Tag: Wainscoting

Choosing Moulding for Open Floor Plans with Smith & DeShields

Posted on August 14, 2024 by - News

Open floor plans are a fan favorite for modern homes, offering ease of movement between living areas. Choosing the best moulding in such wide-open spaces can be a bit daunting. But Smith & DeShields, with its deep understanding of high-quality mouldings and millwork, lays down insightful recommendations to choose the perfect moulding for your open floor plan.

Understanding the Role of Moulding

Moulding has both functional and aesthetic appeal. It can help describe a space, add some architectural interest, and finally give your home a finished look. In an open floor plan, moulding will help divide the spaces without having to use any walls, hence the look will be coherent and polished.

Baseboards: Foundation of Style

Most people underestimate the crucial role that baseboards play in a room. When you’re considering an open-concept look, baseboards are one way to marry the spaces together. Reach for something simple and linear, like tall baseboards, to add an element of sophistication.

At Smith & DeShields, there’s a world of possibilities for baseboards, fully customizable for your ideal home’s design.

Baseboard Shopping Tips:

  • Height: 5- to 7-inch-high baseboards are optimal. They help create a more massive look and are well suited, especially in open places
  • Style: Choose a simple, classic profile designed to critically bond with the unit’s other components
  • Material: Durable hard-wearing material like MDF or hardwood is preferred for its longevity and serviceability.

Crown Moulding: A Touch of Opulence and Depth

Crown moulding in your open floor plan can make your room look richer and more luxurious. Giving dimension to your walls and ceiling; your eyes naturally continue to move throughout the space, visually flowing upward.

 Tips for Choosing Crown Moulding:

  • Scale: Choose a moulding sized in proportion to the ceiling. More detailed profiles can be selected for higher ceilings
  • Style: Select a design with elements that complement the style of your home: traditional, contemporary, or a blend of both
  • Installation: Paying close attention to where the crown is installed with a high level of skill. When elements fit together seamlessly, the result is a great appearance.

Door and Window Casings: Focusing the View

The casing around doors and windows frames your view. In an open concept with free-flowing space, the continuation of styling within the casing will prevent the appearance from appearing choppy.

Choosing Door and Window Casings:

  • Consistency: Stay consistent on style and materials with all casings.
  • Width: If you are going to select a wide width of casings, then make them one that will make a true statement (between 3-4″)
  • Detail: Select profiles that are a little more detailed. Not so much that it drives a lot of activity, but enough so that you add a little visual interest

Chair Rails and Wainscoting: Defining Spaces

Chair rails and wainscoting are structured methods of defining different functional areas of an open floor plan, for instance, a dining area off of a living room. They also provide texture and visual interest in the walls.

Tips on Choosing Chair Rails and Wainscoting:

  • Height: Chair rails are typically installed 32-36 inches from the floor. Wainscoting can be any height you like
  • Design: Choose designs that enhance the overall design of your residence. Raised panel wainscoting is much more conventional than flat panel wainscoting and fits with conventional areas better
  • Color: Coat or tarnish the wainscoting with a shade that breaks against the shade of the wall to be highlighted; or, use a shade that blends with the color of the wall for a much more understated look

Combining Moulding with Interior Design

Moulding should complement, not compete with the rest of your home’s interior. Smith & DeShields recommends that the colors of the mouldings should match the walls, trim, and furnishings to create a harmonious feel. For a continuous flow, paint the moulding the same color as the wall. To achieve contrast, choose a complementary color that highlights the architectural details.

Smith & DeShields

Choose from an unparalleled selection of doors, hardware, moulding and other architectural accents, as well as building supplies. Many of these are in stock, available immediately and are locally exclusive to Smith & DeShields. Quality permeates every facet of our business and it’s no different when it comes to choosing top-quality hardware.

For over 67 years, Smith & DeShields has been well-respected for evolving its product lines to match the latest technology, designs and hardware that stand the test of time. Contractors, architects, and homeowners alike are invited to experience the wide variety of quality products showcased in each of our four Florida showrooms.

Visit SmithandDeShields.com to learn more.

Baseboard Moulding: 3 Simple Upgrades with a Big Impact

Posted on January 31, 2024 by - News

In the world of interior design, baseboard moulding often plays a silent yet significant role. It’s the unsung hero that can quietly revolutionize your room’s aesthetic. Today, with the expertise of Smith & DeShields, we embark upon a creative exploration of three distinct upgrades for baseboard moulding, each capable of breathing new life into your living spaces and infusing them with an unparalleled sense of elegance.

1. Crown of Grandeur

Crown moulding is not just the finishing touch; it’s the “pièce de resistance” of your baseboard moulding. It gracefully bridges the gap between your walls and ceiling, introducing an air of sophistication that commands attention.

Imagine a full palette of crown moulding styles, each resembling a masterpiece in its own right. Whether your heart leans toward timeless curves or the modern allure of angular profiles, Smith & DeShields and their expertise bring depth and refinement to your room, elevating it from the ordinary to the extraordinary.

2. Texture Tales: Beadboard or Wainscoting

If your living space craves character and dimension, the world of beadboard or wainscoting is your creative playground, and Smith & DeShields is your guide. These transformative upgrades involve the addition of decorative panels to your baseboard moulding, often covering the lower section of your walls and in some cases, the entire wall.

Beadboard, with its slender vertical panels, casts a warm, cottage-inspired charm, enveloping your room in a welcoming embrace, all guided by Smith & DeShields’ craftsmanship. In contrast, wainscoting showcases larger, rectangular panels, evoking a sense of formal elegance. Beyond their visual appeal, Smith & DeShields’ expertise ensures these textured wonders act as protective shields for your walls, guarding them against the rigors of daily life.

