Moulding in modern homes is shifting away from the ornate and layered designs of classical design. Instead, your modern study will benefit from moulding that is big, bold, and clean. With these simple ideas, you can transform your dusty old work space into a modern study that is worthy of a magazine cover.
Category: Architectural Product Blog – Design Tips, Inspiration, Industry Trends
Why Choose Faux Wood for Your Interior Architectural Elements?
Faux wood is now widely available for a number of interior design projects in any home or commercial building. However, you may be wondering what benefits faux wood has to offer when compared to natural wood materials. Here are a few of the biggest highlights that you can expect to see.
Improved Durability
Faux wood architectural elements are made using a high density foam material. This material is lightweight while still offering superior durability against scratching, breaking, and more. In addition, it is not subject to warping or rotting when exposed to moisture or temperature variations. This makes it suitable for any room in the house.Easier Installation
Thanks to the lightweight nature of faux wood and the unique molds used, it is significantly easier to install faux wood elements such as ceiling beams and trusses. These faux wood additions are also easier to cut and fit into place without the need for specialty tools, but they still look like the real deal.Low Maintenance
Finally, while real wood accents look great at first, they do have a tendency to fade and change over time. They often require sanding, staining, or repainting to keep them in good shape. By contrast, faux wood beams have a unique baked-on finish that will keep them looking new with almost no maintenance. If you are ready to dress up your room, now is the time to check out all new faux wood accents designed for interior architectural design. Visit Volterra online today to get an idea of all the ways you can use faux wood inside your home or building.]]>Using Moulding to Make Small Rooms Look Bigger
If you’re tired of your cramped, stuffy rooms, it may be time to look at design solutions to make the space feel bigger. The good news is that the simple addition of new moulding can drastically change the appearance of your room and give you more space to breathe. Moulding is a decorative element that can add character and sophistication to any room. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Adding Crown Moulding
Crown moulding is a type of moulding that is installed at the top of walls, where they meet the ceiling. Crown moulding draws the eye upward, creating the illusion of higher ceilings and more space. This is an easy and effective way to add visual interest to a small room and make it feel larger.
Crown moulding comes in a variety of styles and sizes, so you can choose the perfect option to fit your design aesthetic. For small rooms, it is typically better to choose a simple and straightforward moulding design that isn’t too overwhelming, making sure that it is no wider than four inches to avoid overshadowing the space.
Painting Your Moulding
The next step is choosing colors for your trim for rooms that already have moulding in place. Painting your moulding a lighter color than your wall, or even matching the trim to the ceiling color will add depth to your room and give the illusion of pushing the walls further out. This is because the lighter trim extends the ceiling visually and makes it look taller.
Plain white trim over darker walls looks great and achieves the desired effect. Using moulding to make your room look larger is just one simple way to make the most of your space. By thinking carefully about the design and color of your trim, you can create the illusion that your space is wider, taller, and more generous.
Chair Rail Moulding
Chair rail moulding is a type of moulding that is installed at the height of a chair back, typically around three feet from the floor. Chair rail moulding can be used to break up a wall into two distinct areas, adding depth and dimension to a small room. By painting the area above the chair rail a lighter color and the area below a darker color, you can help convey a higher ceiling and a larger space.
Baseboard Moulding
Baseboard moulding is a type of moulding that is installed at the bottom of walls, where they meet the floor. Baseboard moulding can be used to create a finished look to a room and also to visually enlarge the space. By using a taller baseboard moulding, you can give the impression of higher ceilings and more space. This is an easy and affordable way to add character and sophistication to a small room.
Moulding is an easy and affordable way to make a small room look bigger. By using crown moulding, chair rail moulding, and baseboard moulding, you can creatively implement the feeling of more space and add character and sophistication to any room in your home. At Volterra Architectural Products, we offer a wide variety of moulding to suit any design aesthetic. Our moulding is made from high-density polyurethane, which provides a lightweight and durable alternative to traditional wood moulding.
Explore Our Moulding and Millwork
Trends in Kitchen Cabinetry
The kitchen is likely the busiest room of your home, and when it comes to buying or selling, the kitchen is the area that makes the biggest impression. For 2019, we are starting to see some great kitchen cabinetry trends taking shape already, many of which you will want to get on board with for a modern looking kitchen.
