Welcome to Step 5 in this series!
Here is a recap of the first 4 steps if you missed them and want to get caught up!
Step 1: Add wood ceilings.
Step 2: Replace your builder’s grade doors with paneled doors.
Step 3: Replace your builder’s grade light fixtures with ones that possess more
Step 4: Add Character to Your Home with New “Old” Hardware.
And now for the next step!
Step 5:
Add Character and Charm
to your Home with
Finish Trim Work
One of the elements that always catches my eye when I walk into an older home is all of the detail in the Finish Trim Work.
It is beyond gorgeous!
I love the high baseboards, thick crown molding, beautiful door casings, and more!
In almost every home we’ve owned, we have had basic finish trim work. Much like what was in our previous master bedroom.
Just imagine how much more character our bedroom would have had with thick crown molding and high baseboards!
So today, we are going to talk about wood.
Wood. wood. and more wood.
Finish trim work can make a big impact in a room for little money.
Look at the beautiful door casing in this historic home…
I found this link that shows you how to make this type of trim work.
And look at the trim work on these windows..
Who needs window treatments with beautiful trim like that?! I am hoping to add some trim to the top of my kitchen window.
Another striking feature of older homes is transom windows above a doorway.
There are many different types of finish trim work for walls, but there are two that I want to focus on today.
1. Flat Panels (Board and Batten): Indicative of Arts and crafts style
2. Bead board: Classic cottage style
Flat Panels
or
Board and Batten
Here are a couple examples of Flat Panels or Board and Batten finish work:
We did a board and batten treatment in our previous laundry room.
You can read the tutorial of how we did it Here.
And I will forever be in love with my friends, Layla and Kevin’s, amazing reading room re-do! They have flat panels on one wall, gymnasium wood floors on the back wall, plank ceilings, and built-ins (which we will take about in a minute)!
Love, love, love this room!
Bead Board
Next, we have bead board finish work. This is such a classic look for older homes, and is especially indicative of the cottage style.
I love bead board in a bathroom! It gives a lot of visual lift to a small space.
Bead board also looks great in a kitchen!
It can be used on cabinet fronts, on the walls, or in the backsplash.
source
This may not be considered “trim work”, but I have to share some pictures of the beauty of wood walls.
Wood planks or paneling on the wall is all the rage right now. (At least I think so.) 
It seems like every magazine I pick up has beautiful rooms featured with wood on the walls.
We are planning on doing wood walls in our master bathroom, and maybe one wall of our master bedroom. This can get a little costly, so we will just do what we can afford.
Lastly, I wanted to share with you another feature of finish trim work in older homes and that is built-ins.
How about creating a built in china cabinet in your dining room for some character and charm?
Or maybe some beautiful bookcases and a window seat in a bedroom?
Check out that adorable little built in spice rack on the wall. I want one of those!!
And what is an older home without gorgeous fireplace built-ins?!
Such a classic look!
So have you enjoyed looking at all of theses amazing photos?!
I have had fun finding them for you.
Have you gotten any ideas of ways you can add character and charm to your home with finish trim work?
If you would like to see even more great photos, check out my Pinterest boards!
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See you tomorrow for Step 6!
