Give Your Kitchen and Bath Cabinets New Life With Fresh Moulding

Written by Ronique Gibson Posted On Tuesday, 24 February 2015 08:48

A kitchen remodel is one of the top 10 renovations for return on investment when updating a home for sale (one recent survey places a minor kitchen remodel at #7 for ROI, behind items like a back-up power generator and a deck addition). But when updating kitchens, or bathrooms, many homeowners overlook small architectural details that also raise the home's value.

Crown moulding is architectural wood millwork that adds detail to the top (or the 'crown') of walls and upper cabinetry. It comes in a variety of profiles and design styles and can be used to add visual depth to cabinetry, while lending a touch of luxury to the room.

Take a look at these unique ways moulding can transform your kitchen or bathroom cabinetry.

Transforming your kitchen remodel with crown moulding

Whether you have decided to renovate your entire kitchen or just reface the cabinetry, the addition of crown moulding can add height and depth to the room. To choose the right moulding, look to the design style of your cabinetry for cues. Modern and minimalist cabinetry with few lines and smooth facades will coordinate with a simple corniced moulding with similar details.

On the contrary, kitchens and bathrooms that have ornate detailing like this cabinetry from kitchen designer Susan Serra show how curvilinear, gold, and intricate moulding details can coordinate with the rest of the kitchen.

Kitchen moulding ornate
Cabinetry moulding can be simple or ornate. Image via: Susan Serra

When searching for the right profile moulding style, look to these nine different moulding styles from interior designer Shane Inman on Houzz. Inman suggests that cabinetry moulding can enhance even a basic cabinet, turning a bland kitchen or bathroom into one with pizazz.

In short, moulding, whether simple or complex, gives a more pronounced architectural presence to your cabinetry and interiors.

If you're not sure where to start, consult a kitchen designer or a carpenter who is skilled with woodworking and can help you choose the right crown molding profile for your cabinets.

Coordinating moulding with other kitchen millwork details

The beauty of woodworking is that custom details can coordinate throughout your kitchen or bath to give the entire room a consistent aesthetic. The same style details used in your crown moulding can be mimicked in edge molding, corbels, aprons, furniture toe kicks, and legs to add interest and versatility to your kitchen. Bookshelves or built-in shelves below base cabinets can create storage while providing your kitchen with gourmet kitchen amenities.

Inman suggests adding additional cabinet components that "can help refresh and add character to your kitchen's style," adding that "design elements with the most impact may be small ones you haven't even considered."

Kitchen moulding millwork
Image via: Susan Serra
 
Kitchen moulding intricate
Architectural details can be added to moulding like these classical dentils. Image via: Susan Serra

Using your ceiling height as a guide to when choosing moulding

Among my design clients, I'm always surprised at how many homeowners don't know their ceiling height! Every kitchen or bathroom ceiling is unique, and crown moulding should be taken all the way up to top with lower ceilings, to avoid creating a dust ledge or area above the cabinetry that will collect dust.

If the cabinets aren't tall enough, "double stacked" crown molding is often used to fill the gap. Some homeowners who have a high vaulted or sloped ceiling may choose to stop the height of their moulding at a specific place to add a visual distinction between the cabinetry and the walls beyond.

In this image of a kitchen by designer Joanne Jakab, the modern cabinetry moulding in the dark espresso wood brings a distinction between the cabinets and the neutral walls.

Kitchen With Mouldings
This kitchen extends its cabinetry moulding to the ceiling for a finished look. Image via: Joann Jakab

Cabinetry moulding can transform your kitchen or bathroom, and using these tips can bring out the architectural details you love! If you decide to do-it-yourself, visit your home improvement store moulding millwork area to see the different profiles that are available. Whether you're trying to add height to your cabinets or you just love the look of moulding, there's an option that will work for your home.

Home design expert Ronique Gibson provides tips on doors, windows moulding and millwork for The Home Depot. Ronique is the author of the ebook 111 Simple Tips for your Everyday Home. You can view a selection of moulding and millwork available at Home Depot online here.

 

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