More Colors
Long gone are the days of plain colored kitchen cabinets. Today we are seeing more boldness with designers adding bright hues of blue, red and yellow to kitchen spaces. This makes the kitchen look more inviting and playful, a place to whip up delightful dishes of any kind. In addition, we are starting to see colors layered together in complex patterns rather than a single uniform color throughout.Clean and Open
Along with the colorful twist, we are also loving the clean and open designs being used today. This includes open shelving in some parts of the kitchen, often with a bold backdrop. Instead of overly ornamented cabinet doors, we are seeing a shift toward flat doors with simple handles that are easier to keep clean and clear. The focus of the kitchen is now on community and gathering over pure luxury. With these new trends making their way into kitchens everywhere, now is the time to start dreaming up your new kitchen. With Volterra’s help, you can design a gorgeous kitchen that suits your family and home decor in no time. Visit us online to see all the ways we are helping create beautiful homes today.]]>The Appeal of Customizable Crown Moulding
Customized crown moulding is a big dream for many homeowners. The fact is that while crown moulding does give a distinguished look to any room, it is all too obvious when cheap moulding from the local hardware store is used. By working with a professional millwork company, you can take advantage of many different kinds of customizable crown moulding instead.
More Styles Available
Most hardware stores only have a few options when it comes to crown moulding styles. If you want something that matches a particular piece of furniture or design, you will have to find a specialist to get the job done. Specialty millwork shops offer dozens more styles, and allow you to customize individual aspects of the design to fit your needs.Better Sizing
Another problem with regular crown moulding is that it only comes in a couple of standard sizes and angles. If you are looking for something with more layers or more depth, you won’t be able to find it at your neighborhood store. Instead, you will need to look into customizable options that can be adjusted to fit your home or design ideas.Problem Solving
Every house has a weirdly-shaped closet or other nook that poses a problem when it comes to the crown moulding. When you choose customizable crown moulding, it becomes a lot easier to find a corner piece or some other unique solution to your problem so you can achieve a flawless finish. For more information about customizable crown moulding in a huge range of styles for your home, visit Volterra’s online catalog and explore our range of unique cuts and styles to fit any home concept today.]]>Budget Friendly Projects to Boost Curb Appeal
Boosting curb appeal is one of the most common reasons that homeowners undertake new projects in their homes. The real question is which projects will earn you the highest returns for the time and money that you put into them. Here are a few budget-friendly ways to boost your curb appeal in no time.
Add Front Door Trim
In most cases, you probably don’t pay much attention to the front door of your house, but adding a big block of trim over your front door can make a bold impression on buyers. Make sure to paint your front door to match the trim and you will have achieved a major visual effect. It makes your entryway look grander, and draws people in.Add Shutters or Window Trim
Buyers look at your windows to get a feel for how open and well-lit your house will be. If you want to draw attention to your windows, consider adding colored trim or shutters that will stand out. You can also add flower boxes or other decorative elements that will enhance the look of your windows from the street.Fix Your Front Porch Railing
Nothing stands out worse than a rickety front porch railing. Clean up the look of your porch instantly by fixing any broken boards and anything else that may look a little off. It should all be safe and secure when a buyer comes looking at your house. With these three tips, you can drastically change the exterior of your home with only a few hundred dollars altogether and an afternoon. For more great ideas on how to boost the curb appeal of your home, visit Volterra online today and check out our gallery.]]>Decorative Shutter Design Ideas
For most people, window shutters are more of a design feature than a functional addition to a house. They can seriously transform the look of your home’s exterior, and they offer a space for you to add some creative touches of your own. Shutters can also be used for a range of interior design projects if you want to exercise your artsy side.
Barn Style Shutters vs Slatted Shutters
On the exterior of your home, you can choose from several different shutter styles. Barn style shutters tend to look simpler with a few vertical boards and a couple of horizontal braces. They look simple and rustic, and usually they are made of dark colored woods that age to look rustic. On the other hand, modern slatted shutters are a bit more complex in nature. They look best if they are painted a bold color that matches your trim and stands out from the exterior wall color. However, they can be difficult to paint because of the slats.As Backdrops for Art
If you are looking for a backdrop to make your artwork or photos stand out on your wall, shutters offer an interesting option. They have a lot of texture, and they are the perfect size for you to secure a few picture frames on top of them. They also have plenty of spaces for you to hang things from with ease. Some people use shutters to make signs for their home, displaying their last name or simple words like “Love”. Shutters have come a long way since their introduction as a functional and protective part of our homes. Now we see shutters installed as a purely decorative element that adds to the interiors and exteriors of our homes in unique ways. If you are in search of beautiful decorative shutters to add to your home, visit Volterra Architectural Products today.]]>How Does Interior Paneling Work
Interior paneling is coming back into favor as young homeowners look for ways to make their houses feel more like homes. It also offers a number of added benefits over plain drywall or other wall materials. Here are a few highlights about interior paneling and how it works.
