DESIGN DETAILS MOULDINGS

The mouldings we see in our period homes are one of the most obvious features that add charm and elegance – providing opportunities to exploit and break up blocks of colour or bring a more intimate feel to an otherwise clinical, or perhaps imposing, space. Whether these are details on structural timbers, simple picture rails, or highly ornamental plaster ceiling roses and cornices, understanding the development of mouldings and the styles from different eras will help any renovation or conservation project, even where you might be exploring a more contemporary feel.

Artistic flair

Mouldings in British domestic architecture developed hugely over time. Where a ceiling might have been overwhelmed with practical floor