Achieving luxury design in your home does not mean you have to spend an arm and a leg. Luxury design is about more than what the raw materials cost. Instead, it’s about how you make the materials work together, side-by-side. The fact is: you can spend a fortune on luxury materials that don’t work together, and end up with a mess, or you can take a budget-conscious approach and end up with a beautiful luxury design that could trick the best designers in the business. Here are a few tips to get luxury design on a budget:
Tag: hardwood moulding
Installing Interior Wood Trim Around Doors and Windows
Installing interior wood trim around your doors and windows can be a little bit tricky. There are many angles to measure and cuts to make, and if you’ve never done this before you might feel overwhelmed. The good news is that most beginners can complete this project with just a few days time and some practice with a saw.
In a Perfect World
In a perfect world, every corner of your windows and doors would form a perfect 90 degree angle. Unfortunately, due to settling, aging, and a variety of other factors, you will quickly discover that most of your doors and windows do not form perfect 90s. This is something you must be prepared for before you cut your first piece of interior wood trim. Instead, cut two test pieces at 45 degrees and hold them together to make a 90 degree angle. Now, go around your window or door and hold this test piece up to see whether or not it fits properly. If not, you will need to mark the pieces and take them back to your saw to re-cut them to the correct angle. Make small adjustments and keep testing before you start nailing things down. Of course, another great way to make your interior trim look perfect is to utilize flexible trim moulding like VolterraFlex™ around radius walls or arched doors.Start at the Top
Once your cuts are made, start installing your interior wood trim at the top of your doors and windows first. Once the header piece is up, place both sides, and install the bottom piece last. This is because it will be easier to hide any odd cuts or weird angles if they are at the bottom, whereas they would stand out if they occurred at the top. Use a nail gun to attach your trim to the studs and the frame, and you’ll be done in no time. Interior wood trim is not difficult to work with, but you must be sure to measure and test each piece before you drive the first nail. For tips on how to make this process easier, contact Volterra today and ask about our trim options.]]>Base Mouldings – Is Bigger Better?
Builders often choose base mouldings that are cheap and basic. We are all familiar with the small profile, gently slope-shouldered variety that comes standard on most homes today. For those who want to make a change, the baseboards are a natural place to start. So how big should you go?
Why Go Big?
Oversized base moulding makes a huge visual difference in your room, especially when painted bright white or another contrasting color. The easiest way to do this is by using flat 1x4s or 1x6s to build a big riser. While these boards do not feature any extra milling or design work, they look perfect in today’s ultra-modern spaces with their clean and simple lines. Even in a classically styled home, you can go big by using a plain board as above, and staking a piece of decorative trim above it.When to Go Small
If you’re going for more of a minimalist look, you may decide that smaller base moulding is the answer. In this case, stick with low profile options for a simple quarter-round solution that is painted to match your walls so that you can take advantage of the entire surface. When choosing smaller base mouldings, remember that they offer less protection against scuffs and scrapes along the bottom of your walls. Base mouldings are an important element of any room, and even a little upgrade can change the way you feel about your space. Don’t settle for dull builder’s grade mouldings. Choose Volterra for a huge selection of moulding profiles and styles.]]>Decorative Ways to Spruce Up Your Staircase
If you have stairs, you most likely walk up and down them every day without a second thought to their decorative effect on your home. In reality, the stairs are an ideal area for creativity, going beyond the strictly utilitarian use we have for them. With a few simple changes to your staircase, you can dramatically add to the visual appeal of your home.
Add Accents to a Bland Carriage
If your staircase has a large closed carriage (the outer angled part that holds up the actual stairs,) you can add decorative pieces to this for increased visual interest. Decorative pieces in a variety of materials and colors, such as corner trim pieces in woods and metals, can turn a plain carriage into a complementary accent to the rest of your home.Give the Risers a Pop of Color
The risers are the vertical faces under each landing step of the staircase. To add a unique touch to your entire staircase, paint the risers, attach wallpaper strips or add ceiling or decorative tiles to them. This subtle addition won’t impact the stairs you step on, but provide a modern and creative peekaboo effect for those standing at the bottom.Help the Newel Posts Stand Out
The front newel posts of a staircase are often the things we don’t think about at all, but if you choose, they can be one of the most intricate and detailed aspects of the entire staircase. The individual parts of the newel post, such as the cap, the post itself and the base can be uniquely designed. While some have intricately carved details at the time of purchase, others are a simple box or turned circular shape that leave room for additional design details, such as a decorative bolt accent or design pattern. Adding some decorative elements to your newel posts can help your staircase stand out. To learn more about the ways that we can help you upgrade your staircase design, contact Volterra today.]]>Moulding Ideas for a Modern Study
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.
Extra Tall Baseboards
A big change we’re seeing these days is a move toward taller base boards in a contrasting color, usually white. By having base boards that come 3-4” up the wall, you create a bright focal point that outlines the room and frames the walls nicely. Oftentimes this is done without the addition of crown moulding. Instead, the wide framing stands out around doors and windows.Sharp Corners on Moulding
Again, moving away from delicately carved wood moulding, more modern looks feature a single straight line. Indeed, many base boards these days are nothing more than a straight board. This creates a strong appearance and an element of depth where you can see the upper edge of the base board. In some cases, designers paint the upper edge a darker color so that the white of the board’s face stands out even more from the walls instead of letting the baseboard taper into the wall’s surface. If you’re looking to bring your outdated study into the modern era, changing the design of your base boards and other moldings can do the trick. The best part is that modern-looking mouldings are easier than classical designs to install and fit because they have more straightforward surfaces to work with. You can also change up the look with a little bit of color to make a big impact. For more design ideas, visit Volterra Architectural Products online and see our full gallery.]]>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
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.]]>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.