Replies

1. 
   JDRHI | Sep 15, 2003 08:21pm | #1

   I try and keep all mouldings proportionate to one another. Homes with large casings and baseboards (5"+ casings and/or 8" + baseboards) deserve a larger chair rail (crown, etc.). If you can`t find a large enough chair rail at Lowes, try designing your own using built up mouldings.

   J. D. Reynolds

   Home Improvements

   "DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"

2. 
   dIrishInMe | Sep 15, 2003 08:26pm | #2

   The size of trim is set to the scale of the room and the other trim in the room.   There are some architecturally correct formulas, but since I don't know the exact formulas (someone else?) it might be easier if you answer these questions: 

   1) how high are the ceilings in the room?

   2) what is the height of the base mold in the room?

   3) what is the width of the casing molding on the windows and doors?

   4) what is the width of the crown mold (if any)?

   Wider chair rail can be achieved by building up moldings - ie: chair rail backer.  To my eye, 2 5/8 " chair rail, by itself, wouldn't look good in other than a somewhat low cost home.

   Matt

   
   

   ---

   Edited 9/15/2003 1:28:15 PM ET by DIRISHINME

1. 
   edwardh1 | Sep 15, 2003 08:34pm | #3

   ceiling 8'

   base mold - prob 6"

   window casings 4' or 4 1/2

   no crown

   thanks

1. 
   dIrishInMe | Sep 15, 2003 09:03pm | #4

   Assuming your numbers are acurate, You may want to check them, (that casing sounds kind of wide) go with the larger chair rail with a chair rail backer wof a total width of about 4.5".  You are gonna need to return the chairrail at the door and window openings.  Matt

2. 
   Piffin | Sep 15, 2003 10:43pm | #5

   We use architectural tims that size all the time, but often under 9' ceilings.

   Our most typical chair rail is 2-3/4" detail on the wall under a 15/16" protrusion similat to a window sill for a total height well over 3" but I don't see too many taller than that. A lot depends on matching or complimenting dtails in the rest of the trims.

   Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   dIrishInMe | Sep 15, 2003 11:59pm | #6

   As I suspected, it sounds like it is a regional thing too.   For example, in the SE, we do mostly painted moldings.  I know that in the mid west, it is mostly stain grade, and I had a lady from Hawaii tell me that she though moldings were ugly and made the room look cluttered.  She preferred windows, doors, etc with no casings... modern look?

   Here in NC, a typical molding package (all painted) for the new home's formal areas would consist of:

   economy:  ~3.25" base, 2.25" casing (windows & doors), 3" chair-rail (if any) , 3.5" crown (if any). note: some national builders do windows and closet doors that have no casing - just drywall wrapped returns. (8' ceilings)

   upscale: ~6" base, 3.25" colonial casing (windows & doors), 4.25" built up chair-rail, ~6" built up crown (9' ceilings)

   daddy-war-bucks: ~8" built up base, 4.25" colonial casing (windows & doors), ~5" chair-rail, ~8" built up crown (9' - 12' ceilings)

   http://www.palmerdonavin.com/producbding/ecatforweb/interior/Interior%20pages%2080-88.pdfMatt

1. 
   Piffin | Sep 16, 2003 03:09am | #7

   Yeah, You've got a stronger Georian influence int the architecture down there. The wall below the chair is often raised panels too, right?.

   Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   dIrishInMe | Sep 17, 2003 03:50pm | #8

   You said: "Yeah, You've got a stronger Georgian influence int the architecture down there. The wall below the chair is often raised panels too, right?"

   Come to think of it, I think that is it exactly (a stronger Georgian influence).  Raised panel - yes, at least in the dining room in mid to upper end houses.   As you know, there are some tricks that can be employed to get "the heavy molding look" without installing 25k LF of stock.  Attached are a few pics from my own house.  The free labor had a lot to do with getting "the look" too. 

   "Foyer" pic shows picture mold below 2 pc crown with the space painted in the trim color to give the first glance appearance of really wide trim.  The design idea was to "bring the ceiling down" a bit.

   "Foyer chair rail" pic shows fake wainscoting (sp?) made of ogee molding and then the built up chair rail.

   "Dining room" pic chows the combination of 6.25" base, built up chair rail and 2pc + 2pc crown mold.

   BTW - DW picked the paint colors...Matt

3. 
   JDRHI | Sep 17, 2003 04:29pm | #9

   Nice work Matt....its amazing the impact "free labor" can have on a home. My own house is currently undergoing some major, priceless, renovations. J. D. Reynolds

   Home Improvements

   "DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"

4. 
   Piffin | Sep 17, 2003 07:06pm | #10

   A tray ceiling too!

   great work and colour choices!

   and i love Tuscan column. Simple but elegant without too much foo-foo.

   Excellence is its own reward!