Craftsman Style
[This is part of The Joy of Craftsman Moldings series.]
Your house does not need to have a three-pained, leaded glass window like this one in order to create this beautiful window surround, nor do you need a historic home.
All you need is a typical picture window to wrap a few simple moldings around, and before you know it you’ll have an accurate historic reproduction!
Here are some tips on how to do it.
Defining the Project
- To make things simple, let’s say this window surround is 5′ long and 2′ 6″ tall.
- This one is oriented horizontally, but yours does not have to be. If the window you are working with is tall, that’s fine.
Materials Needed to Make This Window Trim
1. Casing Molding
This is that wonderfully affordable window/door casing made by the Molding & Millwork Company.
CA-007 (2 ea.) = $18.02
2. Window Stool
The width of this flat-stock material will be based on how deep your window is recessed into the wall.
At the very least you want this stool to extend beyond the wall by an inch. So trim it down on your table saw to the width that works.
FS-002 (1 ea.) = $5.49
3. Widow Apron
Note: The combined width of the stool and apron should be the same as the width of the casing, CA-007.
FS-002 (1 ea.) = $5.49
Installation Steps
Installing this window surround is as simple as this:
- Cut the stool to fit and then glue and nail it in place.
- Cut the apron to fit and then glue and nail it in place.
- Install the casing around the window.
- Prep for paint.
- Paint the moldings. How to Prep and Paint Moldings >>
And that’s all there is to it.
Paint Color Tip
Remember that you don’t have to limit yourself to painting your Craftsman moldings white.
I’ve seen these moldings painted very dark brown — mocha-like — and even black. With the right color combination it can be truly stunning.
Good luck with your project!
Cheers, Ken
