|
Decorative Accessories
Moldings and trim serve as decoration and ornamentation for your cabinetry.
They also can conceal joints or smooth the transition between the cabinets and
the ceiling and floor.
In minimalist contemporary kitchens, you’ll find little, if any, molding. Yet
a French Country kitchen would not be complete without stacked crown molding and
corbels. More traditional and formal styles typically call for more elaborate
detailing, while transitional or eclectic looks might use just a few standouts,
such as rope molding on cabinet doors and bun feet on an island.
Molding doesn’t need to blend seamlessly into your cabinetry. Add interest by
juxtaposing finishes and staggering cabinet depth. For example, consider having
your crown molding stained a deep green to accent knotty alder cabinets. Or
“bump out” your cooktop area with split spindles.
Materials
Most often, molding and trim are made from hardwoods such as oak, maple, and
cherry or painted softwoods like pine. Your cabinetmaker may offer a wide
selection, or you may want to choose from an independent manufacturer or shop
for a wider range of materials, shapes, sizes and pricing.
Metal can bring a modern kitchen to life. Metal onlays in stainless steel,
bronze, copper and nickel are a great and subtle way to emphasize your hardware.
Even better, metal feet are a great addition to generally unornamented laminate
cabinetry.
Polystyrene and polyurethane molding, made from plastic or resin, offer an
affordable alternative. These products are much more resistant to warping,
rotting or insects than wood is, and they can be painted any color.
Here is an overview of some popular molding options:
 |
Appliqué: A detailed carved or etched decorative
piece installed on the face of cabinets
|
 |
Bun feet: Round decorative pieces on the bottom
corners of base cabinets used to raise the cabinetry and create a
furniture look.
|
 |
Corbels: An ornamental bracket that may or may
not also serve a structural purpose. These large, decorative, carved
pieces often support (or appear to support) island countertops, shelving
or hood mantels.
|
 |
Cornice: The uppermost section of molding along
the top of cabinetry; usually refers to molding that meets the ceiling. |
 |
Crown molding: A long ornamental strip with a
modeled profile, crown molding is used to accent the tops of your
cabinets, adding height and elegance.
|
 |
Dentil molding: Molding with tooth-like, closely
spaced rectangular blocks.
|
 |
Egg and dart molding: Molding decorated with
alternating oval (egg) and arrow (dart) shapes.
|
 |
Flat trim: Molding without a carved or rounded
profile; commonly used in Arts and Crafts kitchens.
|
 |
Flute: An ornamental vertical groove routed into
a pilaster.
|
 |
Galley rail: A front "retaining wall" made from
small spindles. |
 |
Insert: A decorative strip inset between other
moldings. |
 |
Legs: Both structural and decorative, these
pieces support base cabinets and provide a furniture look. They may also
be used to support a countertop overhanging an island.
|
 |
Onlay: Literally "laying on" the cabinet, an
onlay is a carved decorative element installed on the cabinet’s face.
|
 |
Pediment: A low-pitched triangular gable that
sits atop cabinetry. It may have scrolls, scallops, arches or other
detailing along the edges.
|
|
|
Pilaster: A vertical column that is decorative,
not structural. It projects slightly from the cabinet's surface and is
typically rectangular.
|
 |
Plate rail: A decorative shelf with a groove for
plates.
|
 |
Plinth: A square block at the base of a pilaster
or turned post.
|
 |
Rope molding: Molding carved or milled to look
twisted like rope.
|
 |
Rosette: A carved circular ornament with a floral
look; can also be a square with a circle design in the center. |
 |
Spindle: A slender turned piece of wood,
typically decorative. Large spindles generally are called turned posts
or legs.
|
|
|
Cornice: A good term to know when discussing crown moulding, a cornice is
the uppermost section of moulding along the top of cabinetry.
|
|
|
Crown moulding: A long ornamental strip with a modeled profile, crown moulding is used to accent the tops of your cabinets. If your cabinets don’t
fully extend to the ceiling, crown moulding is a dramatic way to add height and
elegance. There is no set rule as to crown moulding height—follow your own
style intuition.
|
 |
Split molding or split spindle: In essence, half
a molding or spindle. The flat back and half-round shape makes it easy
to apply to a cabinet surface.
|
 |
Toe kick: The recessed area at the bottom of a
base cabinet; also refers to the molding used to cover the area.
|
|
|
Turned posts: Large vertical pieces with a
circular outline; may also be referred to as legs, columns or spindles.
These may be structural or decorative.
|
 |
Valance: A decorative panel installed across an
open area, often above a sink, over a window, at the bottom of a base
cabinet or at the top of open shelving.
|
|
Wainscot: A facing or paneling, often wooden,
applied to the lower part of an interior wall or large end panel of a
cabinet.
|
|
