Unique crown mouldings and trims aren’t something that you see all that much these days. I’m mostly speaking about newer construction which is honestly such a bummer if you ask me. Sure, they may not be the right look for every style of home but man, they can add so much character to a home! I feel confident that I’m not alone in having my heart flutter a bit when I see a really beautiful application. So as I’m sure you can imagine, I was in heaven when I went to Paris last year…
Hi dad! This cafe’s moulding, in particular, really stole my heart which is why I took photos of it so I didn’t forget what it looked like. I thought “I’m going to DIY this in my apartment!” Just cut some dowels both vertically and horizontally, grab a nail gun, slap on some paint, and BOOM! Parisian crown moulding, complete. When I got home and started accessing my already existing crown molding, I realized this application wasn’t going to work/look right (don’t worry I have other plans, and sorry for the endless teasing:)). Then after talking to Mal recently about her plans to also add crown molding to her new apartment, it was clear I needed to dig in and write on blog post on this VERY important topic – interesting crown moulding and trim ideas. You can see from his face, Les Bunge also agrees that it’s urgent.
It doesn’t matter if you are renovating, a skilled DIYer, or just looking to stare at some beautiful spaces, there is something for everyone in today’s post. Let’s go!
What has been really grabbing me lately is moulding like this, classic with a modern twist. The scale of the small rectangles makes it feel a bit fresher, don’t you agree? It commands that space in such a beautiful way. I know this is a shop but I would HAPPILY have this moulding in my home. I also love that it’s painted a different color from the walls but we’ll get to that in a minute:) Tali Roth is such a genius.
And keeping with the classic geometric vibe. I love the trim detail that Lone Fox added to his IKEA bookcase DIY. It brings the whole piece to life in such an exciting way that totally feels style-appropriate to the home. This is something that anyone could add to a piece like this (with the right tools and some skills). 1000/10
I thought it was important to add an example that felt a little more classic but still had that modern look. It’s really all about scale. This one looks more traditional because instead of larger rectangles like the first example, the main detail are the smaller squares. I’m absolutely not a crown moulding historian but anecdotally the smaller and more detailed the mouldings are, the older they look.
My point is proven again! This moulding/trim/valance(?) is oversized and SO playful. I love what it does to the room. Definitely an expensive custom job unless, of course, you’ve got advanced DIY skills but so inspiring regardless.
This one also falls into the moulding/valance camp but my god is it stunning. The lines are simple but the perfect mix of modern and traditional. It also immediately draws your eye up. Then if you go to the next slide check out that ball detail! So fun but still cool and elegant. The room doesn’t need a ton decor-wise because the architectural interest is so stunning.
But speaking of detailed, ornate mouldings, this is a beautiful example! Studio DB did an incredible job restoring this home and I adore how the ceiling moulding is painted while the wall mouldings are the original wood tone. This keeps the ceiling from making the space feel too heavy while still honoring the natural wood on the walls. What a dream space.
This one is for my beginner DIYers that might already have some crown moulding in their home. Paint is your friend! This tonal blush space is so calm and inviting. But it’s made a bit more visually dynamic with the mouldings being a darker tone. Not a new idea but such an effective one.
Or you can pull a page out of Orlando’s book (he does this all of the time) and paint some “mouldings” on your walls. In this wildly good dining room, the boldness of the black helps to balance the wonderful intensity of the green. It feels both modern and retro and is so doable.
Or if you have beams or mouldings that are calling for some special creativity, maybe they could use a little artwork like these beams?? (I know I used this photo for the Tamegroute ceramics post but it’s too beautiful and too perfect for this post to not use again.)
Another option is to really just focus on the ceiling. I don’t know if this moulding is original to this home or not, but with the right craftsperson, you could definitely design your own version. I feel like mouldings have a reputation for making a home more “elevated/traditional” but they can also add so much sweetness like in this example!
Now for the last handful of examples, I wanted to show some playful trim ideas. Like in this bathroom with the serrated triangle trim. I don’t know if it’s tile or wood but regardless I LOVE IT. But given it was designed by YSG Studio it’s no surprise that it’s bursting with interesting, creative ideas.
Then if you love the triangle look, maybe painting around an archway or window could be the perfect affordable answer. This look is specific but would be amazing in the right space…like this one:)
I’m not done with triangles yet. I adore this architectural feature designed by Daniella Villamil which was made even better with the triangle trim. Hope this sparks some inspiration for some features in your home that could use some enhancing.
And finally, another reminder that trims are for furniture too and this bench by Tess Twiehaus. Couldn’t love it more and makes the whole space that much more special. No notes:)
Are you looking at your ceilings as we speak? Do you have crown moulding that you love or maybe could use some attention? Which was your favorite example? Let’s chat!
