Stepped Moulding Nearly everyone has started adding crown moulding to their homes to create a premium touch. Stepped moulding goes one step further by combining multiple trim styles in a layered fashion along the ceiling and wall crease. This layered effect can be very striking, but can also be used to hide flaws along the ceiling and walls by covering a wider swath of the space.
Category: Architectural Moulding and Millwork
As a leader in architectural and decorative mouldings and millwork products, Volterra Architectural Products has everything you need to express personality in your home’s interior spaces. From flexible and crown molding to base, casing, and panel moulding, we have the products you need to add lasting elegance to your space. In this blog, you’ll learn about the different types of architectural wood mouldings, trim, and millwork products we offer, as well as tips from our expert designers to best enhance your interior spaces. Shop our selection of modern moulding and trim products and continue reading the blog to learn more.
How to Install Your DIY Moulding
moulding can save a boat load of money. However, you must be sure to use the proper tools and techniques to get the job done. Otherwise, you could be left with trim that sits poorly or has too many gaps. Here’s what you need to know:
The Tools You Need
To prepare for installing your DIY moulding, you first need a tape measure and a pencil to measure your walls. You will also need a miter saw that can be adjusted to multiple angles for cutting your corners and a coping saw for inside corners. You will also need a hammer and finishing nails, or a finishing nail gun to attach the moulding to your wall.How to Install Your DIY Moulding
Start by measuring your walls. Keep in mind that you will need to make adjustments for the corners to ensure that the pieces fit tightly together. Before you begin cutting, you might want to set the pieces together so you understand which direction your cuts need to go. You will not want any visible gaps in your corners, as they can be very hard to hide. If you do have gaps you may be able to fill them with some caulking or cover them with a corner cap. Once you have made your cuts, it is time to start putting your trim up. You will likely need an extra person to help you hold the trim pieces in place while you nail them up. You need to be sure that they are fit snugly up against the ceiling and into each corner before you begin nailing. After you have installed your trim neatly to the walls, you can finish filling in any gaps and painting your trim pieces. The installation process can be very time consuming when done right, but will certainly be worth your patience and attention. To view a full collection of moulding profiles and options, visit Volterra Architectural Products online. We can help you find a moulding that enhances the style of your home and meets your needs for a simple DIY installation. Call 602-253-7373 today to speak with our product experts.]]>Learning to Layer Trim
Start With a Basic Frame The first step to layering your window and door trim is by creating a basic frame to work off of. Typically, the header piece will be wider than the sides and the footer because this is where more of the detail will appear and you want to draw the eye upward. For instance, a 1×4” piece of wood on the sides and bottom of your window is sufficient, while you will want a 1×6” piece for your header. Think in Three Dimensions You will need to think about the window and door trim. Not just in terms of how far it extends outward from the window or door itself, but also how far it comes off of the wall. Some trim designs are flat against the wall, and simply stack pieces upwards, while the more complex designs feature small pieces of trim layered onto the front of the frame to add depth. Now is the time to decide how simple or complex you want your trim to look. Mind the Edges While your base frame can have square edges, you want to make sure any additional features you have are blended well. Usually this is done by cutting the ends of the cap at an angle. This creates a gentle transition into the wall from the window or the door. Check Out Examples Online If you visit an online gallery of trim products you can usually see how a builder layered different types of trim products together to create a beautifully textured design. This will give you some inspiration as you go. Once you’re familiar with the parts you should be able to see how they fit together to form this exclusive-looking finish. To learn more about trim options available for your windows and doors, check out Volterra’s huge gallery of custom trim products or contact us at 602-258-7373. You can mix and match trim designs that you love to create something uniquely your own. Plus, you can see some successful trim installations using their collection in real homes.]]>
Stairway Wainscoting with Panel Moulding
visual feature in any home. For the most part, we rely upon detailed banisters to add some flair to the staircase. With the help of panel moulding, you can even add a gorgeous backdrop behind your banister on the opposite wall. Here are a few tips:
Cut the Wall in Half
Using panel moulding, you can run a piece up the wall at roughly the height of your banister to create symmetry. This will create a visual break in the space, which typically has a very high ceiling to keep the stairs from feeling cramped. You can paint the area beneath this strip of panel moulding a darker color for contrast, and leave the upper half of the wall a lighter shade. A note: If you have a hand rail on the wall with brackets, we suggest placing your panel moulding a few inches higher than the hand rail and the banister so the bottom color serves as a backdrop to both.Add Wainscoting
