Wainscoting question

27 days ago

I am renovating my kitchen with shaker style cabinets, and opening up the space to the dining area. I have a casual cape cod home with colonial style elements. I’d like to add wainscoting in the dining area, but I’m not sure what is appropriate with the shaker cabinets. For example, would picture frame mouldings be too formal and a mismatch? I’d appreciate any thoughts on this. Thank you!

Featured Answer

theresa21

26 days ago

I love your stair and hallway wainscoting. I wouldn't change it. Your original question: Would picture frame mouldings be too formal or a mismatch to shaker cabinetry in the kitchen if the dining room is open to the kitchen?

Here are my thoughts:

My gut tells me that it would be a mismatch, and that the picture frame wainscoting leans more formal. I also feel that adding another half-wall wainscoting, in another area of the house, might be too much, but like what others have said, context is everything. I had half-wall wainscoting in the dining room in my last house and full-wall on the fireplace wall in the living room. I liked it very much and perhaps it needed repeating in another room for continuity. I think the mouldings in your hallway and stairway doesn't need repeating in the same way as it was needed in my house. The one consideration to keep in mind, is that if you ever want to paint the upper wall a different color, it will visually cut down the perspective on ceiling height. You don't have that problem when its all painted one color as you have it in your hallway. Maybe remodel the kitchen first and then consider mouldings in the dining room later? Posting more photos of your spaces and how they relate would be helpful for others to chime in.

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Comments (14)

PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
27 days ago
Plain board and batten style. Picture frame might be too formal. You have to decide if the wainscotting will stop at the chair rail height, extend 2/3s up the wall, or extend to the top of the framed doorways.
Lucy May thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
HU-910663146
27 days ago
Need pictures
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theresa21
27 days ago
I think flat-paneled wainscoting feels more in keeping with Cape Cod.

https://www.house-design-coffee.com/cape-cod-house.html
Lucy May thanked theresa21
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
27 days ago
Flat paneled wainscotting is board and batten. It's just adjusted spacing on the battens.
Lucy May thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
theresa21
27 days ago
last modified: 27 days ago
I didn't say you were wrong Beverly. I was just pointing out that it is the spacing in your third photo that sets Cape Cod apart from the Craftsman-style in your first two photos.
Kendrah
27 days ago
This depends a lot on the home itself. Please post pics. Some spaces are overwhelmed by these kinds of wall treatments. Others are not.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
27 days ago
Do you hve waincoting in the rest of the home ? If so copy it. I do not like it added to only one space and for sure not higher than a chair rail because then there is no way to hang art properly.
Lucy May thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
PRO
Norwood Architects
27 days ago
This is from a quick internet search.

Cape Cod style wainscoting comes in several varieties, but typically features flat panelling or narrow vertical wooden panels, usually beadboard, that cover the lower portion of walls. The wainscot is typically painted white or a pale color, and it is often paired with simple, clean-lined adornments.
Lucy May thanked Norwood Architects
Lucy May
Original Author
27 days ago
Thank you all!

I would do chair rail height.

What would keep flat panel wainscot in the appropriate cape cod style, so it doesn’t go toward arts & crafts?

And is beadboard or vertical shiplap another option, or just no?

Should existing picture frame wainscoting in other areas of the house be changed to match?

Thank you.
millworkman
27 days ago
Context is key to prettyy much all your questions. As requested above post up pictures of YOR house and spaces. As well as the moulding or wainscot material you are thinking of.
Lucy May thanked millworkman
theresa21
27 days ago
^ and post photos of the picture frame wainscoting in the other areas of your house.
Lucy May
Original Author
26 days ago
This pic shows the style that is used elsewhere, in stair area & hallway.
Lucy May
Original Author
25 days ago
Thank you for your thoughts, theresa21. That is my gut feeling, too, that the picture frame leans too formal.