Volterra Architectural Products is a leading manufacturer of decorative architectural wood products that replicate the appearance of natural wood. With a selection of faux wood corbels, mantels, vigas, and more, you can find just what you’re looking for to complete all of your interior or exterior decorating, remodeling, or home improvement projects. In this blog, you’ll find all sorts of information about the selection of decorative faux wood products manufactured by Volterra Architectural Products. You can visit our website to browse and order the faux architectural elements you desire for your interior and exterior spaces or check out some posts for the chance get get some design inspiration.
When it comes to interior design, traditional styles have an enduring charm that transcends fleeting trends. At Volterra Architectural Products, we have numerous ways to infuse your home with traditional flair, turning your space into a timeless retreat. Below, we explore some of the best ways to bring a dash of the classic into your abode.
Accent With Faux Wood Beams
Faux wood beams are one of the most effective ways to add traditional flair to your home. These decorative wood beams evoke an old-world charm, transforming ordinary rooms into spaces brimming with character and warmth. Whether added to your living room, kitchen, or bedroom, they can create a rustic, cozy ambiance that’s sure to impress.
Embrace Faux Corbels
Faux corbels are another element that can add a traditional touch to your home. These decorative brackets, often found under beams, shelves, and mantels, provide a vintage aesthetic. Their intricate designs and textured finishes can imbue any space with a sense of history and craftsmanship.
Incorporate Moulding and Millwork
Moulding and millwork are classic design elements that have been used for centuries to enhance interiors. Crown moulding, baseboards, and wainscoting can create a more refined and elegant space. With a variety of styles and finishes available, these elements can be customized to perfectly match your home’s aesthetic.
Install Trusses or Vigas
For those looking to mInstalling trusses or vigas can add remarkable traditional charm fore a more substantial architectural statement. Trusses, often used in cathedral ceilings, add depth and visual interest, while vigas, characteristic of Southwest style, impart a unique and rustic touch to ceilings.
Traditional style is all about warmth, elegance, and timeless charm. With our range of faux wood beams, faux corbels, and a variety of moulding and millwork options, we at Volterra Architectural Products can help bring that classic appeal to your home. Whether you’re redesigning a single room or your entire house, let us assist you in creating a space that’s not only beautiful but also uniquely yours. Shop online with us today to begin your home’s transformation.
Embarking on a home renovation journey can be exhilarating, filled with dreams of enhancing your living space to perfectly reflect your style. However, it often starts with a critical decision: Should you remodel your existing space or opt for a home addition? Both options come with unique advantages and challenges. This guide by Volterra Architectural Products will delve into the pros and cons of each, helping you make an informed decision that suits your needs.
The Upside of Home Remodeling
Remodeling can be an effective way to transform your living space without altering your home’s existing footprint. It can improve the functionality, aesthetics, and value of your home. Updating key rooms, like kitchens or bathrooms, or integrating architectural products like faux wood beams, can dramatically elevate your space’s visual appeal. Remodeling also typically requires less time and resources than building an addition.
The Downside of Home Remodeling
However, a home remodel does come with its challenges. It can be disruptive, often rendering large portions of your home unusable during the renovation process. It’s also limited to your home’s existing structure – you can’t add more square footage without extending your home’s footprint. Plus, if you’re dealing with an older home, unexpected issues like outdated wiring or plumbing can crop up during the remodel, increasing costs and extending timelines.
The Advantage of Home Additions
On the other hand, a home addition allows you to tailor new space to your exact needs, whether that’s an extra bedroom, a sunroom, or a more expansive kitchen. It offers you the ability to increase your home’s square footage, providing more space for your family to grow. An addition can also significantly increase your property’s resale value.
The Drawbacks of Home Additions
However, home additions are typically more expensive and time-consuming than remodels. They may require zoning permits, and construction can be quite disruptive. It’s also important to ensure the addition blends seamlessly with your existing structure, or it could look out of place.
