A question for all you trim carpenters out there. Is it possible or advisable to mix different interior trim styles than what the style of the house suggests?
I have what is otherwise a traditional center hall colonial style house. I would like to upgrade the trim inside the house. I like the decorative crown on the window/door header of the craftsman/arts and crafts style. How best can I use this type of decorative header treatment while still somewhat stay in keeping with the colonial style of the house.
Various books show a fluted casing instead of the 1x mixed with the decorative header, but I’m not a fan of the fluted casing. Would a piece of 3″ colonial casing work here or would it just look off?
Replies
BTT
Ya know, I read this the other night and not clearly understanding your Q, I got a book out to refresh my mind on some details, then fell asleep with it and never answered.
Fact is, I found that only a small percentage ( maybe more in that formal entry area) of the colonial trims used the fluted pilaster style door casing.
And it was VERY common to mix trim molding, going from most elaborate in the formal areas up front to simpler casings in the less formal areas.
So if I understand you right, given that we have no drawing to look at together, I don't see a problem with what you have in mind.
If you have drawings or photos to share, that might stimulate more discussion. Verbal descriptions often lose interest in some things.
You would probably also enjoy the thread, "Lost Architecture" that is current here if you can find it.
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Thanks for the reply, i sometimes have a hard time explaining what I want to do. Basically I like the decorative crown topped headers shown in the arts and crafts thread. There is a photo early in the thread showing a white door, bathroom door I think. ANYWAY... I wanted to use a piece of 3-inch std. colonial casing as legs topped with a piece of 7/16-inch bullnose head stop, a 1x6 and some 2-1/2-inch crown.
Would using the colonial casing as legs as opposed to the 1x4 shown look okay?
This will be in the entry way of the house, so I need to trim the openings to living room, dining room and two doorways, coat closet and powder room. All of which have 8 foot ceilings to provide you with perspective. There will be a 4-1/4-inch crown around the entry and down the hall.
In my mind, the plain 1x4 would look better, esp if you are talking standard 2-14" colonial casing. Google up the Windsor one website and Princeton moldings also.
They both have some good choices and have most of them grouped by style
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