Interior casing-main entry- design ideas
I have a post-war center hall colonial. Typical bland design with zero casing around all of the windows/doors, etc. I’ve been installing a nice wide traditional colonial casing around all of the doors, doorways, and windows. The moulding is similar to the linked image below. It is mitered 45 degrees at the corners (standard casing deal.)
For the main entrance, I would like to make it stand out more. What are your opinions on that?
Is it appropriate? (I know I can do whatever I want, but I do want to keep it inline with traditional design in case I end up moving.)
How do you finish trim guys jazz up the main entrance but still keep it inline with the styles of the other casing?
fyi – the main entrance is about 2 feet from a 5 feet wide entranceway into the living room. The same wall also has two 6 foot wide windows (living room and dining room) nearby.
Pics would be great too.
Replies
you could use the same casing but add a backband and maybe plinth blocks at the base.
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what kind of base are you using?
what I've done and liked the look of is to set a column (1x or bead or cove) one either side of the door, set a 'lintil' across of 5/4 (1 size wider than the columns) and then set a crown on top of that. At the bottom of the columns build the base out to wrap around it so the bulk will give it a visual foundation. If there's already a crown in use in the house I try to find something similar (if narrow is already used, I go up 1 size). and if the crown lends itself to it you can make up a dentil mold out of a chair rail to set under the crown. Confusing? I'll try to find a picture or two that I know I have around here somewhere. If not I might have time to do one in Sketchup.
Edited 5/19/2008 4:55 pm ET by john7g
Here's the trim I used on a moderately up-scale basement job a few years ago. 3¼" x ¹¹/16" Colonial casing very similar to what you showed, plus 5/4 plinth blocks with an appliqué and 1x6 shop-moulded base with ¾x¾ quarter-round shoe. The jamb & head casings were mitred normally.
View Image
I also used a built-up cornice at the ceiling instead of angled crown. Lots more visual punch for lots less trouble. Very simple to make, actually. The backer is shop-made from 1x4 and moulded to the same profile as the baseboards; then I just tacked on a stock 7/8" cove moulding.
View Image
I could have used corner blocks and a b-u cornice for head casings, too, but this was a basement with a drop-ceiling, and finished wall height was enough under 8' that I didn't want to overpower things with that much visual weight up high.
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Thanks all. I've decided that I will go with the same colonial casing with plinths and a header (instead of mitering the same casing for the top.) I've got crown for the top of the wall so I'll match (as best as I can) the smaller crown on the header.
Now per my other thread, I think I'm going to use stain grade instead of paint grade so I can match the door. Hopefully that will give the door a nicer feel and "an excuse" for the casing to not match the rest of the casing in the house.