AI-generated image courtesy of Adobe Stock/Teerasak
Decorative woodwork, also known as wood carving or molding, “brings life to the interior structure of a home,” says Bruce Kading, principal of Bruce Kading Interior Design in Minneapolis. “It’s like adding just the right earrings, a special belt, a scarf or other accessories to your outfit. Without them, you just have a basic shape. Molding conveys a sense of quality, style and character.”
Illustration by Traci Zellman
Woodwork has its origins in classical Greek architectural forms, including proportions, scales and the way moldings are connected, columns are detailed and cornices are designed, Kading explains. “Even in today’s modern homes without a lot of detail, a lot of classical Greek proportions are used,” he says. Throughout history, woodwork in homes has adapted to architectural styles, from intricately carved Victorian panels, screens, staircases and stair posts to the dark-stained paneled rooms, heavy moldings and box beams of the Arts & Crafts era.
“In our hectic, complicated lives today, we look for simplicity, but at the same time we want warm, comfortable spaces where we can relax and unwind,” Kading adds. The sheer size of today’s homes has also increased. “Today, with ceiling heights of 2.70 to 3 meters, moldings have to be larger,” he explains. “Baseboards are now 12 to 18 centimeters high and door and window frames are reinforced to 9 to 10 centimeters.” Around the ceiling, crown or cove moldings ranging from 5 to 7 inches thick are used, sometimes with a back molding to give high rooms a more intimate feel.”
Kading notes that designers have returned to “covering windows with a base (the first decorative element) and a skirt (decorative element on the wall below the base), which is in keeping with a more classical building aesthetic.” He adds, “Windows can be covered with panels all the way to the floor, which adds height. Wainscoting and panels add character and warmth to libraries and dining rooms. Box beams enhance ceilings in traditional rooms, and wood beams can liven up a country or European-style home.” But, he says, “homes today are more bespoke and have much less ornate details.”
In short: “Styles change over the years,” says Kading. But over the years During the day and at night, as the lighting in the house changes, “the woodwork captures shadows and depth, emphasizing structure and framing interiors, setting them apart from less exciting and less detailed homes.”
AI-generated image courtesy of Adobe Stock/ngstock
