I am in the process of adding trim to a room with a somewhat contemporary look. Does anyone have any pictures they could share of more contemporary types of trim (window, door, crown?) they have used? Looking in some books and magazines for ideas has made me wonder if contemporary trim is an oxymoron.
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Thanks in advance for your help.
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Replies
Is this room significantly different style than the rest of the house?
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It is different. The rest of the house is transitional with more traditional trim. This room is a bonus room/ media room with a wet bar. I want it to be different from the other rooms.
The great part about contemporary design is that there are no rules. Basically, the design cues are a lack of ornament and complexity as well as a use of modern materials like glass, metal, etc.
Do a search on the web for contemporary floors, doors, and lighting and you will find the examples you want to see.
You might also check out the Scandinavian design sites/suppliers.
You make a good point. Contemporary trim is minimal. You can do a lot with the bullnose plastic (or metal) product to affect transitions in walkways etc. without ever putting wood trim up. That bullnose trim makes the drywall edges look like crafted plaster to most everyone. You can even do window returns the same way.
However. one of the benefits of trim is that it takes a hit when you are moving furniture etc. between rooms. I believe that is why it exists in any home. True it does transition doors & built in devices with a gap covering flair but overall it is tougher than plaster.
I was in a home last night where the door casings were 1951 contemporary. I could guess it within 5 years its age. Every age has its style of mouldings. Break the mold on mouldings and you make a timeless statement.
Have at it with whatever you feel or are equipped to make (shapers are the tool of choice) but don't spare the wood. Thin or spindly pieces out of light duty wood will get beat to snot and look awful in short time. Unless of course you live in a house with ballerinas.
Here are some photos of what I did in my place. I would describe it as having classical proportions with contemporary lines. It is all made with MDF but could be done with solids.
NiceIt looks like it would work with A&C, shaker and bunch of other with out being it's own strongly defined style.
scruff
I'm not a big fan of comtemporary trim but I do like what you've done, well proportioned.
Doug
Beautiful! Perfect interpretation of classical proportions. Even the unfinished MDF looked nice.
Nice job brotha....like Doug, I don't care for contemporary finishes in general.
But I can certainly appreciate when they are done well.
Cudos!
Oh how they pound, raising the sound, o'er hill and dale, telling their tale, Gaily they ring while people sing songs of good cheer, Christmas is here....
I believe you've posted some good looking contemporary trim in the past?
I'll look for some pics tomorrow...but, in the meantime, Scruff's stuff is great, and nicely done, too<G> Oh God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
Abe says, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
God say, "No." Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me comin' you better run"
Well Abe says, "Where do you want this killin' done?"
God says, "Out on Highway 61."
Just finished a house with a somewhat contemporary trim package. Base was 1x6 (PFJ pine) with a 1/2" quarter round "cap". Door and window casings were simple 1x4 flat stock, mitered on the tops. We considered a running a 1/4" bead between the verticals and head casing, Sarah Susankaish, but opted not to, rationalizing that when funds permitted, the flat casings could be easily dressed up. The window aprons were also 1x4, but were framed against the wall with 1/2" quarter round to visually join with the base. "Crown" was limited to above kitchen cabs. The crown was a flat 1x5, set at 45 degrees to the wall. Everything will be painted. Final result had classic proportions though with a clean look (of course everything new looks clean).
When I hear 'contemporary' I think of crappy 3" pine trim.
If Modern, I think no trim what-so-ever, or else using stock finished 1x4 or 1x6 (no bullnose).
>If Modern, I think no trim what-so-everI get confused over modern vs contemporary. Regardless, we went with no trim on doors, windows, floors. Ironically, the no trim look can take more work than trim! It takes careful detailing of every element, because there's no easy way to hide the assorted drywall, flooring, door mounting flaws.
That's for sure.
"Modern" = Dwell Magazine
"Contemporary" = Architecture Digest Magazine;o)Actually, I think 'contemporary', as a term, gets a bad rap, as it's used to market the blandest of bland Mini McMansion homes it seems. I typically refer to it as 'oh, you bought the cheapest stuff from Menards/Lowes/Home Depot'.Modernism, on the other hand, seems to be a bit more of a definable style based on mid century architects and the pursuit of less form and more function in the materials chosen.
