Unexpected Design Ideas with Trim

Using crown moulding and detailed trim in unique and unexpected ways can also add depth, dimension, and value to your home.  Consider creating layered, rectangular focal points using thin pieces of trim in a dining or living room.  This detailing will add class and elegance, but it is still easy to execute.

This effect is created by constructing frames (simple wooden rectangles), usually in two or three sizes, and then placing the smaller frames inside the larger on a wall.  In effect, these rectangular wall frames will create the illusion that the room is larger and will create amazing visual interest.  The smallest frame can also serve to highlight a special photo or a favorite piece of art, but the frames can stand alone for a more classic look.

Where Should Wall Frames Go in a House?

Classically, this feature was most frequently seen in dining rooms and parlors.  In these rooms, the look is often carried out throughout the entire space – meaning that homeowners would install multiple sets of frames to fill the room.  For example: three on North and South walls, and two on West and East walls.

Since it is always fun to add personal flair to a classic look, it is also great to consider adding a single set in a bedroom or bathroom to highlight a photo or artwork.  This works wonderfully in a master bedroom for couples who want to show off a particularly special wedding photo or a great shot of the kids.

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Installing Trim Frames in Your Dining Room

A dining room is an ideal place to try this beautiful feature.  First, decide on your color scheme.  The most classic looks will be achieved when the room as a whole is painted one solid color – usually a bold blue, a deep yellow, or a warm red will be perfect choices.  Painting all the trim one color – usually white – is the best option for colors here.  The crisp white will tie the trim together and help create depth.

Next, choose your trim.  You’ll want to choose a few different sizes with some variation in their edging (the way they are beveled or carved).   For best results, choose styles that are all about the same width, using smaller sizes for smaller rooms.

Tip: The average dining room table seats eight.  For rooms with tables of this size, using ¾ inch trim will suit the space best.

Next, choose the size of your frames.  Length: If the dining room has 9 foot ceilings, with 4 inches of crown moulding and a 4 inch baseboard, then there are really 8 feet to work with here.  Leaving space at the top and bottom of the wall is very important, so the largest frame should be about 6 feet tall.  Width: The width will vary based on your needs in the room, but a good rule of thumb is to make sure the width is larger than one place-setting at your table, but smaller than two.  That means usually less than 3 feet.  Remember, have fun and choose whatever looks best to you!

Cutting the trim is the next crucial step.  Measure twice, cut once!  That’s the best saying in the business.  Cut each piece with a 45 degree angle (guides are usually at your local hardware store).  Since the trim is small, these cuts can be made with a handsaw, which will reduce risk of injury and overall cost.

Install the trim.  Once again, measure and measure and measure!  Use a level – preferably one with a laser guide – to make sure all the trim is straight.  The trim should be fairly lightweight and can be installed using simple household nails, but screws will provide the most security.

Once the frames are installed, enjoy!

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Victorian Brackets

For homes with a more classic feel, especially those which are truly Victorian, installing Victorian Brackets is one of the best and easiest ways to add style and flare to your home’s exterior. These brackets are intricately carved and constructed, triangular brackets that are normally placed on the upper corners of covered porches, sometimes butting up to the house itself. The most classic application of Victorian Brackets will be using them on the exterior of the home. What is really fun about these pieces, is that the classic look calls for bold and bright colors. Homeowners should really experiment with using greens, pinks, purples, and any other colors they love. Match the colors to the landscaping in the front yard to really make the colors pop.

Another fun and interesting idea is to use these brackets on the interior entryway of your home. This will work very well for homes with a vintage feel, eclectic style, and likely not in classically restored Victorian homes. For homeowners who love adding funky and interesting pieces, adding these beautifully detailed wooden brackets painted in bright colors can really add style. Especially for those with eclectic or bolder style, painting these in patterns or in hot colors like orange, red, or neon shades can add a much needed zest to the home-front. This is a great project for the creative types.

Victorian Brackets can also be used to secure small, wall-mounted shelves. The same way a wall-mounted shelf might be doubly secured with metal brackets, these beautiful pieces are perfect for adding style to the shelves in a home. Because the brackets are so detailed, it looks best to use beveled edges on the shelf toppers. Glass shelves can be another great option. For a more classic look, homeowners can stain the wood on both the brackets and shelf with the same colors, or paint them with the same color or colors. If the shelves are placed in an entryway, they can serve as a beautiful tie-in between exterior and interior elements.

Tips:

Exterior Brackets – Be sure to use exterior paint, and attach the brackets with long, exterior screws.

