Want Character? Add Elegance with Moldings
House hunters often say they’re looking for homes with “character.” Many older homes have it, and sadly, many newer homes don’t. What gives a house character? A feature that springs to mind immediately is architectural molding. If you’re looking to give your home a new look – and add character – consider updating your moldings. Sure, a fresh coat of paint or fabulous new wallpaper will do a lot, but for a permanent upgrade, you can’t beat molding to add elegance and rich detail.
Homes built in the last 40 years or so usually have simple baseboard molding and plain, narrow casings framing the windows and doors. Many have no crown molding at all. Add detail-rich crown molding to any room, and voila! Your room suddenly looks more important, more finished. If you have skimpy window and door casings, you’ll get a huge bang for the buck if you give them a bigger presence too. Well-designed window casings draw the eye and show off a beautifully landscaped yard or a breathtaking view. Want to flaunt a gleaming hardwood floor? Add height and detail to your baseboard molding, and you’ll attract downward glances.
Wonderful uses for molding don’t stop with the basics: Add an interesting chair rail, frame a plain-jane arch with impressive molding (small glass panes above look terrific), use molding to “panel” a wall, or dress up simple columns with molding trim. The ceiling has molding possibilities too: highlight a tray ceiling or use an ornate medallion to showcase a special chandelier. And don’t forget the fireplace. Beef up a meager mantel and surround for an arresting focal point. The opportunities to add character to your rooms with molding are endless.
Moldings may be wood or synthetic materials, but wood offers a richer look. Depending on where you use them, moldings can range from about 3 inches wide to 15 inches. Can you have too much molding? Of course. Molding should be appropriate to the size of the room, the ceiling height, and the look you want to achieve. A professional designer can help you get that wow factor without going over the top.
I think it’s not so much that traditional housing has more character, but that the nature of modern design tend to make houses look plain. Traditionally, engineering technology is not as advanced as it is nowadays, so builders have to find creative ways, like adding extra beams, pillars, etc, for support. Modern architects have better ways and technologies for the difficulties, so they often opt for making their designs look more simple. Still, the simplicity gives designers something to work with, and to feature creativity in a different way than traditional designs.
Nicolette
http://www.furnitureanddesignideas.com
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