If you want to add even more detail to your stairwell, wainscoting is a great way to add visual appeal in no time. You can find panel moulding in a wide range of profiles to accent your wainscoting panels. In general, you’ll want the panel moulding to be slightly less ornate than the moulding you choose to cut the wall design in half. You can fill the space inside by painting it a lighter color, or you can paint everything the same accent color. In addition, wallpaper and other decorations make good background fillers for your wainscoting. The most important thing to remember is to draw a level line from the bottom of the stairwell up to where you meet the next wall. You want all of your wainscoting panels to be even with one another. This can be difficult while you are working on a slope. In addition, you will want to double check your angles before you cut your panel pieces to be sure all four corners of your frames correctly fit together. You don’t want visible gaps in the corners where they don’t fit together. Panel moulding offers one quick way to dress up your stairwells and add a fresh dimension to the space. Make sure you measure carefully before you cut and draw a light template on your wall to help you keep all of your sections even. As you choose your moulding, be mindful of how the pieces will look side by side. For your moulding or architectural product needs contact Volterra Architectural Products at 602-258-7373]]>Considerations for Choosing Hardwood Moulding
Hardwood Moulding Materials The first thing you’ll find as you shop for hardwood moulding products is a wide range of base materials. For instance, hardwood mouldings may be made from knotty alder or popular, as well as a range of other options that offer flexibility and improved strength. Some types of hardwood have striking grain patterns which are meant to be sealed or stained, while other moulding materials are better off when they are painted. This is especially true of the more flexible mouldings that are made by splicing sections of wood together. If you are set on painting or staining your mouldings a specific color, you should definitely ask about which products will handle these processes best. You don’t want to overpay for mouldings with a dramatic grain pattern only to end up painting over it.
Choosing a Profile
The profile of your hardwood mouldings is the area most likely to impact the feel of your room. A large, exotic profile can make a room feel smaller if you have low ceilings or small spaces. You will want to choose a profile that adds a hint of luxury to the space without feeling gaudy. This not only applies to your crown moulding, but also to base board moulding. Keep in mind that more detailed moulding requires more maintenance and cleaning. If your lifestyle does not involve weekly wipe downs of your baseboards, you probably don’t want an extravagant moulding that will collect dust in all the nooks and crannies. There are dozens of hardwood moulding options available, and many profile designs can be customized to better fit the unique needs of your home. You can view a full gallery of available profiles and wood options at Volterra Architectural Products. We can answer all your questions about how to choose the best moulding for your needs. Contact us at 602-258-7373.]]>Casing installation
Casing Strictly speaking, casing is used to refer to the woodwork that is used specifically around doors and windows. This includes the sides, footer and header piece. All of the parts collectively are the casing. Window casing installations can range from very plain to extremely ornate depending on the style of the building. Typically door and window casings match throughout an entire house or building.
Trim
Trim is more of an umbrella term which includes not only the window and door casing installation, but also the crown moulding, baseboards, chair rails and any other millwork in your home. Depending on your home’s design, you may find that window and door casings are notably thicker and heavier than the other trim work throughout the home. This lends itself to a more intentional look which highlights the openings in your walls. Other types of trim, such as baseboard and panel moulding, tend to be lighter and thinner in appearance. If you are in the process of remodeling your home or having your home custom built, knowing these two terms can simplify the process. Be sure to ask questions when a contractor is using the two terms interchangeably. This can also help you plan a DIY project. Volterra Architectural Products can help you find the perfect trim and casings for your whole home. Speak to one of our experts today at 602-258-7373 to learn more about casing designs for your windows and doors, as well as matching trim for all of your other rooms.]]>Flooring and Ceiling Ideas For Your Rooms
Ceilings Whether you consciously realize it or not, when a person enters a room it is nearly automatic for their eyes to look down at the floor, then up at the ceiling. If you want a good way to spruce a room up, here are a few options: – Wood Planks: Wood planks can add depth, luxury – even design depending on the textural elements you choose to use. Wood planks come in all kinds of plank sizes, colors, and styles. – Beams: Another option that is both decorative and practical are faux wood beams. These are U shaped with removable sides that not only add an extra architectural design to a room but they also “hide” elements of a room you don’t want people to see, such as pipes, wires, sprinkler heads, etc. – Moulding: Whether you want to place moulding on your ceilings to connect rooms or you just want to create a more comfortable and complete space, decorative mouldings add an extra visual to the look of the ceiling.
