Moldings Make a Room

Before molding is added

Master plasterers in earlier centuries created exquisite confections for the royal and the rich. And while plaster moldings can still be custom-made or purchased from stock, the stuff of moldings today includes plastic and fiberglass. Much of it comes pre-finished and ready to paint without sanding or priming.

Wood and metal moldings also are available, some pre-finished, some not.

For the do-it-yourselfer, the choices are legion, running from plain to positively baroque. Styles — Greek, Colonial, Victorian, Empire, Gothic, oriental, even art deco — are made to complement virtually any style of home decor.

Presuming that you are not an avid woodworking hobbyist, turning out yards of decorative detailing with your router, you will trek to a home improvement store or lumber yard to acquire the moldings that add the finishing touch to your home. Here are some molding basics:

• Floor trims — Base moldings are the finishing touch along the edges of our rooms, applied where floor meets wall. They are both decorative and protective, preventing vacuums and other cleaning tools from marring the wall. They can be used singly or applied in combination for a more elaborate look.
  
• Ceiling trims — These moldings are applied where wall meets ceiling, adding interest and masking irregularities in the room's lines. Molding is a painter's or wallpaperer's best friend, covering any ceiling level mishaps.
  
• Crown or cornice moldings can be simple or quite elaborate. They can be plain or richly carved and can be used alone or in conjunction with other moldings to provide a deep header along the top of the room.

Among the classic profiles are: dentil, alternating recessed and protruding rectangles; egg and dart, ovals divided by a wedge; cove, undulating curves of varying widths, and pearl, molding accented with a row of beading.

Crown molding can be mitered at the corners or corner or miter blocks can be used.

Miter blocks are elegant used in both inside and outside corners and make applying the crown molding much simpler for the do-it-yourselfer.

Bed moldings are the smallest of the ceiling moldings, adding understated architectural interest. They are ideal for those who prefer sleek modernism.

Wainscoting — These trims provide a divider between wall treatments. A common approach is to apply wallpaper above the trim and paint below, or vice versa.

Wainscoting is common in kitchens and dining rooms where it serves to protect walls from chair backs.

Use quarter round or cap molding to add interest to a simple chair rail. Or choose a decorative molding incorporating a range of designs.

These trims are extremely versatile. They can frame the entrance from living room to dining room or can be applied in a frame on a wall to surround a panel of wallpaper.

Even applying a frame of molding on a painted wall can dramatically enhance paintings and prints hung inside this enclosed area.

Door and window trim — These are the trims that frame the window or door and include casing molding to finish windows and doors and stop molding, used on double-hung windows or in jambs, to prevent a door from swinging through.

Specialty pieces — These can quickly elevate a tract home into an architectural delight. They can be found outside the home as well as inside.

Rosettes and medallions, applied to the ceiling, add flair to whatever chandelier you choose to suspend from the center.

Niches create an elegant framed setting for floral displays, heirlooms and sculptures.

Add one or a pair in the dining room to display prized large serving pieces. Shelves and lighting can be added to niches.

Mantels can be pre-formed or created from molding pieces applied in combination. For a modern look, a simple molding around a large fireplace can sleekly finish the look.

Exterior moldings can turn a simple front door into a grand entrance when moldings are combined with a cornice.