Define Your Home’s Style With Architectural Details

Architectural details added to your home – from entranceway to kitchen to family room – can create a defined, even grand look for your home. Marie Owens, Sales Design Consultant for Callen, offers some tips to bring interest to otherwise ordinary spaces.

“One characteristic that distinguishes a room is attention to moulding at baseboards and ceiling. It’s an easy way to upgrade a room, adding width, depth and height to the trim,” she said. “Ceiling are often overlooked, but adding beams or mouldings can add warmth and contrast as well as draw the eye upward. Crown molding can make a low ceiling appear high and a vaulted room feel cozier.

“Visual interest can also be created with wainscoting, which comes in many different patterns, adding detail to walls that are otherwise bland,” she said.

“Wall niches are natural focal points, adding depth and texture to a wall as well as being an area to display a sculpture, vase, books, or mementos,” Owens said. “While creating a built-in niche may be best left to professionals who are equipped to deal with the wiring or mechanicals on the other side of the wall, pre-made niches that can simply be hung on the existing wall are available.”

When painting, consider something other than a flat finish. For example, a knockdown texture, which is more intense than a flat finish, but not as passé as an orange peel or popcorn texture. Or, take one wall and make it a dramatic focal point by using a high gloss finish.

Don’t underestimate the power of well-orchestrated lighting, both natural and artificial. “The shape and scope of the room can be defined with recessed lighting, pendants, sconces, and table lamps. A chandelier, kept in scale to the room, can add a lush touch,” Owens said.

Other tips from Callen to consider when undergoing a kitchen remodel include:

• Position cabinetry at different heights to give the room a focal point.
• Add furniture-style details such as decorative legs on an island or details at the base of cabinets.
• Vary the edging on countertops between kitchen and island. Keep the counter edging straight and simple, but go for more flair in the island with a beveled, bullnose, or an ogee edge.
• Install a chair rail or frame a ceiling, doorway or existing built-in with slender or wide moulding for high design impact.
• Go dramatic with stacked stone as a backsplash or a feature wall. Stacked stone is made up of a variety of natural materials such as sandstone and quartzite and cut to various sizes and lengths to add diversity to the pattern.

Owens advised that when adding any detailing make your selection complement the architectural style of your home. “Don’t try to change your home into something it is not meant to be,” she said.