>When I hear 'contemporary' I think of crappy 3" pine trim.
>"Contemporary" = Architecture Digest MagazineInteresting juxtaposition! :)
I've always considered Artchitectural Digest the Wal-Mart of architecture review. Maybe I'm being too hard on it. ;o)
Did I ever tell you that my house graced its pages?
*cough*...er...well...uh...there's always exceptions to the norm, right? ;o)
One hopes! :)
Do you have any pics you'd share of your non-trim? I've done one job with no door casings...way harder than cased. This was 1 5/8" stock w/ 1/2" rabbeted out of the back. We set these jambs before the sheetrock, and the rockers had to work it into the rabbets...yeah buddy, the framing had to be right<G>Architects said they had done this exact same detail before (it was a Smith Barney office)...so it was interesting when the door hangers came through. 8' solid monsters with hinges to match...the screws closest to the hinge pins were all poking visibly thru the jambs...ruh roh!Negative reveals are also cool used with modern trim details...did some crown one time that was about 10 pcs. Flat stock of various thicknesses, stacked w/edges showing horizontally, some forward some back...wish I had some pics.I love modern stuff, as long as it's not too skinny<G> Oh God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
Abe says, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
God say, "No." Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me comin' you better run"
Well Abe says, "Where do you want this killin' done?"
God says, "Out on Highway 61."
Cloud
I don't get the diff between modern and contemporary but your comment on "no trim at all" is one that caught my eye.
I worked on a house in Austin (pic attached) no trim anywhere inside or outside! I'm sure that the work involved was much greater then had they trimmed it.
The floor detail isn't all that clear but what they have is a strip of galvanized tin set back behind the sheetrock, meaning the sheetrock is proud of the tin.
I'm guessing the sheetrockers had to do double/triple the work in this house.
Doug
That's a look I really like when it's done right. Puts a premium on having framing that's straight and true.In that picture, I wonder what's planned for the flooring. Gotta leave a gap at the edge. Curious how they'll mask it. That's why we undercut ours. Used vinyl L bead to hold a clean bottom edge.
I've seen some good effect by just using backband creatively. It's a simple moulding as is, and gives a narrow, crisp line--which might be just the sort of thing you are looking for.
For windows & doors, the side "casing" would be backband on the flat. Tip the backband to "normal" and butt the side casings into that for the head & sill casings (one more backband on the flat underneath sill casing will give an understated "apron" on the windows).
Depending on the wall & ceiling finishes, and how clean the joint, a bit of 1x1 or 1x2 with a rabbet half the depth to make a shadow line can be quite the trick.
Now, I'm guessing the drywall is in already, so true "modern" is really out. But, a person can laminate in some thin stock, to pick up the "look" of trim-less modern. But, it's some work to do right. You need to rip stock to around 3/16 x 3, and install that to look like a raised edge on 4x8 panels along the walls (which really only "works" if one uses an absolute minimum of suitably "mod" furniture not against the walls--catch-22<g>). You want a reveal about 3/16 between the "panels" too. This "buys" you the 'protection' that wood base (could) offer, and a crown-like trim, too.
Can be a cool effect--ruined when the decorator insists on plining furniture up against all the laborously-detailed walls, though <sigh>.
We're just putting the finishing touches on my own house. we wanted to go with the contemporary style.
All of our base is 3 1/2" eased edge maple with natural finish.
All casing is 2 1/2" eased edge maple with natural finish, picture framed around all windows. No stools.
All cabinetry is european style with flush doors in... natural maple finish.
And my favorite part is the glass railing going up the stairs and across the balcony with a nice thick 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" eased edge maple handrail on top, and 1x10 maple band board along the bottom and stringer.
Edit to say that I don't think any type of crown molding would really go with the contemporary style.
Edited 12/6/2006 2:49 pm ET by EJCinc