3. Colors and Contrasts Come Alive

Sometimes, the boldest statements in design are made with colors and contrasts. Baseboard moulding, often overshadowed, is usually painted to blend seamlessly with the walls. However, deviating from this norm can yield breathtaking results.

Envision a baseboard moulding painted or stained in a striking, contrasting shade against lighter walls. This simple twist infuses an element of intrigue into your space, spotlighting the architectural finesse. Alternatively, in rooms cloaked in dark hues, Smith & DeShields can help you choose a lighter baseboard moulding to create a dramatic contrast that reinvigorates the atmosphere.

For those unafraid to make a statement, vibrant colors that harmonize with your decor become your tool of choice, thereby transforming your baseboard moulding into a focal point, radiating personality and vitality throughout your living spaces.

Smith & DeShields

Embrace the world of baseboard bliss, guided by Smith & DeShields, and let your home’s beauty shine in ways you never thought possible.

Choose from their unparalleled selection of doors, hardware, moulding and other architectural accents, as well as building supplies. Many of these are in stock, available immediately and are locally exclusive to Smith & DeShields. Quality permeates every facet of their business and it’s no different when it comes to choosing top-quality moulding.

For over 66 years, Smith & DeShields has been well-respected for evolving its product lines to match the latest technology, designs and hardware that stand the test of time. Contractors, architects, and homeowners alike are invited to experience the wide variety of quality products showcased in each of our four Florida showrooms.

Visit SmithandDeShields.com to learn more.

How to Personalize Your Home with Architectural Millwork

Posted on September 26, 2022 by - News

Wainscoting, trim work, crown molding, and cabinetry — are all examples of custom millwork that can be manufactured directly into the structure of your home. Millwork has been in homes for hundreds of years, taking shape in many different forms. This can also include millwork which is produced in a mill to create wooden detailing, meaning it can add texture and depth. Exude the timeless elegance of fine craftsmanship, create unique storage solutions, and even increase your home’s value. Here are 5 ways to incorporate architectural millwork into your Florida home. 

  1. Columns & Trim 

When building a home, columns and trim can enhance your home with an elegant touch. Millwork can turn any home from ordinary to extraordinary. Baseboards and trim are an easy way to incorporate millwork into your custom home. Installing custom columns can also add distinctive character to a home as interior structural supports, mantels, or even room dividers. 

Trim can be beneficial in more than one way when designing a custom home. When installing trim, it typically is used to cover gaps between 2 areas. Covering gaps creates a more uniform space and can be highly decorative in setting the style and tone. Quality trim is made from treated wood but comes in many different synthetic materials now like plaster, polystyrene, or PVC. Trim and columns tailored to the client’s style can transform a home drastically. 

  1. Built-in Cabinets

Built-in cabinets create functionality with a sophisticated twist on storage. Custom cabinets or built-ins help utilize each square foot of your property. Designing a space with cabinets can add emphasis to a specific area in your home. They can also create a focal point in the center of the room which draws you into the space. Cabinets can be custom installed in your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, garage and even outdoors. A few built-ins you may generally see in a home include:

  • Bookshelves
  • Cubby storage
  • Benches
  • Kitchen table or booth
  • Under-stairway storage
  • Media or TV units
  • Cabinets
  • Closets
  • Window benches
  • Vanities
  • Office storage
  1. Shiplap, Wood Paneling & Beams 

Wood paneling, board and batten, wainscoting, beams, and shiplap are all exceptional and custom treatments you can easily incorporate. 

Shiplap produces a uniform look and has been seen in the interior design industry for many reasons. This paneling has an eye-catching look that brings elegance and texture to any room. 

Wood paneling can also transition an area because it gives a clean formal feel. There are a few styles of paneling including wainscoting as well as board and batten. Wood paneling can visually break up larger wall expanses while still adding a decorative element. Wainscoting establishes a classic “high-end” look for years to come. 

Lastly, wood beams might be your preferent. With such remarkable size, exposed wood beams bring a visually exquisite feature to the room. Beams intensify personality and charm in your home which creates an effortless design. 

  1. Sliding Doors/Wood Doors

When installing a custom door with millwork, the choice of door ushers in your design style. Beyond conventional doors, millwork doors are custom-made to enhance the look of an entryway. Doors can be equipped with custom glass panels or sidelights. The sizing of the door depends on what can be custom-made to fit the entryway. A broader door allows for larger panels letting more natural light into your space. Doors are the first feature your guests see and millwork will catch everyone’s eye. 

  1. Mullioned Windows

In window design, a mullion is a vertical divider that breaks apart the opening. The technology needed to manufacture large panes of glass was not developed during the Victorian Era. Before that, large windows were constructed by forming small, individual panes of cut glass held together by supportive mullions. Mullioned windows can take shape of a rectangle or square depending on the opening. Acting as load-bearing elements to support an arch, mullioned windows add a cathedral-like finish to any home. 

Smith & DeShields

Adding our millwork can seem like a hassle – but in the end – it can transform your space like you never imagined. 

If you are interested in installing custom millwork into your home, visit Smith & DeShields, the #1 family-owned and operated door manufacturer in South Florida.

Smith & DeShields is home to a wide array of doors to suit all your needs, whether it be exterior or interior doors, simple or fancy, impact-resistant, and more. All of our exterior doors are built to exceed Florida Building Code and are sourced from the most respected vendors.

For over 65 years, Smith & DeShields is well-respected for evolving its product lines to match the latest technology, designs, and hardware that stand the test of time. This is why contractors, architects, and homeowners alike are invited to experience the wide variety of quality products showcased in each of our four Florida showrooms. If you are interested in installing our custom millwork into your home, visit one of the four showrooms throughout Florida, including Naples, Fort Myers, Boca Raton and Jupiter. Visit smithanddeshields.com to learn more.