This is a beautiful dining room. Note Trae’s use of a dark-stained base shoe that outlines the room perfectly. Nice touch, Trae!
This is a follow-up post to Trae and I’s original discussion here: How to Transition Wainscoting Baseboard into Door Trim.
Hi Ken,
Thank you for your help a few weeks ago. Your recommendation of a plinth block to terminate my baseboard was a great idea; you saved me lots of hassle on my first project.
I thought you might like to see the final product.
Thanks again! –Trae Taylor
Trae’s dining room before he installed the tall wainscoting.
Dear Trae,
I can’t tell you how beautiful your dining room is. What a joy it must be to sit down to dinner surrounded by your own beautiful craftsmanship.
Trae, thank you so much for sharing your work with everyone. I’m sure your example will inspire many others to tackle their own molding projects!
Wow, this is beautiful!!
This looks great. I’m doing something similar in my house. I’ve always painted my moldings with a white semigloss paint. What type of paint would you recommend using in this scenario for both the walls and molding? I don’t think using a semigloss would look good on the walls.
Thanks.
Chris.
Hi Chris,
Most of the white-painted moldings on our blog were painted with Benjamin Moore’s White Dove, OC-17, in a satin finish.
I like White Dove because it’s not a harsh, bright white (bright whites are great for hospitals and commercial spaces, but not so much for home), but isn’t dull and grayish either. It’s a safe, no-brainer.
Most of my walls are painted in Benjamin Moor’s, Regal, product. But really, when it comes to latex wall paints there’s a lot of great companies to choose from, most of them competitive, so go with what you’re happiest with.
But the finish of wall paints is where I part company with so many people. Flat. I like flat paint on my walls. Almost without exception — save near work spaces in the kitchen.
Flat wall paint against satin or semi-gloss moldings is the most luxurious and sensual combination of textures at home you can create. A shiny sheen on walls make me feel I’m in an industrial or commercial space. No, at home I want the felt-like softness of flat paint.
Some paint companies make very washable flat paints. For me this is not even a factor for two reasons:
1. Walls get marred. It’s the sign of a lived-in home.
2. When the walls get so marred I just throw another coat of paint on them and forget about it.
Probably more detail than you needed, but there you have it Chris.
Good luck. Let us know how your room turns out!
Ken (or Trae),
(1) Do you have any additional pictures of this project? Some more close-up views? Of the wainscotting and the upper wall and ceiling.
(2) For the flat panel behind the wainscotting would you use 1/4″ sheetrock or MDF? Advantages/disadvantages of either.
Beautiful work by the way!
Thanks, Frank
Hey Frank, I never thought of using 1/4″ sheet rock as the inner most panel. I think it’s a great idea. It would be less expensive and easier to cut than mdf.
There are two reasons for installing either the mdf or sheet rock: One, if your walls are textured, and two, because this treatment really looks better with the additional relief — it looks more substantial.
Trey did not send any additional pictures, but if he’s still lurking around The Joy of Moldings maybe he’ll read this and send us a few more.