skip to main content

Design Dilemma Remodeling Flooring

cove moulding at baseboard?

6 years ago

I am installing new 6 inch craftsman style baseboards. I will have to use a shoe type moulding at the base because the floors are uneven and the hardwood stops a little short in a few places. (The house was built in 1961 and it is original hardwood)
I am not in love with shoe moulding or quarter round, can I use cove moulding or is that some sort of faux pas? Thanks!

Featured Answer

cat_ky

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Both look well done, but, I would prefer the shoe over the cove. I can just imagine the chips that would come out of the cove frrom bumps and bruises. Although, maybe my house gets more bumps and bruises, since I have 7 great grandkids in my area, that are here quite often, and they are very young. Its easy to go along with a small piece of sandpaper and a bit of touch up paint, to fix a small paint nick in the shoe moulding. If that bottom narrow part of the cove moulding gets damaged, it would require a lot more than a basic paint touch up.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (16)

cat_ky
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
You can use whatever looks good to you. :-) That said, I am not fond of shoe moulding or any other moulding with my baseboards, although, I do have shoe moulding in this house because it is necessary. You do get used to it, after a while. It does get nicked frequently from kids toys, and from vacuum cleaners. Sometimes, we just have to live with things that are necessary.
ci_lantro
6 years ago
You can sure use cove mould at the intersection.

Stylewise, I would be looking for something else more angular and more in keeping with Craftsman design.
Related Discussions
thin or thick
Q
Comments (5)
When we did our upstairs I had them match the trim on the first floor (simple colonial casing on doors and windows, and 2.5" cove mold baseboards). We have 8' ceilings on the first floor. I have debated that decision a hundred times. Wider trim WOULD look nicer with the new style doors we went with upstairs. But I think it would look funny downstairs even once we update the doors. The ceilings just aren't high enough to make it look right (upstairs we went with 8.5' and those extra 6" really count). If you have the ceiling height to support it, I would do it. And don't worry about matching from upstairs to downstairs. But if you have shortish ceilings (like us) then look at the doors and windows now and think, "would it look right to me if the trim was thicker and the wall space in between trim and ceiling was thinner?" You could even mock it up by taping strips of white paper on your current trim to make it thicker and white. Good luck, tough call!
...See More
Large cove moulding?
Q
Comments (7)
If your builders ''do it all'' and have not suggested their lumber company's special order program with thousands of choices available, then they don't do it all, and may not be qualified to be doing cabinetry. Cabinets are a different install animal. The molding on your inspiration piece is clunky and disproportionate. Even a 5'' cove molding won't make up for the filler piece being so tall and unornamented. It needs to be shorter, or have additional molding applied on top of it, like a library molding.
...See More
New build with kitchen cabinet too large for door cove crown molding
Q
Comments (41)
I am so grateful for this feedback I have received today. And thank you again PPF and Bryan911 for all the helpful details. I am going to see about a new upper cabinet. We’ve put too much into this project to let two upper cabinets good us up :) I had a lot of people including a designer I hired for a short time out eyes on this, and we still missed it. Just goes to show you how difficult it can be to build a house and get all the details to work out as hoped. PPF — the reason we broke up the expanse of the pantry door with shaker panels was since we wanted it to look integrates with the cabinetry and to break up the tall doors since we have 10’ ceilings. I do agree also about hinges that can be hidden. It also annoys me that they are such a bright gold when my lights and cabinet hardware will be more of an aged, satin brass. Is it easy to switch out hinges and not mess up the doors?
...See More
Eye for Design: Do these choices blend well?
Q
Comments (13)
@calidesign, I agree that it depends. Ours will be a corner fireplace, which I know is not always popular. But we have one now and actually really like it. There's something cozy and inviting about it to me. And in the new house, there are only two living room walls, as it is an open floor plan. One wall I wanted all windows and French doors, the other wall will have the TV. So the fireplace in the corner works for our space. We have used ours for overflow seating for kids sometimes, as you mention, or to sit right next to the fire for a few minutes to warm up. We look forward to the same possibility in the new house. We'll probably arrange the furniture something like this:
...See More
User
Original Author
6 years ago
@ci_lantro what else is there to use? I guess I thought I was limited to quarter round, cove or shoe. Any suggestions?
millworkman
6 years ago

