One of the most charming features of old Victorian houses is the molding that gives special character to the expansive rooms with high ceilings. The limitless uses of molding in the Victorian era can still be employed today.
Houses that were built in the late 1800s and the early 20th century had large, Victorian crown moldings, and chair rails and frame molding on the walls, along with wainscoting. But sad to say, like many common building materials used during that period, the molding that came in a variety of shapes and styles and was so common in many of these houses often is removed or covered up by paneling or wallboard as a result of renovation projects.
Modernizing these homes has removed all the warmth and charm that the molding provided. However, in an effort to bring back a Victorian look, many companies have started to mill these moldings once again.
An elaborate crown molding that runs along the top of a room between the walls and the ceiling will transform an ordinary room into a luxurious conversation piece. And a finished chair rail will give your room a refined apron as well as add a soft tapering effect to the design.
Molding not only can add warmth and personality to a room that has nothing going for it, but it can also be used to create a feeling of spaciousness. If you add a chair rail, for example, and paint it and the wall below a warm tone and then paint the divided wall above with a complementary cool color, it gives the perception that the room is bigger than it actually is and will pep up the whole area.
Decorative molding is used to hide the crevices between the window frame and the walls, and between doors and walls. Molding can also be used on plain doors to transform these flat panels into imaginative and beautiful entryways. Molding placed around fireplaces and bookcases creates a stylish and traditional look.
It is important to choose the type of molding with care and to consider the time period when the house was built because the shape of the molding will dramatically transform your room and may not be true to its architectural past.
There are other factors to take into consideration when deciding on molding. Old houses that have settled in over the years have no right angles—take it from one who knows—so cutting the inside and outside angles can be a real challenge.
When installing door and window moldings, it is best to fit each piece individually because there are more variables involved in working with window casings than with other types of moldings—ranging from walls that are not uniform in thickness to window openings that are not square.
In some cases, your project my have half new walls and half old walls, which basically means chaos when installing molding. For these conditions, there are tools and gauges that can help you find the perfect angle, and most big box stores have these items in stock.
These issues can all be a little overwhelming for a do-it-yourself weekend project. So if you are not experienced in carpentry and woodworking—and even if you are experienced—it is advisable to do some research and seek help from professionals.
Molding can be pretty expensive when you look at the fancy stuff. But if you are creative, you can get great results at a much lower price. The little bit of extra time you take up front in researching, planning, and measuring will have a big payoff—not just in the value added but in the pleasure of recreating some of the tradition and charm of a bygone era.
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