Choose Your Path, We’ve Got You Covered
Ultimately, the choice between a remodel and a home addition boils down to your specific needs, budget, and long-term plans. Whether you opt for a home, remodel or a home addition, Volterra Architectural Products has an extensive range of architectural elements to help create a space that is uniquely yours. Our decorative wood beams, faux wood beams, and other architectural products can add character and value to your home, ensuring your renovation project results in a space as functional as it is aesthetically pleasing. Embark on your home transformation journey with us, and let’s create a home that’s a true reflection of you.
When it comes to home design and architecture, it’s often the subtle details that make the most significant impact. One such element that has stood the test of time is the corbel – a centuries-old feature with a proven track record for enhancing curb appeal. Our faux wood corbels at Volterra Architectural Products can transform your property’s aesthetic, providing that sought-after blend of charm and sophistication.
Subtle Enhancement with Faux Corbels
Faux corbels, despite their seemingly insignificant size, are capable of profoundly altering a structure’s visual appeal. They exude a classical aesthetic, lending an air of grandeur to otherwise mundane spaces. Whether placed under the roofline, beneath window sills, or adorning an entryway, these faux wood corbels add a delightful architectural detail that catches the eye.
Versatile Design Elements
Another advantage of faux corbels is their versatility. Available in various styles, shapes, and sizes, they can adapt to virtually any architectural design. Whether your home leans towards traditional, rustic, or modern, there’s a faux corbel that will seamlessly blend with your existing decor, accentuating its character.
Durability and Maintenance
Given that our faux wood corbels are made from polyurethane, they offer excellent durability and resistance to weather elements. Unlike natural wood, they won’t warp, crack, or decay, ensuring your home maintains its allure year-round. Furthermore, these architectural corbels are maintenance-free, a significant benefit for busy homeowners who desire style without the added upkeep.
Sustainable Choice
Choosing faux wood corbels isn’t just a design choice; it’s a sustainable one. By opting for these architectural details, you contribute to the preservation of our forests, while still achieving the desired look and feel of real wood. Volterra Architectural Products is committed to providing sustainable, aesthetically pleasing solutions for your home improvement needs.
Transform your home’s curb appeal with the subtle yet striking addition of faux wood corbels. With their versatile design, durability, and sustainability, they’re an excellent choice for those seeking to add a touch of sophistication to their properties. Explore Volterra Architectural Products’ wide array of faux corbels and begin your journey to enhancing your home’s architectural charm today.
Creating a stylish living room that is suitable for lounging around and entertaining guests is a fantastic way to make your house feel like a home. While there are many different living room designs that you can incorporate into your space, industrial style living rooms have increased in popularity and have taken the interior design world by storm.
You may think that you need an open-concept loft space or warehouse to achieve the industrial look in your living room, but the truth is that industrial living room design is more than just exposed ductwork and floor-to-ceiling windows. With a few accents, additions, and touches, you can have an industrial vibe to even the most traditional living room. In this blog, our design experts shed some light on industrial interior design and share some simple ways that you can achieve the industrial look in your space.
Elements of Industrial Interior Design
The industrial interior design style came into existence nearly five decades ago, as property developers and architects started to convert warehouses, factories, and other industrial buildings into modern homes. The popularity of the look has increased tenfold in recent years, and shows no signs of slowing down — it’s safe to assume that the industrial interior design style is here to stay. Industrial style interior design typically consists of stripped back architectural details including the use of brick, metal, and wood, as well as salvaged and recycled materials.
How to Create Achieve Your Own Industrial Living Space
The industrial look remains one of the most timeless styles you can achieve for your living room and throughout the rest of your home. The best benefit in creating industrial style spaces is that you’ll have the opportunity to customize the look using furniture and decor that are entirely unique to your home. When planning an industrial style living room for your abode, keep these tips in mind.
1. Utilize Neutral Colors
One of the most notable things about industrial style interior design is the rich color palette it incorporates into your space. Brown, white, black, and other neutral tones create a clean, minimalist, and harmonious look. Consider pairing different shades of brown and tan to get a more relaxing space, adding white elements and black accents to both create clean contrast and character.
2. Open Up Your Space
Warehouses, factories, and other industrial buildings were typically large, open spaces. Industrial living room interior design is often incorporated into spaces with an open concept layout for that reason. However, you can recreate that same feeling in your living room regardless of your surroundings. Make function the focus of the space. Eliminate any clutter and keep pathways clear. Make sure that your living room furniture is arranged in groups to create areas for conversation and relaxation without disrupting the openness of the space.
