The Next Fix

There is so much more you can do to give a stylish finish to walls than cover them with wallpaper or paint. By introducing mouldings to form dado rails and panelled areas, a wider range of decorative treat­ments becomes possible. But the application of mouldings does not stop there. They can also be used to transform plain doors, cupboard doors, shelving, mantelpieces and furniture.

In eighteenth-century Europe, delicate and elab­orately carved mouldings were used to divide walls into a series of panelled areas, which were some­times further divided by dado rails. Doors were also divided into panels, echoing the decoration of the walls. The walls were often painted in two or three tones of colour. In very grand rooms the mouldings were picked out in gold or in a lighter toning shade. A similarly elegant arrangement was favoured in the Neo-classical schemes introduced towards the end of the eighteenth century. All the architectural wall decorations – a cornice or stucco-work frieze at the top of the wall, panelling and dado rail – were gener­ally left white against a plain-coloured background. This treatment works just as well in a modern room, particularly if it is rather box-like. By keeping the panels as upright rectangles, the eye is drawn upwards, giving an illusion of height.

Modern mouldings

Modern wooden mouldings can be found in most hardware stores. You may want to buy a plumb-line to help you get the lines absolutely straight. You will also need a mitring block for sawing corners. Paint the areas within the panels either a tone lighter or darker than the main wall colour, and the moulding in a complementary colour.

In the eighteenth century chairs were placed against the wall, so a rail at chair height protected expensive wall decorations from scrapes and bumps. Nowadays, the dado rail is useful along the length of a staircase, which often gets scuffed, with the wall above papered and the area below the rail painted off-white or to tone in with the wallpaper.

Absolutely plain doors are transformed when decorated with mouldings: use them to introduce panels, such as a pair of rectangular panels posi­tioned above two smaller square or rectangular pan­els. Mouldings can also be used on plain cupboard doors to great effect.

Garage doors are available in different styles and designs. They are part of the appearance of the home and are typically 20 percent of the viewing area of the home. They are important for the safety and security of the home since most garages are attached to the home, providing another entrance into the home. For these few reasons, it is very important to have the perfect garage door.

Whether the garage door is a new addition to a new home or a modification to the existing home, it will impact the home. Selecting the right door starts with the security the door will provide for the garage and the home. It must be installed to provide optimal security for both locations. Select the door wisely and provide the much needed protection for the home.

To select the door that will fit the appearance of the home, decide on the style of the door. The doors are available in carriage house doors, and traditional door styles. Each has an appearance to enhance any home. Matching the style of the door to the design and architecture of the home is important. To get some ideas for the right style, drive around the neighborhood to view the doors used on the different homes, use online stores for ideas, and even visit a garage door company. This will help make the selection of the right door easier.

The carriage house door is one that resembles the old carriage house doors used in the country in the Victorian era. They are constructed of wood and have windows on the upper half of the door. They can be overhead doors or swing out models. They provide an aged and classical appearance to the garage. They provide security as well as safety for the home and garage.

The traditional garage door has many different styles and options Traditional doors are available in wood, metal, and steel. The most common material is metal. They are cost efficient and provide the security benefits needed for the home. They are overhead doors installed on a track and roll providing the benefits of saving space by being stored in the overheard of the garage. They can be designed with windows in the upper half of the window or have a solid appearance. They are available in different panels or a smooth surface.

Both doors can be installed to provide safety and security to the home. They both have the benefits of securing the contents and residents of the home with proper installation and procedures to provide the best options for security. They will add to the appearance of any home when they coordinate with the current features of the home.