diy door trim molding

When moldings are too big for one portion of an installation, just dissolve them into the obstacle.

[This post is part of my How to Install Moldings series.]

When the moldings you want to install run into an obstacle of some sort, it’s perfectly OK to create what I call a molding dissolve.

You’ll use dissolves on door trim moldings more than any place else, because doors are so often crammed into a corner.  But you can use them on any kind of molding like wainscoting, crown moldings or wall frames.  Below are a few examples.

wainscoting wall frames on stairs in great room

Wall frames dissolve into the angle of the stair case.

foyer door trim moldings

The entire right side of this door trim appears to melt into the wall.

quinlan terry architrave

A close up of the architrave dissolving into the foyer wall.

kitchen door trim too large for opening

A door trim dissolved into the wall, but the door jamb continues unaltered.

crown molding cove corncie buildup living room

Treat the crown molding as if it passes through the brick fireplace. Another option would have been to wrap the crown around the brick.

There are historic precedents for creating molding dissolves in buildings throughout the world.  The first time I saw one was while watching a show on Scottish castles.  A molding dissolve appeared on a door surround as the camera panned through the room.  The image at the top of this post is an almost exact replica of what I saw on that show.

[This post is part of my How to Install Moldinsg series.]