3. Incorporate Industrial Style Lighting
Lighting plays a huge role in interior design, especially when it comes to a space like your living room. While every interior style has its own preferred lighting choices, industrial lighting choices are unique in a way that they have the ability to create a statement in your space. The most popular industrial style lighting is made of metal and often consists of a combination of pendants and lamps — the light bulbs often vary in both size and shape and it’s common to find fixtures being hung straight down from the ceiling. Other popular features for industrial style lighting are wood or metal details and unconventional objects, such as repurposed pipes and chains, as parts of the lamps or fixtures.
4. Highlight Exposed Structural Elements
If your space already has exposed structural elements and finishes, you’re already a step ahead of most homeowners that want to achieve the industrial style in their living space. Brick walls, concrete floors, ductwork, and pipes are elements that, besides being typical features of industrial style, are unique to your space and will certainly add character. If you have these elements in your space already, draw attention to them by painting them a contrasting color.
5. Add Metal Accents
Metal accents are another staple of industrial style interior design. In modern living rooms with industrial style, it is common to see metal pieces used to introduce black accents to the space. When thinking about which metal accents to incorporate into your space it is important to remember that, in an industrial interior setting, metal accents can go further than just you may think. Look to add a touch of metal wherever you can to add to the industrial style of the space. Shelving units with a metal structure, tables and chairs with metal legs, and other metal decor and accessories will bring glamour and cohesiveness to your space.
6. Consider Faux Steel Beams
What is the best and easiest way to achieve the industrial look in your living room? Installing faux steel beams is a great start! Faux steel beams manufactured by Volterra Architectural Products are the perfect solution to transforming both the look and feel of your living space. They are manufactured using lightweight hardwood material, making them incredibly easy to install compared to real metal ceiling beams. If your space doesn’t naturally have the exposed structural elements of an industrial building, decorative steel beams are an easy solution. Not only that, but their realistic appearance and black color add appeal, contrast, and depth, to any space in which they are installed. To learn more about faux metal beams, click here.
Industrial interior living room design allows you to achieve a space that embraces antique beauty while still enjoying modern conveniences. Remember, you don’t have to live in an open loft or renovated warehouse to achieve the industrial look you desire. Use the tips above to transform your living room into an industrial setting.
If you are interested in enhancing your space with faux steel beams, Volterra Architectural Products has what you need. If you’re looking for a more rustic design for your space, we also manufacture quality faux wood beams. Shop our selection of decorative ceiling beams today.
A corbel is a wall beam used in construction to support a shelf, mantel or small projecting wall. Decorative wood corbels can add a touch of style to any home – both indoors and out. Fake wood corbels come in many different styles ranging from very simple to extremely ornate. They have the appearance of elaborately carved wood, but cost much less than the real thing. Aside from their affordability, there are many other benefits to using fake wood corbels, including their durability, versatility and ease of installation. The wood corbels available at Volterra Architectural Products are made of high-density polyurethane foam which is cast from real-wood molds. The result is a durable and elegant finished product that looks just like real wood. We also offer four different textures of fake wood corbels: mill cut, Doug Fir, saw cut, and smooth. Which texture you choose will depend on the architectural style of your home and your personal preferences. These corbels can then be painted or stained to match the décor of your home. Decorative wood corbels are not load-bearing structures, so they can be easily installed using a power drill and a couple of wood screws or nails. Simply drill holes in the back of the corbel, and hang on screws or nails affixed to a wood stud in the wall. It’s that easy. Fake wood corbels can also be easily uninstalled, moved and reinstalled if you ever choose to redecorate your home. Installing wood corbels beneath fireplace mantels, shelves and other projections in your home can add architectural interest that can serve as a focal point in a room. If you’re considering fake corbels for your upcoming home remodel, call 602.258.7373 today. Volterra offers a wide selection of faux wood corbels at very affordable prices in Phoenix and throughout the Southwest.