Made from Durable Materials
If you’ve ever had to patch a hole in drywall, you know that it is not the most durable or resilient material around. By contrast, today’s thin paneling options are made of high density materials that are extremely durable and resistant to damage. When installed over drywall, they can actually protect the drywall underneath and keep your walls looking good without having to constantly patch or repaint.Easy to Install
Aside from the durability of modern paneling, sheets of paneling are also extremely easy to install when compared to drywall. Most paneling now uses a tongue and groove system or some other overlapping edge that makes it simple to line panels up and then nail them into place in just minutes. You don’t have to worry about sanding, grouting, or filling any holes. If you’re looking for a quick way to dress up your space, you can find paneling in all kinds of different patterns and colors to get the job done over a weekend. You don’t even need a ton of specialized tools to do the job. If you are thinking about using paneling in one or more rooms of your home, we invite you to contact Volterra Architectural Products today and speak with our expert design team. We can help you come up with the best paneling and moulding options to turn your space into a relaxing retreat.]]>What Are the Advantages of Baseboard Moulding
You probably haven’t given much thought to the baseboards that run throughout your home, but you should. The purpose of baseboards is to help keep your home in good condition while providing a finished look to your décor.
At Volterra Architectural Products, we are a leading manufacturer of faux wood beams and other high-quality polyurethane architectural details. We carry an extensive line of base moulding profiles that are perfect for any home. Here, we review the advantages of baseboard moulding and why it should be a key component in your home’s design.
Seals the Joint between Wall and Floor
The primary purpose of baseboards is to cover the joint between your walls and floor. This joint may be a bit unsightly on its own, but more importantly, the baseboards keep water from running under your drywall and flooring, causing mold. In addition, baseboards keep insects and other pests from finding easy entry in that space. With the baseboards in place, your room looks finished and pristine.
Leaves Room for Settling and Shifting
As your house ages, your floors and walls will eventually begin to settle. Likewise, during different seasons, moisture in the air may cause your floor boards and walls to expand or contract at different rates. During construction, your builder left a small gap between the floors and the walls to account for these changes. A baseboard is able to easily conceal that gap without getting in the way of the shifting pieces.
Protecting Your Paint
Finally, baseboard trim keeps your walls clean and scratch free by adding an extra hard layer of protection between the painted wall surface and your vacuum or broom. If you took the time to decorate your walls, you don’t want dark lines or deep scratches to ruin the look along the bottom edge.
Adds Visual Interest
While the other three benefits are based on the functionality of baseboards, this one is all about looks. Baseboards are available in a variety of styles, colors, and materials to perfectly match your room’s aesthetic. By adding or changing the trim in a room, you can easily update the entire look without having to do a complete makeover. When choosing baseboards for your space, consider the following:
- The Overall Aesthetic of Your Home – When you’re picking out baseboards, you want to ensure they fit in with the aesthetic of your home. For example, if you have a modern home, you might want to choose sleek, angular baseboards made of metal or glass. If your home has more traditional features, then you might want to choose wood baseboards that are more ornate.
- The Color of Your Walls and Flooring – Another thing to consider is the color of your walls and flooring. If you have dark floors and light walls, you might want to choose baseboards that are darker than your floors but lighter than your walls. This will help create a sense of balance in the room.
- The Size of Your Rooms – The size of your rooms can also play a role in your baseboard selection. If you have large rooms, you might want to choose wider or taller baseboards to make a statement. Conversely, if you have smaller rooms, you might want to choose narrower or shorter baseboards so as not to overwhelm the space.
As you can see, there are many hidden benefits to having baseboard moulding in place throughout your home. While you may not think of these benefits on a day-to-day basis, you would surely notice them if your baseboards weren’t there to conceal the space beneath them. If you’re interested in some of the best baseboard moulding available on the market, check out our selection at Volterra Architectural Products.
Applications for Flexible Trim Moulding
flexible trim moulding exists.