4 Affordable Ways to Create Architectural Interest
Have you ever toured a historic home and fallen head over heels in love with the decor? You visited time and time again trying to figure out how to recreate the look. Like a design detective, you took pictures of the scene, questioned designers, inquired about paint colors, and cross examined furniture suppliers. Admit it—I know I'm not the only one!
You may not realize that even if you have the exact same furnishings and paint colors, your home would not have the same feeling of grandeur without a few architectural details. Sounds expensive, right? Wrong. This ideabook reveals four design tricks for creating architectural interests that prove to be easy on the wallet, but big on style.
You may not realize that even if you have the exact same furnishings and paint colors, your home would not have the same feeling of grandeur without a few architectural details. Sounds expensive, right? Wrong. This ideabook reveals four design tricks for creating architectural interests that prove to be easy on the wallet, but big on style.
1. Wainscot paneling, sometimes referred to as judges panels, has made a comeback due to the popularity of renovating and neighborhood revitalization. Wainscot paneling makes even a sparsely decorated space feel dressed.
Clean, classic, and timeless details like these increase a home's resale value.
2. Ceiling medallions are a quick and inexpensive way to create instant drama. They can be painted, glazed, or faux finished, like the one seen in this dining room.
Ceiling medallions are available in plaster (which are heavier, pricier, and more fragile) and urethane-based (which are lightweight, pre-primed and easy to install). Purchase them from your local home improvement store in the lighting section or from online retailers.
3. Decorative moldings. Craftsman pioneer Gustav Stickley wrote that molding should "have each room so interesting in itself that it seems complete before a single piece of furniture is put into it."
This ceiling molding treatment with contrasting paint colors and curved corners on the inside panel commands attention in this well-crafted foyer.
This ceiling molding treatment with contrasting paint colors and curved corners on the inside panel commands attention in this well-crafted foyer.
Framing wallpaper in decorative moldings is a great design trick that instantly adds panache to a large, empty wall.
In lieu of wallpaper, leave as is, hang artwork, or install a wall sconce within the panel. The possibilities are endless.