Interior Designer Lisa Worth is a master of imbuing boring, 'builder-box' houses  and condos with character and charm.  Then adding architectural details like wainscoting, trim, and crown mouldings are her secret weapon in their transformation from standard to outstanding!

Watch the segment in episode 157

BASEBOARDS & CASINGS

Most new homes and condos have the most basic, small 4" baseboards with  2" window trim and door frames. Remember, baseboard surrounds the base of every wall in your house and the casings surround every door and window.  So they make a big visual impact.  They're there for a reason beyond looks.  Baseboards protect the bottom of the wall where it meets the floor and the casings ( the rim or frames) and they  finish the edges of the wall around the doors and windows. This also keeps out drafts, dust etc.

Guidelines for choosing:
The height of the baseboard can  relate to ceiling height (but if your ceilings are a standard  8' you can still get into higher baseboards).  The style should be in keeping with architectural style of home. Keep all of the mouldings in the same family. Lisa recommends not going for the cheaper MDF options because they can deteriorate more quickly and can be difficult to repair.

TIP: Replacing all of the baseboard would be very expensive. Lisa's inexpensive trick is to  add  a piece of 'backboard' to give the illusion of higher baseboards and you can also add this around the door and window frames to make the frames deeper.    

CROWN  MOLDING / CORNICE:

Crown molding bridges the wall and the ceiling with a piece of molding that is often curved to link the two surfaces. It adds a great finish to high or low ceilings.

Guidelines for choosing:

Crown molding comes in various materials:  resin, plaster, mdf.  This is one area where MDF is a good choice. They should relate to ceiling height. If you have 8' ceilings you could go for a  4" crown ('400series').  On the other hand,  8' ceilings in an open plan can take a 5" crown. Nine foot ceilings - 5" (500 series). They should  also compliment the scale of the room and architecture of the house and work with the style of the other mouldings.

Plain, Convex or Concave are common and nowadays the most popular have a simple profile that's chic and clean . You can add this to a room at any point and could do one room or one floor at a time. These are easy to install yourself and you can buy them pre-made at a big box home store or at local building center in various lengths. In fact, buy one or two to try them out. If you're thinking about adding recessed halogen pot lights, this is the time to do it because the crown molding can conceal the wiring and drywall repairs.


WAINSCOTING

A combination of decorative boards or panels and moldings that go partway up the wall.  The Dutch first used these in the 1300s to protect the plaster walls. Wainscoting is still a great way to protect our walls and great in mudrooms, hallways, dining rooms, kitchens and stairways. With busy families and high traffic areas it is wonderful for easily wiping up scuffs and dirt from pets and kids.

There are different styles and techniques of wainscoting:
 
Applied mouldings are the most economical and they can be easily added onto existing walls.  You don't have to remove baseboards and reapply them. To get a more formal, traditional look, add a chair rail with a strip of wood or moulding applied to the wall at chair height. Originally this was  to prevent chairs from rubbing against the wall. They're easy to install in rooms such as the dining room.  For the average 8'ceiling install them at 32"-36" high.  For 9' ceilings install applied mouldings at 36 - 42 " high.

Recessed panels are more time intensive and pricier to do because you'll need a professional to install these. Existing baseboard is removed and must be reinstalled. 4" wide panels of MDF applied to the wall then baseboard reinstalled.

Raised panels are the most elaborate and traditional. You'll need a professional to install these as well.

Colour tip: Remember, it's trim, so paint your wainscoting the same finish and colour as your baseboard or casings.


Special thanks for all the trim!
Royal Wood Shop Ltd.
www.royalwoodshop.com


Lisa Worth, Interior Designer
www.worthinteriordesign.com