I have a Gordon VanTine 1934 craftsman style bungalow kit house that has been badly mangled over the years, which I’m trying to rectify. I need to install crown molding of some sort in the dining room, and I do not know what is authentic (if any is) in this type of building. If there was some originally installed, it is gone throughout the house. The dining room is a small room, 10 x 12.
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http://www.windsorone.com/moldings/craftsman/default.asp
Here's an example of Craftsman style trim and molding. However, I agree that you should be leary about putting anything up at all.
How tall is the ceiling?
Interesting. I didn't think craftsman style crowns were usually that big. On my house, it's 3 piece molding, with the center piece being a 1" x 1" cove, and top and bottom being 1/2" x 2". more reveal on the wall piece than the ceiling.
zak
I would prefer not to have any molding at all, but drywall was added to (9') ceiling, leaving a 1-2" gap between the ceiling drywall and wall, adding the cheapest plastic crown molding imaginable. What you have sounds like it is simple enough that it would cover the gap, and not look overpowering in the room. Thanks.
Do you think you have enough headroom for beam ceiling like the one attached?
I like the beams in the room you showed, but my room is not very big at all nor square (has a chimney in a corner), and I think it would not work with a planned (but years off) addition.
Here's a couple pictures of my crown molding. It's in the living, dining, and kitchen. I had to take off all the popcorn sprayed over it, and patch some spots. It's still not entirely painted.
zak
I like the looks of your molding: simple, yet will cover the gap.
Craftsman style crown molding? That sounds like an oxymoron to me. I would be more inclined to consider just a frieze made of flat stock. Built up, if needed.
Complicated profiles seem a bastardization of the craftsman ideal.
you're bang on dude! was thinking the same thing.
As I was framing my house people kept asking me if I was going to have crown, when I told them no...I could tell they thought oh I guess you're cheaping out. I explained to them that it wouldn't suit the house. It will be a craftsman style with wide flat stock - no crown.
It seems that everyone and their dog thinks a nice house has to have crown. Now that the trim is done in my house, people walk thru and go wow this is different. people don't see much craftsman/arts and crafts style around. people seem to build these undefined style of home with a mix of everything and crown is a must. but what the homes seem to lack is real true character.
if any type of crown is to be used I'm with ya on the flat (frieze type) stock I've seen one photo of a room done that way, and it can look very nice.
ditto what you and jesse said. I'm considering an upper wall band, which will definatley be a simple flat stock. Anti-monarchist - no crowns.
Put me in your camp, too - coffered clg, maybe; crown,probably not.
Perhaps a contemporary craftsman or 'contemprairie craftsman' (C) could work with something like flat 1x stock on the wall and clg with a flat 45 running between them. . . .
I think the windsorone offering looks like a cross between federal and craftsman.
I think I was not correctly using the terminology of crown molding vs. just asking what could I do to cover the gap between wall and ceiling. I wasn't thinking of the traditional crown molding, but didn't know what else to call trim at that juncture. This discussion has been a great help, and I've already decided to redo trim in the dining room that's not really appropriate. Should have asked here before I did that work.
There is a book titled something like "Craftsman Style Interior Moldings" that was published in 2004 I think. I installed a plate rail that I copied from the book. Anyway, if you can't locate the book, I'll check at home on the exact title and author.
Some houses had picture rail installed very close to the ceiling. I thought this was rather odd (we have it in our house in some rooms) but others have assured me that it was at least fairly common. So you might want to look into that also. It would not be as large as crown molding.
I believe the books you might be referring to are:Shop Drawings for Craftsman Interiors: Cabinets, Moldings & Built-Ins for Every Room in the Home [Paperback] By: Robert W. Langand More Shop Drawings for Craftsman Furniture: 30 Stickley Designs for Every Room in the Home [Paperback] By: Robert W. LangThey look like good resources...decent diagrams. I purchased the pair and will incorporate the craftsman style in our new house.another one that looks promising as well is:Shop Drawings for Craftsman Furniture: 27 Stickley Designs for Every Room in the Home [Paperback] By: Robert W. LangAbout $15 per from Amazon...Rippy
Thanks for the references. Headed over to Barnes and Noble right now to see if they have them.
Yup, that's them. Jane Powell also has a new book out on Bungelow interiors that might be helpful. I saw it on Saturday at the Gamble house bookstore. Too late to get tickets for the house tour though.
Go to your local Borders or Barnes and Noble bookstore, and spring for the pricey magazine "American Bungalow."
It will be jam-packed with shots of interiors, and you will get some great ideas for trim schemes.
But crown molding in a Craftsman? I don't think so.
Many Craftsman interiors have schemes in which a continuous horizontal band of one flat board runs around rooms at door and window head casing height. Sometimes that band is trimmed additionally with a thick square bead sitting proud on top.
But "crown" as we think of it? A 52-degree molded profile at wall-ceiling junction? Never. No. Don't do it.