. The organic arcs expand and contract across the field, and in deeper or more saturated finishes, the result is immersive and dramatic. 

Best for: Restaurant dining rooms, hotel lobbies, bar ceilings, or a residential great room where impact matters. 

Design tip: This configuration shines in moody, jewel-toned or aged metallic finishes. It's the configuration to reach for when you want the ceiling to be the room's defining feature. 

Configuration 4: The Classic Repeat 

A symmetric rotation creates a structured, almost architectural repeat in a herringbone style. From a distance, it reads as a unified pattern; up close, the variety of line directions rewards closer inspection. 

Best for: Formal dining rooms, entry foyers, boardrooms, and spaces where you want sophistication without flamboyance. 

Design tip: This configuration aligns beautifully with traditional coffered ceilings or heavy crown molding. Let the architecture frame it. 

Configuration 5: The Dark Statement 

A bold, deep-toned finish applied to this repeating circles configuration produces a ceiling that feels whimsical yet geometric—moody, dimensional, and unexpectedly luxurious. 

Best for: Wine bars, private dining rooms, home theaters, powder rooms, and any space where drama is the point. 

Design tip: In dark spaces, the textural quality of the TARA panels does the heavy lifting. You don't need ornamentation — the surface itself becomes the art. 

Configuration 6: The Airy Expanse 

A light, high-contrast finish in a large-format curved repeat creates a ceiling that feels open and biophilic like clouds or flowing water. This configuration demonstrates how the TARA Collection works at scale — the larger the space, the more the pattern blooms. 

Best for: Great rooms, open kitchens, loft spaces, and commercial interiors with high ceilings. 

Design tip: In rooms with abundant natural light, this configuration will change character throughout the day as the sun moves across the ridges. 

Configuration 7: The Concentric Field 

This is perhaps the most graphic configuration in the TARA Collection — and one of the most arresting. By rotating Tara Curved panels in opposing directions across a grid, the arcs collide and expand into large, concentric circle forms that read almost like a topographic map or a sound wave frozen in metal. The hammered texture of the background field adds depth between the curves, keeping the surface from feeling flat even where the pattern recedes. 

Best for: Modern and transitional homes, boutique hotel lobbies, high-end retail environments, gallery spaces, and any interior where the ceiling is meant to command attention. 

Design tip: This configuration works best in rooms with high or cathedral ceilings where the full pattern repeat can breathe. In tighter spaces, consider using it as a dropped feature ceiling or canopy over a dining table or reception desk to frame the pattern deliberately. 

Shop TARA Collection

In Context: Real Spaces, Real Configurations 

Seeing the TARA Collection installed in a finished space is a reminder of what makes this collaboration special. Unlike traditional tin ceiling patterns — which can feel either too ornate or too industrial for modern homes — the TARA panels occupy a rare middle ground: quietly bold, textured without being busy, and deeply considered in a way that rewards living with them. 

Choosing Your Configuration: A Quick Reference 

Download the Full Configuration Guide 

American Tin Ceilings has made available a full PDF of TARA Configuration Examples — ideal for designers, architects, and homeowners who want to plan their layout before ordering. Or design your own unique configuration! 

Order Samples & Get Design Help 

Not sure which configuration is right for your space? Our design team is available to help — at no cost. 

• Order a Sample Pack — See and feel the panels in your own light 
• Get Free Design Assistance — Talk to a real person about your project 
• Shop the TARA Collection — Tara Angled, Curved, Straight, and Filler, all in Silver Washed White 

The TARA Collection is an exclusive collaboration between American Tin Ceilings and Clodagh, Architectural Digest Top 100 Designer and Interior Design Magazine Hall of Fame inductee.