Roman Ogee Floor Moulding also called Ogee Base Shoe.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
6 years ago
That is certainly not simple IMO . I think a simple shoe mold is the right choice .
User
Original Author
6 years ago
Here are 2 pictures I found that show shoe vs cove. Any suggestions or opinions?
kootenaycapable
6 years ago
Why not something with square edges?
User
Original Author
6 years ago
Good point @cat_ky and now that I am looking at them the shoe blends in more so than the cove, which is what I really want. I hate having to use either but it has to be done on my floors.

@kootenaycapable do you have an image or a name of something? Like I said I only knew about quarter round, shoe and cove. I'm open to something else.
User
6 years ago
Do it properly. Install originates to the low point and is scribed to the high point. No extra molding if any kind.
ci_lantro
6 years ago
Fibq--just flat stock of appropriate width to cover the ends on the floorboards. Ease the outer top edge with some sandpaper. Say, 1/2" thick x 1" wide, assuming 1/2" is enough to cover the gaps where the floorboards stop short. You want it to be pliable enough to be able to muscle it down to cover any gaps between the floor and the bottom of the base.
User
Original Author
6 years ago
@ci_lantro that sounds beautiful. I am trying to find an image of it. That may be a little more towards what I was hoping for. Thank you
ci_lantro
6 years ago
Sophie, the prob is that the base moulding isn't thick enough to cover where the hardwood stops short at the wall. Installers left the expansion gap on the too wide side.
strategery
6 years ago
shoe.
tatts
6 years ago
Cove is too delicate if it gets hit.

There is stuff called stop moulding that might work for you (used for the stops that hold double-hung window shashes in place). It's thin and rectangular with one rounded edge. Looks great with craftsman style. It's available is sizes about 1/2" thick and 1' to 1.5' wide.
vickytorey
2 years ago
How to put shoe molding up to the door jamb

Related Stories

REMODELING GUIDES Crown Molding: Is It Right for Your Home?

By Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

See how to find the right trim for the height of your ceilings and style of your room

MOST POPULAR How to Get Rid of Household Mold

Find out how to work with a pro to stop mold from damaging your house and health — and how to prevent it from forming

KITCHEN DESIGN 9 Molding Types to Raise the Bar on Your Kitchen Cabinetry

By The Inman Company

Customize your kitchen cabinets the affordable way with crown, edge or other kinds of molding

REMODELING GUIDES Design Details: Moldings — or Not?

By Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

16 new and unusual ways to trim your doors, floors and ceilings

REMODELING GUIDES Frame Your Views With Great Moldings and Casings

By Scheer & Co. Interior Design

How to Work With Trim to Give Your Space Depth and Interest

DESIGN DICTIONARY Baseboard

This simple wood adornment serves as a protector where walls meet floors

DESIGN DETAILS 9 Eye-Catching Baseboard Designs

By Toronto Interior Design Group

Baseboards can be modern and minimal or tall and dramatic. Here's how to find one that completes the style of your home

GREAT HOME PROJECTS How to Bring Out Your Home’s Character With Trim

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

New project for a new year: Add moldings and baseboards to enhance architectural style and create visual interest

WALL TREATMENTS Pack a Punch by Pairing Your Wallpaper and Trim

By Jess McBride

Get the most out of your wallcovering by choosing the right color for your baseboards, crown moldings and window trim

COLONIAL DESIGN Roots of Style: The Origins and Meaning of Colonial Revival Trim

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

See how today’s traditional crown molding, window trim and baseboard relate to features of ancient architecture

Sponsored

More Discussions

How would you update this fireplace?

11

Kitchen Remodel: Brain Melt I need Help!

8

Critique my new floorplan! Master bath and kitchen

7

Floor Plan Help

1

Having trouble deciding which brand of kitchen cabinets to purchase.

5