Floors
If you walk into a room with just flooring, and nothing else, it can still look pretty bland. What ways can you use moulding to add to the frame of your floors? – Baseboard Moulding: One idea to spice things up a little bit is to add baseboard moulding to the edges of your floors and lower walls. Baseboard moulding is essentially the “trim” to your floor. Baseboard moulding comes in several different sizes, as well as designs and profiles from simple to more complex. – Floor Moulding: Floor moulding (sometimes called “quarter round” or “shoe moulding” goes between the floor and the wall and has a quarter moon shape to fit right into the crevice between the two. To make an even bolder look you can use floor moulding in conjunction with baseboard moulding to create a totally different look for your floors. For more information about floors visit Volterra Architectural Products to view our catalog or call 602-258-7373.]]>Interior Mouldings and Trim Make A Dramatic Impact
Baseboards Baseboards are the moulding pieces that are closest to the flooring. While we take them for granted, they make a huge difference in keeping the room from looking naked. Just by adding baseboards you can significantly change how a room looks. Depending on the height of the ceiling, your baseboard can be anywhere from 4 to 10 inches high. If the room has hardwood floors, consider adding shoe moulding.
Casings
A great way to differentiate rooms is by placing casings on doorways between entryways. The status quo in terms of size for casings is usually around 2.25 inches wide and 1.75 inches deep from the outside of the edge. But, you can change this up depending on the look you like.Crown Moulding
As with baseboards, these little details make such an impact. Crown moulding helps draw your eyes upward which can make a room seem higher than it really is. It goes at the top part of the wall and comes in all kinds of colors, shapes, design details and more. Even an 8-foot room can become so much more dramatic with a simple 5 inch base addition of crown moulding.Finishing Touches
Beyond just paint, there are also optional features you can add to interior mouldings such as tongue and groove products that can be added to corners to make the room look even more drastic. For more information about interior mouldings or optional features visit Volterra Architectural Products to view our catalog or call 602-258-7373.]]>Ideabook: Incorporating Moulding With Textured Wallpaper
Traditional Dining Room If you want to make a dining room a little more cozy, luxurious, or more traditional you can add wood mouldings to the entire wall space and use the moulding to create panels on the walls. These can be stained as a neutral color that goes well with a lighter ivory textured wallpaper.
Dramatically Modern Living Room
On the other hand, if traditional is not your style, you can also go with a more modern look. Try a few darker tones such as heather grey and black. Stain the flooring hardwood planks in heather grey and paint the walls in a similar shade, while the millwork pieces should be stained in black. Inside the millwork frames include a very light geometrical textured wallpaper pattern.3 Panel Moulding As A Backdrop
If you have something like a large table in your living room and the space behind it seems incredibly plain or boring, you might think about painting it. Instead, why not add something a little more creative? One idea is to create three separate panels using hardwood moulding and then add textured wallpaper. inside of the panels As you can see from the limited examples above, the sky is the limit when it comes to hardwood moulding and textured wallpaper. If you are looking for ideas on how to implement hardwood moulding into your home design, contact Volterra Architectural Products at 602-258-7373. ]]>Is Exterior Crown Moulding Right for You?
Hide Plain Soffits The area where a roof overhangs the exterior walls of the house are often left plain or simply covered by a simple plastic trim which doesn’t enhance the finished look of the roof line. This oversight can be remedied with the help of exterior crown moulding. Exterior crown moulding can be applied just beneath the soffits and gutters to create a gentle transition into the sides of the wall instead of a harsh line.