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Friday, June 10, 2011

Adding Architectural Details To Add Character To Your Home!!



We all know that in good design it is all about the details. I look at the main architecture of a space as the base, but when it comes to embellishing our homes with architectural elements it is like adding the jewelry to an outfit. 

I am an advocate for making the inside of your home look and feel like you want. We can not always afford the perfect beach home, or a Victorian, or a modern masterpiece, to name a few, but we can make our environment speak to those looks.

I will have to admit I am one very lucky lady that I have a talented husband who can add elements to our home that I love. Over the last thirty-some-odd years we have added many personal touches to our 1970’s Californian suburban ranch home. 

We all know that this style of home basically came as a box with no embellishments at all. If it was going to have character, we had to add our own.
I thought today I would share some of what we have done to our home to make it our own personal style.

All of the treatments are doable and affordable. Any of the moldings can be purchased at any molding supply or even big box stores like Lowe's or Home depot. We are only limited by our imagination and creativity.

First let’s start at the front door…………


entry1 (478x640)
You will notice I have a full French door. Notice the molding and the bulls-eye corner blocks at each corner?  You will also notice a frame molding is on the ceiling. Another simple treatment is the shadow frame wainscoting. This adds a bit of formality to my entry and also gives a nod to the Traditional style that I like.


To the left of the entry is my living room. We have added crown molding and a framed treatment with a medallion on the ceiling.

spice cupboard and living room molding 006 (600x800)
This is the entrance into the living room where we added corbels to each side of the opening. Can you tell I would love to live in an older home?



spice cupboard and living room molding 008 (800x600)
The simple frame molding on the ceiling adds so much character for so little money. When doing this make sure you stand back and look at it from a distance to determine how far from the edge of the wall you want to go. I did this by using blue painters tape and moving it until it looked right to me. 


spice cupboard and living room molding 007 (800x600)
In this image you can  see we used the same dentil molding that is around the room as a cornice board to hide the top of the roller shades.

Next we will go into the kitchen. I still have the original birch cabinets that my father-in-law built over 30 years ago, but we have embellished them a bit. A easy face-lift to do.

IMG_0202 (800x600)
This use to be a fluorescent light box, remember those. We took down the fluorescent lights and added different moldings to the box. I purchased a mini vintage chandelier and added a medallion. Now I have a pretty ceiling to look at instead of that horrid fluorescent light box.
We also added a cornice board on top of the kitchen window to hide a privacy shade that blocks the afternoon sun.


My cupboards in the kitchen had no molding what so ever. Before we had them painted we added a small crown and a skirt molding to the bottom of the cupboard to give it some character.
IMG_0201 (800x600)We also added legs that are actually $2 shelf brackets. See the tiny molding at the bottom of the cupboard, that little inexpensive piece of molding just finished off the look perfectly. A shadow box frame was added to the end of the cabinet. 


spice cupboard and living room molding 010 (800x600)
This shows the skirt molding at the bottom of the cupboards.



I love adding architecture to a home, it seems to give it so much more character. I know many of you on the east coast have lovely older home that already have built in character. Living in suburban California does not always give us the character built in that we would like.

Have any of you added some character to your home with moldings? Can you believe what an amazing affect it gives to your home?

I hope you have enjoyed this little tour of how we added some moldings to make our home look and feel like the home we have always wanted! If you would like to see more of my kitchen you can go to the side bar and click on the picture of my kitchen and it will take you to a post that shows the different ways I change my kitchen for the seasons!

“Enjoy the Process” Of:

Adding character to your home with molding!!

Kathysue

25 comments:

Jessie said...

I love moldings, wood panels, chair rails and wainscoting. It definitely gives a home more character and visual interest!

Have a wonderful and relaxing weekend, Kathysue!

Jessie
www.mixandchic.com

Teresa Hatfield ~ Splendid Sass said...

Kathysue,
You have done a beautiful job on your home. I love all of the molding!
The ceilings and cabinets are amazing.
Have a great evening.
Tersa
xoxo

Karen said...