Vigas are a classic design element most commonly seen on the exterior of Adobe or Pueblo-style homes in the Southwest. The appearance of real wood logs poking through near the flat roofline of a home is something that is immediately recognizable with these style homes. However, when using real wood vigas or viga tails, it doesn’t take long for them to experience wear and tear and have an appearance that is less than ideal.
Especially when exposed to the Southwest climate, real wood vigas can split, rot, lose their color, and even start to fall away from your home. If your home has viga tails that have seen better days, it may be time to replace them. But rather than using real wood logs again, consider using faux vigas from Volterra Architectural Products!
Why Choose Volterra Vigas?
At Volterra, we manufacture a wide range of high-quality polyurethane architectural details, including decorative vigas. Our faux wood vigas are manufactured using a high-density foam material, yet they have the appearance of real wood. These are not only a more affordable option, but they also will last much longer than real wood vigas without requiring any maintenance.
Replacing real wood vigas with faux, decorative vigas is a no-brainer. Watch our experts demonstrate how to properly replace old and worn vigas with our high-quality faux vigas!
Step #1: Find the Middle and Drill a Hole
Faux wood vigas are installed very similarly to real wood vigas — you use a bolt or rod, drill a hole in the center of the viga, and then slide the viga onto the rod. Therefore, you first need to start the installation process by drilling a hole in the middle of your faux wood viga from Volterra. Use a ruler to find the middle of your viga and drill a pilot hole using a ½-inch drill bit. Next, you’ll want to use a ¾-inch bit to finish drilling the hole.
Volterra Tip: Be mindful of the size of the faux wood viga you are drilling to ensure that you don’t drill through the face. In our video tutorial, we’re working with a 15-inch viga. Therefore, we drill a 12-inch hole.
Step #2: Apply Construction Adhesive
Before you place the faux wood viga on the rod, apply construction adhesive to the back of the viga. After applying the adhesive, use a putty knife to spread it evenly. Be sure to stay away from the outer edges of the viga to prevent getting any of the adhesives on the exposed stucco surrounding where it will be installed.
Step #3: Install Faux Viga on Existing Rod for Dry Fit
Now it’s time to place the viga onto the existing rod that your old viga was on. Using a ladder to access the site, carefully slide the viga onto the rod using the hole that you drilled. Slide it all the way back until it touches the stucco surface of your home exterior. Twist it around a little to ensure a strong adhesive bond.
Next, use a 2½- to 3½-inch galvanized or zinc screw to anchor the faux wood viga to your home exterior. We recommend drilling through the top of the viga at a diagonal angle so that the screw goes through both the viga and the stucco. Adding a screw is just an extra layer of security that will ensure your faux wood vigas will stay put for years to come.
There you have it! In just three simple steps you can easily replace your old wood vigas. When you replace them with the faux wood vigas from Volterra Architectural Products, you’re providing your home with incredible-looking exterior architectural details that will enhance your curb appeal and require virtually no maintenance — they won’t decay, split, rot, or deteriorate.
Wood corbels can be applied in a variety of settings. They are a great way to spruce up the exterior millwork surrounding your home. The issue with corbels made from real wood, however, is that in just a few years they can begin to split, rot, and deteriorate. If you want to create a unique and attractive home exterior and enhance your home’s overall curb appeal with wood corbels, rather than using real wood, you can save yourself a lot of time, money, and hassle by choosing faux wood corbels.
At Volterra Architectural Products, we are a leading manufacturer of decorative corbels and other polyurethane architectural details. Our faux wood corbels are manufactured with a high-density foam material, therefore, they are more lightweight, durable, and cost-effective, yet replicate the appearance of real Doug Fir corbels.
Why Install New Faux Wood Corbels?
The benefits of Volterra’s decorative corbels are too good to pass up. Installing them is a breeze and we’re going to prove it. Watch our experts share how to properly install faux wood corbels to the exterior of your home:
Step #1: Mark Where You’ll Cut a Notch
You’ll need to cut out a notch so that the faux wood corbels will fit tightly underneath the fascia board. To find the proper cutting spot, place the corbel on the exterior wall where you will be installing the corbel. Make a mark on the top where you’ll cut a notch. After you have made the markings, use a square to draw clean lines for the notch.