Love you, mean it.
Opening Image Credits: Interior Design and Styling by Emily Henderson and Brady Tolbert (and team) | From: The Portland Dining Room Reveal + How to Create A Room That Is Interesting Yet Sophisticated
Great inspo!
Thank you!
Dentil moulding is a type of wooden trim that has blocks shaped like teeth. It is suitable for both interior and exterior uses. And yes, the word is dentil is used because the blocks can resemble teeth. Most often used near ceilings, it has been used by both the ancient Greeks and Romans in their stone buildings (see Parthenon). Your audience is not afraid of architectural jargon. I once impressed an architect here in Utah when I identified some dentil moulding in a pioneer limestone schoolhouse I was helping restore after my friends moved it 4 miles to their property.
Thank you for the info! I love learning about things like this!
LOVE posts like this bursting with inspiration. Thank you!
So glad you loved it!
Love this post! My house is a 1933 Tudor and has many of these moldings in the main spaces. I would love to hear more about how to enhance the moldings or make them blend in…. aka best ways to paint. Is it the same color as the ceiling or the same as the wall? My ceilings are Cromarty and the walls are Strong White by F&B. This design direction has something for everyone. Love it!
Your home sounds incredible! In terms of paint color, it’s really up to preference at the end of the day. You can do the same color as the trim, the same color as the wall, or choose a third color!
We have a 1922 house and in some rooms we painted the crown molding a similar color to the walls, but maybe a shade or two darker. In the kitchen all the trim is satin but in the front living room the ceiling crown molding is a tonal high gloss and the rest of the trim is a very creamy satin color.
This sounds awesome! My trim is currently Strong White Modern Eggshell (Walls are Estate Emulsion), but I’ve considered painting the crown in Cromarty to add some color outside of the ceiling (ceiling is in Estate Eggshell). It all looks good, but I’m always wanting to take it to the next level.
I’ve always believe that crown molding and trim absolutely MAKE a room. You almost don’t even need any art as long as you have that dimension in the walls. I love these so much. And thanks for introducing us to Tali Roth! What a creative brain! Great post, Jess.
You are so welcome!!
So many gorgeous examples, but what do you do when you have a house without those fancy architectural features? I don’t see anything in your archives about how to choose/paint trim (as opposed to wall/ceiling paneling), and it’s the kind of final frame that seems important… but also easy to just do builder grade generic for lack of other guidance. Am I missing great posts y’all have already done on this topic??
Here is a post that Sara wrote a few years ago that maybe can help! https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/the-painted-trim-high-impact-low-cost-one-girls-journey-all-the-tips-tricks
Jess, thank you for showing some love to crown moulding. It adds so much to the bones of a home. If there are any other crown moulding nerds out there, Laurel Bern writes a lot about it (https://laurelberninteriors.com/?s=crown+moulding) in great detail. And XO Macenna has done several videos of adding crown moulding and trim to rooms (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mkWtZo65pJw&pp=ygUYeG8gbWFjZW5uYSBjcm93biBtb2xkaW5n). It turns out corners and slanted ceilings make cutting and fitting crown moulding difficult. Thanks again for the great post!
Thanks for those resources!!
Hi krkrkrkr,
Thanks so much for the endorsement and link to my site! (I saw a big hit of traffic from this post in my analytics, which is how I found your lovely comment.)
Hi Laurel – us crown moulding girls will find each other, across thresholds, platforms, and all the various spellings of ‘moulding.’
Love, Love, Love. Cant get enough of moldings and trims.
me too:)
We need More Les Bunge! Love him, plus I think he is wearing the same red wool shirt my dad used to wear, LL Bean? Great post on crown molding, but let’s not forget contemporary houses where coolness can be created in the millwork and door/window moldings (that was our challenge). Thanks for some great inspo!
I think most homes, unless explicitly modern architecture look unfinished without ceiling molding. This may be because I grew up an Air Force brat in Europe and we had older, traditional, molding all around us. When we renovated a one story into a two story six years ago, I told the GC, “crown molding throughout.” He only priced out the ground floor. What part of “throughout” don’t you get? I had to be very insistent that they not only requote for both floors in ALL rooms, but even just get them to do the ground floor. He kept saying it wasn’t needed until I finally got impatient and said, “for the last 16 years, every time I walk into my living room my eyes go to the ceiling and I am mad that there is still no crown molding there. EVERY time, 5-15 times a day I note that my husband still hasn’t put in the molding he said he would when we bought the house*. Are you really going to make me be angry and you about this every day, multiple times a day until I die in this house?” I mean, why the heck did he care what… Read more »