OP here: I asked my husband and the reason we need the pole is because it is where two beams meet. So we already put up the beams I guess.

I still don't understand why you didn't put one beam all the way across. ?? It costs a lot, but is worth it.

OP here: I asked my husband and the reason we need the pole is because it is where two beams meet. So we already put up the beams I guess.

Anonymous wrote:Can they put a beam from side to side in the ceiling to carty the load? I know it's not cheap, but better than a pole in the bedroom.

This.

We ran into the same problem in our basement. They said we could deal with the pole or put a beam across to carry the load. It was the basement, so we went with the pole. But in a master bedroom, I'd spring for the beam in a heartbeat.

make a column out of it. attach a bookcase optional:
http://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/3b2135cd0c92b6f7_4-1000/craftsman.jpg

If you were reassured it's not a load bearing wall, than what is the "problem " you alluded to in the post. Why is the pole there?
Is your bedroom on the middle floor? Or on the top floor with an attic above you?

What about something like this little shelf idea to cover it?:

http://www.houzz.com/photos/2184855/May-Basement-Renovation-transitional-basement-calgary

Learn to pole dance.

Could you do two poles/columns to the sides of the room?

If there's some reason you can't microlam it up in with the above joists, I'd square the post, make it bigger and turn it into a 4 sided bookshelf or closet. Make it appear deliberate looking, not wonky.

Is it smack dab in the middle of the room? Could you add a low bookshelf/partition extending from the column that connects with the closest wall? Create a little sitting area or something?

Try to imagine the pole as a square column -- I'm sure it looks like hell right now, but it will get better.

Thongs and ZZ Top music... they are your future.

Can they put a beam from side to side in the ceiling to carty the load? I know it's not cheap, but better than a pole in the bedroom.

Can't they reinforce the top beam and then remove the vertical pole? How old is the house?

I don't know but that would bother me too.

On a funny note, I once knew people who used there basement as the guest bedroom and when not in use - a playroom for the kids. At the foot of the bed was one of those poles. Every time I saw that thing right next to the bed....lol. Pole dancing was all I could think of.

Yes. It would bug me. Yes, I would expect the contractor to come up with a solution for it - incorporate it as a room entry or something.

In all seriousness, I am trying not to go nuts over this. We knocked down a wall to combine our small master bedroom with our good size sitting room. I was assured by two different contractors and a home inspector that this was not a load bearing wall and would be no problem. Well, as soon as the wall was down, it turned out that there WAS a problem, and the only way to fix it is by putting up a pole, essentially. Or a "column" if you want to be fancy about it.

However you want to call it, there is a pole in the middle of my bedroom and I am kind of flipping my shit. I do not want my bedroom to look like a basement with a random pole hanging out in the middle of the room. I can't even think of anything that could possibly improve the look of this. Not to mention resale!

Has anyone dealt with this before?

I would not have combined the two rooms had I known that I was going to wind up with a pole