When we started looking at builders one of the first questions I asked was what architectural details were included when they built a home. Our last home was a basic colonial box with nothing interesting. I would never have thought to add it as you and your husband did.

The enchanted home said...

Love this post..its all in the details and looks like you nailed it! Love all the modlings, and your beautiful cabinets in the kitchen (love the hardware too) I so agree that in adding these architectural elements...it is what makes a home special and personal.

Rashon Carraway said...

Molding...this is the good kind!


Kathysue I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!!



Rashon aka Mr. Goodwill Hunting

Patty said...

What wonderful details. You are so lucky to have a talented husband. I live in suburban California, too. Luckily our home is older and still has some of it's original charm but you have inspired me to add more!

helen tilston said...

Beautiful details and it looks like the mouldings and trim were always part of your decor. Thanks for sharing.
HelenTilston

Tote said...

Kathysue, I loved your home tour. The added moldings really do add character to a home.
Have a great weekend.

Susan

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

Beautiful details! I love your entry and kitchen! XO, Pinky

Leo said...

Love the color of your kitchen cabinets. So pretty and vibrant.

Marcus Design said...

Gorgeous! Moldings make me drool, I must admit. Architectural details really make a room don't they?
Nancy xo

Jessie said...

I just awarded you 'The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award'. When you get a chance, please stop by my blog and pick up your prize.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jessie
www.mixandchic.com

a perfect gray said...

we have only lived in older homes; we wouldn't have it any other way. mouldings are one of the things that give older homes character that many new ones lack. love your post, kathysue! donna

Crystal @ Ordinary Days said...

You guys have done a fantastic job! I enjoyed looking at this very much. I love adding charm and character to a home. I agree with you. Make yourself love what you have. :) Have a great weekend!!

Crystal

Melissa Miller said...

Gorgeous home Kathysue! Your details are simply amazing.

Happy summer!
~Melissa

vignette design said...

I love seeing all the details you have added to your home. I really like how you removed the fluorescent light box and created a beautiful ceiling, complete with crystal chandelier. Mouldings really make a difference. Our home is 105 years old, but in the 50's it was "modernized." All the crown moulding was removed. So, I had to put it back! Go figure....
~Delores

quintessence said...

Totally agree = these kinds of architectural details can make all the difference. You are so lucky to have such a handy husband - your look great!!

Linda Hartong said...

Touches that make all the difference. These are the kinds of details we hope to add to the Carmel cottage.

La Vie Quotidienne said...

i love all of these details and you have done a marvelous job. They add so much charm and interest. Just wonderful!

SHERRY HART said...

It is always in the detail. Whether it is design, food, architecture, or clothes! You got a good hubby there :)

Carol@6WilsonBlog.com said...

Kathysue, what a great look at your changes. I am a nut for molding, as I like traditional, like you. Your changes are gorgeous, and I love what you did with the base of the cabinets in the kitchen. How I wish I could paint my ugly oak!! (well, I could, but my husband wouldn't be pleased!)) I am an old house girl myself, but alas we are in an almost 20-year old devoid of great detail. After 4+ years we've added some, but have a long way to go. I can see it in my head though, so progress continues! Have a great rest of the weekend, Carol

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

Hi Kathysue! I enjoyed seeing the beautiful touches you've added to your home. I would not have guessed that it was Ranch style. I really am amazed at what a difference you can make with just mouldings.

Carla@DesignintheWoods said...

The mouldings do a lot to add traditional touches to a home. How nice to have such a handy husband! Great job, Kathysue!

Anonymous said...

Great ideals ! We built a 80's ranch as cheaply as two kids could do it and over the years made it better, so I understand your thouhgt process here perfectly. Great post. vicky Room service

Mel@Georgica Pond said...

That's so inspiring. One of the things I hate about our new house is that the skirtings, moldings and architraves are so dated, daggy and small. Very project home of the era and it's one of the things I want to change most. My husband and the builder keep telling me it's not worth the money but I disagree because I think we can change the whole look, feel and quality of our house by changing theses details and making them grander, more substantial and of higher perceived quality. Thanks for showing that you don't have to spend a fortune to achieve this, and that by adding these small details the overall effect is increased hugely!