Yes, you can add any molding that you want. A one inch trim, with any molding underneath. just make sure you prime it before painting.

One trick is to use a piece of smaller molding 4-6inches above the base - then paint everything from new molding to floor the same color.
By painting the wall the molding color it will look like you have beefier baseboard molding.

I've also seen the technique used around doorm molding as well w/the wall space between painted as well!

Jim

If your current trim is what's traditionally called ranch base, then it becomes a little trickier to add on to it. Ranch trim is tapered from the floor up, with a very small return at the top, generally about 3" overall height.

You'll need something with a bit of a lip on it (like a picture frame molding) to overlay the top of it. It would look funny if it didn't overlap and just sat on top - if you could even find something with the same thickness - because it would have a seam or a crack at that point. The profile of what you add shouldn't be too ornate or it will be incongrous with what you have - something simple but that will create interesting shadow lines.

Your best bet is to go to a place with a lot of molding choices, take a piece of ranch trim and start playing with other profiles to see what looks nice with it. Don't forget you also need a way to attach the new one to what you have - if it attaches too close to the top where it's really thin you risk splitting it, even with finish nails.

I'm guessing you have something like the ATW-B13 shown in the link below. In that case a small, simple astragal molding might be your best bet to add som interesting detail to what you have.

Here is a link that might be useful: Trim Profiles

Yes, dlm, these are very skimpy on the top so it would be tough to add more molding directly onto it with out the seam showing. Your idea of picture-type molding would work though.

But I love Jim's idea of placing an additional piece a few inches above and using paint to fill in. Has anyone done this and could you share your tips?

My walls are untextured so that should help.

I will need to find an area where I can take a piece of my existing molding off so that I can bring some with me to the store and check these options out.

Trisha, I'm going to have to sand the existing trim before priming I assume, since it is stained. Maybe this will be more hassle than it's worth! I think I will price out replacing it, as well, in case I decide it's not worth the effort.

Thanks, you guys, for the great ideas!

I think you'd be a LOT better off, unless you have a great deal of time on your hands and are just terribly bored ;-) just popping off the old moldings and installing new in a larger size. There is a very CHEAP, pretty quick, and attractive way of doing a good bulky baseboard - it involves a piece of 1x6 (which is really 3/4" by 5 1/2") lumber and a small type of molding called a "base cap" which is available at any lumberyard. Home Depot can order it, if that's your only option get in touch with me and I'll see if I can dig out the stock number for it. Base cap is usually around an inch tall and is inexpensive. Sand the plain lumber until it is nice and smooth (beg, borrow, rent or buy a belt sander), prime it, and nail it to the wall at the studs after predrilling. Attach pre-primed base cap to top of board using little dots of construction adhesive (glue to the board, not the wall) every foot or so and some small nails through predrilled holes. Always predrill your moldings, I had one moron of a "professional" carpenter ruin many hundreds of dollars in clear oak molding by busting out the nail gun and splitting the wood! Fill nail holes with paintable wood putty, sand those spots, and prime those spots. Caulk the top profile of molding and where base cap meets board with paintable caulk. Paint. If you absolutely must, add a piece of quarter-round where it meets the floor; I don't care for it, but some people think a baseboard looks incomplete without it, so it's up to you.

FWIW... I live in a ca. 1900 house now and except for the living and dining rooms all the baseboards are simply plain square-edged 8" tall boards with no fancy trim at all. It suits the house very well as the window and door casings are equally plain. In the LR/DR there is another inch of slightly fancier molding topping the board, but it's still clear on close examination (if you know what you're looking for) it's board+trimming, not one single piece. Piecing has been a very common way of doing trim for many, many decades.

I believe they used the beefing-up the baseboard technique I described above in this LR.

Jim

{{!gwi}}

Wow, Donna's blog has SO MANY good ideas! I've just spent the last hour getting inspired by her!

I'm spending way too much time online exploring my options but I hope that, in the end, it serves me well by saving me money and aggravation.

I appreciate everyones input! Even though I have a large amount of base molding to deal with, replacing it entirely seems like such a shame...I hope I can find a compromise that will work well and not be overly taxing.