Are you looking to make a big difference in your home, but on a small budget? Is there something your home is lacking, but you're not sure exactly what it is? Or maybe you love your newly constructed home, but wish it had more character. We know a way you can remedy all of the above with one simple thing: molding (aka: moulding, casing, or trim). Molding refers to types of decorative trim often used around ceilings, windows, doors, and other areas, and WOW what a difference it can make! It increases aesthetics, BIG TIME! Molding can really transform an entire living space by giving more character, and a more finished look, to your home. It's also great for highlighting features such as windows, doorways, archways, and more. And if you're looking to sell, adding some molding can make your home more appealing to buyers! Here are some other, lesser known, reasons why molding is a big plus:

• It also protects! Molding/trim and baseboards protect door/window frames, wall surfaces, and floors, from damage caused by furniture and everyday wear and tear.

• It insulates! Baseboards and moldings create a seal around your door and window frames, blocking drafts and improving energy efficiency. This added benefit will help keep your home cooler in the warm weather and warmer in the cold weather!

Here are a few of the most popular styles and types of molding/trim:

Crown Molding (aka: Cornice Molding)

• This type covers the area where wall and ceiling meet. It can be simple or ornate, and it can give a room the illusion of higher ceilings. Concave-shaped cove molding is a more plain version of crown molding.

Baseboards

• Baseboards cover the gap where wall meets floor, and is often a counterpart to crown molding, though much simpler in style.

Chair Rails

• Installed about 1/3 of the way up from the floor, chair rails provide protection for the wall from chairs and are most popular in dining areas for that reason. It can, however, be purely decorative.

Door & Window Casing

• Covering the gap between a window/door and the wall, casing is the trim that surrounds the window or door. This, too, can be used as a decorative element!

These are mostly decorative types of trim:

• Architrave Molding: Decorative trim put above windows and doors.
• Corbels: L-shaped brackets installed between a vertical surface (such as a wall), and a horizontal surface (such as a countertop). These can be weight-bearing as well as decorative.
• Corner Blocks: Blocks placed in molding corners for decorative purposes.
• Panel Molding: Purely decorative molding installed on top of paneling.
• Picture Frame Molding: Can frame artwork on a wall, but can also be used on its own for decor.
• Picture Rails: Installed about a foot or two below ceiling, and originally designed to hang artwork from to protect wall from damage, it is often used as a decorative element on its own.
• Pierced Molding: Decorative trim with cut-outs to show wall behind it.
• Plinth Blocks: Decorative blocks put at the base of door casing.
• Rosettes: Decorative, round, ornamental pieces used on ceilings, walls, columns, and more.

Technically, these are not molding/trim, but they work so well with trim, we just couldn't leave them off the list:

• Wainscoting: Actually considered paneling, rather than trim, it is installed on the lower part of a wall and framed by trim.
• Beadboard: A typed of wainscoting, with rows of vertical boards, separated by ridges, or beads, and framed by trim.

Check out, "Know Your Moldings: 10 Popular Trim Styles to Spiff-Up Any Space", by bobvila.com, which details, and provides images for, many of the types we've talked about in this article, and more! CLICK HERE to read this article.

Making a big difference in your home doesn't always have to be complicated or expensive! A little thing like molding can add just the right touch to a living space, taking it to a surprisingly transformative level. Scott has installed many styles of molding/trim for his customers. Give HRC a call to learn more about adding decorative molding to YOUR home!

Are you thinking about having a porch screened-in? Great idea! From increasing your living space and keeping out bugs, to adding more privacy and weather protection, getting that porch screened-in can be a great investment. We'd like to highlight a nice screened-in porch project Scott did a few years back. The install was a railing/screen system that allowed for a super clean install. We're really happy with the way it turned out and, more importantly, so was the customer! If your porch is already screened-in, HRC also offers re-screening of old, worn, and/or damaged screens. Just give us a call. We'd love to help!

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8/5/23: Somerset County (NJ) Electronics Waste Recycling Event, Hillsborough, 8am-2pm. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!

8/12/23: Lower Bucks County (PA) Hazardous Household Waste Collection Event, Fairless Hills, 8:30am-2pm. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!

8/12/23: Somerset County (NJ) Document Shredding Event, Hillsborough, 9am-1pm. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!

8/26/23: Hunterdon County (NJ) Household Hazardous Waste Clean-Up Day, Flemington, 9am-1pm. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!

9/9/23: Hunterdon County (NJ) Document Shredding Event, Flemington, 8am-11:30am. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!

9/9/23: Somerset County (NJ) Electronics Waste Recycling Event, Hillsborough, 8am-2pm. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!

9/16/23: Somerset County (NJ) Document Shredding Event, Hillsborough, 9am-1pm. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!

9/23/23: Hunterdon County (NJ) Electronics Recycling Event, Flemington, 9am-1pm. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!

9/23/23: Mercer County (NJ) Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Recycling Event, Lawrence Twp., 8am-2pm. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!

Bucks County (PA) Electronics Disposal Information. The following is a list of locations for electronics disposal. NOTE: A fee will be charged at these sites. Contact individual locations for further details. For list of locations, CLICK HERE!