Painting with moulding

11 years ago

I am trying to get ideas for painting this open living, dining room with that decorative molding. What is that type of feature called? It is not crown molding or drop down molding. I cannot find any articles on painting with different colors above and below.

Featured Answer

Erica Veil

11 years ago

This molding without any crown molding looks like an afterthought. Either add crown molding for a more traditional look, or remove this molding for a modern look, or do both: add crown molding AND remove old. Unless it's picture rail molding!
In our 1862 brownstone that has extra molding below the crown molding. I was hoping it was picture rail moulding, so that I didn't have to put holes in my walls to hang artwork, but it is not. It is just layers of crown molding, which looks best with high ceilings, ours are 12-foot high.
As for painting, as one example, in our master bedroom, I put the same wall color above the lower moulding. In the master bathroom, I painted the walls a much lighter version of the bed wall color, and then between the molding painted the bed wall color. There is line of sight from bedroom into bathroom, so it works well.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

lefty47
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
HI -- I would have it re-moved -- it does nothing for the room, doesn't suit the room, and makes the walls look short . Someone was trying to be creative and it didn't work .
xflisa thanked lefty47
Related Professionals
Indianapolis Interior Designers & Decorators · Rolla Interior Designers & Decorators · Oxford Interior Designers & Decorators · Aiken Interior Designers & Decorators · Odessa Interior Designers & Decorators · Cheyenne Interior Designers & Decorators · Huntsville Architects & Building Designers · Salina Architects & Building Designers · Flint Architects & Building Designers · Kearney Architects & Building Designers · Minot Architects & Building Designers · Muskogee Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Bangor Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Mission Viejo Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Toronto Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
xflisa
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you for responding, I should add. I like it and it is staying. So I am not deciding whether to keep it or not, I am trying to decide how to paint the walls. Ceiling and above the molding one color and another color below? Ceiling and lower wall one color and above the molding a different color? That is what I am looking for advice on. But I appreciate your comments. I understand some people won't like it.
Erica Veil
11 years ago
Then consider painting that and the base molding (some variation of) white gloss to update it. Once that is done, one option could be to paint above it the same white, and below it whatever wall color you wish. Otherwise, the trim will still out like a sore thumb.
marilynellis
11 years ago
Looks like picture rails to me- a method of hanging art from wires hooked from the rail. Not the wall. Very common before patching holes was easy. Remove or paint to make disappear.
PRO
Your Color Diva
11 years ago
Yes, it is called picture molding. You can find the hooks to use with the molding at most antique hardware stores. I agree with Erica and I would paint both the chair and base molding a white satin or semi gloss. The ceiling down to the molding I would paint flat finish in the same color as the moldings. The lower portion of the wall can be another color in an eggshell or satin finish. You want all of the surfaces to work as a unit. Hope this helps.