Step #2: Use a Saw to Make Small Cuts
Next, you’ll need to get a standard wood-cutting hand saw. Using medium pressure, make two slight cuts on the markings you made — where the fascia will fit into the corbel. Then, use a utility knife to make the other two cuts perpendicular to the saw cuts. After that, use a chisel and mallet to chisel out the notch at a slight angle.
Step #3: Screw Wood Blocking to the Wall
Screw a pre-cut two-by-four wood block to the exterior wall through the stucco system and into the structural blocking inside of the wall cavity. The block will fit firmly in the back of the corbel. To secure the wood block, we recommend placing a screw in each corner.
Step #4: Secure the Faux Wood Corbel to the Wood Block
Now that the wood block is screwed into the wall, you should be able to fit the corbel over it firmly. Using exterior-grade screws, fasten the corbel to the wood blocking. Make sure to countersink a screw slightly into the corbel. Then, screw the corbel to the fascia board.
Step #5: Install the Blocks
Many homes that have exterior corbels have small wooden blocks in between. If you plan on installing them, do so now. Volterra’s corbels and blocks are manufactured with HDF material. Most of our HDF products have a cavity in the back that allows for a block or cleat to be used for fastening purposes. Screws are typically enough to hold these products in place.
Step #6: Apply High-Grade Exterior Caulking
Once you have the corbels and blocks fastened, use high-grade exterior caulking to seal the corbels where they meet the fascia board. You can use the caulking to also fill in any visible screw holes. Wood putty or auto bonding can also be used to fill in screw holes for a nice texture.
Step #7: Add Any Finishing Touches
You can order faux wood corbels primed or in five available exterior-grade stains. Whichever style or type of corbels you order, do a final inspection to make sure that there aren’t any finishing touches required. You may need to add some stain or do some sanding to smooth out the dried caulking.
With all the proper tools and materials, installing these faux wood corbels is an easy weekend project for a handy homeowner. Once installed to your exterior, your home will have a custom look that is sure to add some flair to the curb appeal of your home.
Purchase Faux Wood Corbels Today
When it comes to decorative corbels, Volterra has a variety of sizes and styles to choose from that replicate the appearance of Doug Fir — such as cove corbels, scroll corbels, and more — making it easy to find something that matches the appearance of your home’s exterior. We have faux wood corbels for both interior and exterior use, both of which require virtually no maintenance and will still last twice as long as real wood corbels would be expected to.
Whether you want to install corbels for the first time or are looking for a durable, cost-effective solution to replace your old, weather-beaten real wood corbels, we encourage you to shop our selection of Doug Fir corbels today!
Throughout the Southwest there are many traditional styles of homes. While there are fewer and fewer houses boasting the classic adobe look, modern homes have borrowed a few architectural elements from the Southwest style. For instance, viga beams, which were a staple of Southwestern homes, have found their way into modern ceiling designs to great affect. If this is the style you’re after, here’s how it can be accomplished using today’s faux wood beam products.
What Are Viga Beams?
Viga beams are large structural beams that were commonly seen in adobe houses and other Southwestern homes. These beams were typically made of rough hewn logs, and retained much of their natural character. Today, many builders still go for this rustic look, but modern builders sometimes use squared beams instead. Unlike European inspired ceiling beams, another feature of Viga beams is that they often run around the room in concentric circles working out toward the edge of the room or in the same direction as the ceiling’s longest stretch.
Ceiling Planks
In addition to Viga beams, many Southwest style homes also feature ceiling planks. These flat planks slide together to create a beautifully textured ceiling finish. In some cases, the ceiling is covered by these planks first, and then the viga beams are installed beneath them, adding multiple dimensions to the look. The best way to do this is to install the beams perpendicular to the direction that the planks run, which will draw the eye upward. In addition, using larger beams over the planks creates a more pronounced look, and you can even choose a darker color for the beams to accent the light colored planks.
