Beauty in architecture is largely manifested through its details. In addition to being aesthetic instruments, details are, of course, a matter of practicality. They are needed wherever parts come together or where large elements would benefit from a more relatable human-scale. But without careful crafting, a building’s components will lack meaningful relationships, and the spaces will feel disconnected and cold.

It’s a shame, then, that most architects have embraced the minimalist ethos, which rejects the kind of decorative embellishment found in various building traditions throughout history. In our firm, however, we continue the practice of using expressive details, ones that add life to the spaces they help form. Key among these is the use of trim.

A PRIMER ON TRIM

“Trim” is the term used for building elements that cover joints or add detail. “Moulding” is often used interchangeably, but it signifies more specifically something with a crafted profile as opposed to a flat board. Since trim is applied throughout the house, it is important that its style properly accentuate any space and achieve the desired effect. The writer Sir Roger Scruton summed up the possibilities well in his book The Aesthetics of Architecture:

“Moulding has disappeared from much modern architecture…And yet it is an obvious and intelligible way of giving richness to a space or line: through moulding, lines can be sharpened or softened, emphasized or subdued, brought to rest or set in motion — in short they can be articulated in the manner which lends itself to the accumulation of meaning.”

DOORS & WINDOWS

When deciding on the right trim style, it’s best to start with the doors and windows, due to their prevalence. “Casing” is the term used for the trim at the sides and tops of these openings, and there are generally two types: those with backbands and those without. A backband is a pronounced outer edge, and casing without it usually requires a plinth block: a thicker piece at the bottom that helps resolve the baseboard cleanly.

One common motif is a flat piece flanked with small profiles on either end, one leading down to the opening and the other up to the backband. The overall width should be in proportion to the height of the room, around four inches for a nine foot ceiling is typical. Also, trim can be added at the top to provide more lift or gravitas: for example, a full or partial entablature as in classical styles.

Trim profiles vary in detail, often as a means to indicate formality: with simple forms equating to a more rustic or casual feeling. Historically, Western architecture has emphasized verticality, and older styles of casing reflect that, as with the Victorian and Edwardian prevalent in many Toronto neighbourhoods. The twentieth century brought a change in focus to the horizontal, first with Craftsman houses, and then in the modernist idiom.

The trim at the bottom of the window can depend on its height above the floor. When a window sill is low, the casing can be brought down to the floor, like a door, and the space between filled with panelling. When the sill is high, it can be extended out, providing a resting place for the casing at the sides. To balance things visually, a piece of apron trim can be installed underneath.

BASEBOARD

The baseboard should echo the character of the door and window casing, and generally be a tall, flat vertical plane topped by a profiled piece that transitions to the wall above. Usually the height is about one and a half times the width of the casing. A shoe is an optional small piece at the very bottom, typically used to cover gaps at uneven floors.

CROWN & PICTURE RAILS

Crown moulding isn’t strictly necessary from a practical standpoint, but it does provide a pleasing, eased transition from wall to ceiling. The most typical and traditional profile is pulled directly from classical origins: a combination of the cyma recta and cavetto, commonly referred to simply as a “crown.” A simple, oversized cove provides a similar effect. In the Victorian era, very elaborate profiles were employed using plaster molds.

In tall spaces, the crown can be made part of a larger ensemble, traditionally echoing the classical entablature. One common feature is to install a picture rail several inches below the crown. This helps break down the scale of a tall wall while tying it together with the ceiling above.

*Crown and ceiling treatment,* *project* *by The Brooklyn Studio*

CHAIR RAILS & WAINSCOTTING

The appearance and function of a wall can often benefit from further divisions created by trim. A chair rail is a moulding installed about a quarter of the way up the wall. This helps visually anchor the wall and provide some protection to its surface.

Wainscotting (aka wainscot) is the addition of paneling beneath the chair rail, varying from raised or recessed panels to more rustic beadboard. This added detail can help designate the importance of a given space, or it can be employed to provide added durability, as in a mudroom. Sometimes the wainscotting is extended higher up the wall to create a sense of enclosure, with its top often utilized as a shelf or plate rail.

WALL PANELS & CEILING TREATMENTS

Wall and ceiling planes are sometimes further divided with additional mouldings. Wall panels are used to break down scale and denote formality. Similarly at the ceiling, trim can help add visual interest: sometimes with a simple border or with more elaborate repeated panels. Focal points can be enhanced with plaster medallions.

*Wainscotting & wall panels,* *project* *by The Brooklyn Studio*

BE BOLD!

As architects, we are often trying to awaken our clients to their instinct. This is necessary because contemporary architecture is often at odds with it. The focus on consumer-driven trends and the ubiquitousness of minimalism work against the rich timelessness many of us seek in our homes. Trim can be a remedy by helping to create architectural meaning and beauty. It’s important, therefore, to understand and embrace its possibilities.

TRIM