Interior screws will rust away – leaving them insecure and possibly ruining your paint job!

Interior Brackets – Carefully place the brackets, so they are screwed into a beam in your wall. Also be sure to keep these high and don’t allow anything to be hung from them.

Examples here:

http://victorianwoodshop.com/ginger1.html 

http://www.amazon.com/Ornate-Cast-Iron-Shelf-Bracket/dp/B005TQD0CA 

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Why Tile At All?

Ceramic and/or glass tile make a much more practical surface than painted drywall for you (and for future homeowners and other potential buyers) when cooking and cleaning.  Any splashes of grease, water, tomato sauce, or whatever you might be cooking will be far easier to wipe off of a ceramic or glass surface.  On paint, even the smallest splash can lead a stain or damage the paint.  This gives you a more sanitary and simple space.

Tile is not just practical, it’s also beautiful.  It will add color and style to any space.  This is a place to express style – with that means hand-painted patterns and images, geometric patterns, simple glass, or classic white.  It will make your kitchen pop without hurting your pocket book.  A tile backsplash is a great investment in preserving your home’s beauty and quality.

How to Tile, When to Tile, Who to Ask for Help…

First thing is first, measure your area and mark it off.  Then, head to the tile store.  Make sure to consult the staff about the proper materials to use and about how much tile you actually need.  If you use larger, thicker tiles, you will likely need to rent a tile cutter.  This will use water to ensure the tile doesn’t crack or snap.  If you use a smaller tile, it will likely come in sheets which can more easily be cut.  This is a better option for most first-timers.  Tiles that come in sheets are also much easier to keep straight, and it makes the whole process faster.

Your local home improvement shop will also be a great resource in choosing grout.  You will want to choose a color that coordinates with the tile and the kitchen.  Since this is an interior space and won’t see all that much water and moisture, you will also want to use a finer grout.

When installing the tile, you will want to put a thin layer of mastic or thinset on the wall – scoop this with a trowel.  You will want to use a v-notch trowel at an angle and completely cover the area of your first few tiles or sheets.  Remember to read the directions!

Once you have done this, you will want to work fast.  Place your first tile or set of tiles lined up to your markings – don’t be afraid to readjust the first one.  Once the first is up, that will be your guard, so it is crucial that it is straight.  From here, work each new tile or set of tiles against the first.  You’ll also want to cut as you go – things may shift, so pre-cutting is almost always wasteful.  When the area is completely tiled, let it sit overnight.

The next day, you will grout the tile.  Place grout on a trowel – this time straight-edged.  Make sure the grout gets in between every tile, then clean up with a large sponge.  Let it sit again, and VOILA – you have a backsplash!

Before starting any wood porch projects, there are a few things any homeowner needs to know and acquire.

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Remember, if the wood is in good shape, you may only be looking at refinishing the porch, rather than completely redoing it. There are some great products on the market for doing major refinishing using thick composites. These range from natural to bright colors and can be a great option for busy people and the budget-conscious. That said, if the wood is bad, the porch is shaky, or it seems to be breaking, it is time to replace it.

First, make sure you have a partner. There will be plenty of lifting, cutting, pulling, and sweating. If you’re not a professional, it really is safer and easier to have a partner. Especially if this is a project you plan to do in the summertime, a partner will keep you hydrated and encourage you to take breaks.

Second, do a little digging – literally. Take a look at how your current deck is built to see what kinds of tool you’ll need for demolition. If the deck was built properly, it’s sure to have some beams supported by concrete. If you plan to remove these, you’ll need to make sure you have the man-power and/or equipment to move them. You’ll also want to take a look at the beams and boards, especially those on the underside. Take a flashlight, get on your stomach, and assess the damage.

Third, decide if the wood is useful for another project. If it is, you can make good use of aged wood for stylish shelves, frames, and tables. This will add a step in removing nails and screws, but is well worth it in saved money and potential profits later.

When going about demo, make sure you have battery powered screw drivers, a handsaw, a sludge hammer, gloves, and a crowbar. Unscrew everything you can find – everything. Then, use your crowbar and sludge hammer to rip up each board. Breaking and tearing through huge sections at a time will only get you hurt and leave a massive clean-up.

As you get to buried beams – secured in the ground – you will want to dig them out, then lift with your partner. Be careful and don’t overextend yourself. If you can’t lift it with your partner, you’ll need to get some equipment.

As the demo continues, make sure to stack the wood you’ll save neatly. This will save you time later. The wood that can’t be salvaged can be burned, so pile it up for a celebratory bonfire.

Once the demo is complete, you can start planning your new porch.