Incorporate antique architectural elements into your current furnishings to add interest and dimension. DIY Design & Decorating host Nancy Golden explains how to spruce up an inexpensive bookcase with wood trim and architectural moldings from your local home store (figure A)
Materials:
Wood trim for the side and top edges of the bookcase
One piece of base trim for the top of the bookcase
Two pieces of base molding
Decorative molding to cover the front edge of each shelf (we chose molding with a scalloped edge)
Saw
Wood glue
Drill
Hammer, finish nails and nail set
Wood putty
Paint and brushes
- Choose trim and molding to cover the side and top edges of the bookshelf and the front of each shelf. We used plain wood trim on the sides and top, a piece of base trim flanked with two pieces of base molding at the corners to embellish the top edge and a scalloped molding to front each shelf.
- Measure the length of each side board and shelf, mark the lengths on the chosen molding, and cut to length. Molding normally should be cut at a 45-degree angle so the trim fits together at the corners but we're using two pieces of base molding at the top corners, eliminating the need for miter-cuts.
- Drill pilot holes in each piece of molding.
- Apply wood glue to the back of the first piece of wood trim, and hold in place on the top edge of the bookcase. Tap finishing nails into the pilot holes to keep moldings secure, and set each nail with a nail set. Add the two vertical pieces of wood trim the same way. Then add the base molding and corner pieces to the top of the bookcase (figure B) and the decorative molding to the front of each shelf.
- Fill the nail holes with wood putty for a smooth surface, and finish the piece with paint of your choice.
Tip: - Make architectural details pop out by adding accent paint. Gold acrylic paint added to the edge of the decorative molding draws attention to the pretty scalloped detailing (figure C).
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