Outdoor Accents
Another staple of Southwest style architecture is the protrusion of beams on the exterior of the house. You can add these accents to the outside of your home along the roofline use faux wood accents. These small sections are designed to mount easily to the exterior surface of your home and match your trim. These can be installed even if the interior of your home does not have matching beams. You can also find matching shutters and vents that look great with these exterior posts and dress up your windows and any high points on your roof. There are many distinct facets of Southwest style architecture, and with faux wood beams you can mix and match them to find a look that suits your home. To learn more about faux wood products and Southwest style accents, visit Volterra online and check out our gallery.
The modern consumer is increasingly becoming eco-conscious in many lifestyle areas, including the home. Now more than ever, consumers are looking for eco-friendly alternatives when shopping for a new purchase, no matter how big or small. According to The Nielsen Company, “more than half (64%) of U.S. households buy sustainable products, up four percentage points from a year ago.” Fortunately, there are a few modern options for decorative beams and architectural accents that look just as good as real wood while reducing your carbon footprint.
Choose HDF Products
One great way to take advantage of natural wood looks is with the help of HDF wood products. HDF is actually a man-made high-density polyurethane foam material that has the ability to perfectly replicate natural wood molds so the beams look just like real wood. In many cases, HDF is also textured and finished to imitate your favorite wood species like cherry, oak and more. HDF is a more eco-friendly alternative because trees are not being cut down, hence not requiring the long term growth cycle of a new tree to produce. It can take 65 years for some parts of a forest to grow back, but can take up to 4000 years for it to gain many of its full qualities again, including the rehabitation of native animals, according to a study that centered on the Atlantic Forest in Brazil.
Choose Durable Finishes
When it comes time to install new architectural products in your home, you should also be sure that you are finishing the job with stains and paints that will last a lifetime. Stains provide a protective layer that ensures that the beams will hold up in the weather if they are used outdoors. This way you won’t have to refinish your beams yearly, and you can cut even more harmful waste from your home.
Choose Locally Made Products
Volterra’s products are manufactured in the USA, further benefiting the environment. The closer to the buyer an item is produced, the more sustainably beneficial it is, as the cost and emissions produced to ship and transport the item is greatly reduced. This also supports the local economy through job creation and finances for local residents instead of cheaper, but more environmentally taxing, overseas manufacturing and production. Volterra is proud to offer a wide selection of architectural products. Our HDF and faux wood products are extremely durable and come with a professional finish so all you have to do is install them and keep them clean. Visit us online to see our full catalog and start placing your order today!
A fireplace mantel is the finishing touch that really creates a cozy look to any living room. Mantels serve as conversation pieces, providing a place to display images, artwork and more. They also create a clean visual line above a fireplace opening. If you are thinking of having a custom mantel made for your fireplace, there are a few things you need to know about proper mounting.
Mounting Height
In order to prevent damage to your custom mantel and minimize possible fire hazards, it is crucial to make sure you know how high to mount your mantel. Most local fire codes indicate that a mantel should be mounted at least twelve inches or one foot above the top of the fireplace opening. This will help dissipate heat so that your mantel is safe. However, the further your mantel protrudes out from the wall, the higher you will want to mount it. This is because heat rises, and a deeper mantel will catch more of the hot air. Add an extra inch or two of height to your mantel if it sticks out more than six inches from the wall.
Mounting Hardware
Another important factor is what type of mounting hardware you are using. If you are replacing an old mantel, there may be some existing hardware or brackets that you can use. If not, you will need to decide on new brackets or hidden hardware that can support the full weight of your custom mantel. Fortunately, if you are using modern faux wood mantels, your mantel will be much lighter than a traditional hardwood mantel.
Volterra is home to many custom mantel designs. If you want to update your old fireplace with a new look, visit us online to learn about our custom designs and how to properly install your new mantel at home.]]>
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Creating a stylish living room that is suitable for lounging around and entertaining guests is a fantastic way to make your house feel like a home. While there are many different living room designs that you can incorporate into your space, industrial style living rooms have increased in popularity and have taken the interior design world by storm.
A fireplace mantel is the finishing touch that really creates a cozy look to any living room. Mantels serve as conversation pieces, providing a place to display images, artwork and more. They also create a clean visual line above a fireplace opening. If you are thinking of having a