Here at The Providence Group’s Design Studio, we like to keep up to date with today’s trends, but we also like to understand a little about their history and where they come from. Although sometimes overlooked, the addition of uniquely placed trim and millwork can have a large impact in your home. From adding a small accent wall of shiplap or a large coffered ceiling in a family or dining room, there is no denying that your eyes will be drawn to these details and create a warm sophisticated feeling as well as an added touch of artistic expression.
We are all familiar with different kinds of trim work like “chair rail”, “wainscoting”, “crown molding”; but did you know that these accent pieces we now add in our homes as a form of decoration weren’t always used for this purpose? At one time, chair rail molding was used to prevent the chairs from damaging the walls. Sometimes this was also accompanied by wainscot paneling to add an extra layer of insulation that stone or stucco was unable to supply. And crown molding was once used to correct the imperfections when the walls met the decorative plaster ceilings which would crack at the edges.
The use of trim and millwork was originated by the Greeks and Romans and it has a lot of influence in our architecture today. As the country grew, so did the many styles of homes which in part contributed to the different styles of trim and millwork which we can find in homes today. The type of trim and millwork a house has can reflect the era it was influenced by. Today in age, we still use trim and millwork details as a visual transition with functional means but our first instinct is to see it as decorative detail. Adding the appropriate moldings in the right places can also help bring your home’s style to life.
One of our most recent influences on molding styles is the Craftsman Movement, which was considered an era of simplicity of form. This has led to a more simplistic style of trim work which is what we use in our newest homes today. For example, like the board and batten which you can see installed in several of our homes. Today we have the capability to choose from all kinds of molding details for ceilings, walls, doors and window casings. The addition of these can bring a room from feeling like a Colonial style home with detailed crown molding to a farm house with simple shiplap walls. You can take a space that seemed so big and cold, add a coffered ceiling and it will instantly become classy and welcoming.
There are multiple styles and forms available to give your home the look you’ve always wanted without moving a wall. So next time you are thinking on how you can give your home a slight makeover without the hassle of tearing out sheetrock, or building a home with TPG, keep in mind these small additions that can create the look and feel you are trying to achieve.
For more information on our Design Studio or design trends, please register online. Our Online Home Advisor will be able to assist you with any additional questions you may have. Follow us on Instagram @theprovidencegroup to view more of our design teams selections featured throughout our homes!
*Blog content courtesy of Tatiana Brose, Designer in The Providence Group’s Design Studio.
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