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The function of crown molding in our historic midtown Tulsa homes for sale

By
Real Estate Agent with Own Tulsa License #142914

The function of crown molding in our historic midtown Tulsa homes for sale

Crown molding is one feature of our historic midtown Tulsa homes that we showcase when we advertise a Tulsa home for sale. While crown molding is used in newer construction and remodels, in our older midtown Tulsa homes, crown molding had an explicit function: to hang pictures.

Our historic homes in Florence Park, Swan Lake, Sunset Terrace, Maple Ridge -- all built in the early 1920s and 1930s -- have plaster walls. If you've ever tried to drive a nail, or even a molly bolt, into a plaster wall, you'll understand why crown molding was used as an alternate way to display family portraits or any type of heavy art those many years ago.

Pictured below is how it's used. The crown molding in these historic homes was usually set one-inch below the ceiling - just enough space to attach a hook that held strong wire holding the picture. Most of our older homes in midtown Tulsa still have the original crown molding in place, but I rarely see it used for its original purpose.

Crown molding used to hang pictures

The function of crown molding in our historic midtown Tulsa homes for sale

I hired a contractor to make some ceiling repairs in one of these older homes last spring, and although he did a fine job repairing ceilings, he had no knowledge of older homes. I dropped by to inspect his work and pay him, and he proudly informed me that he had caulked that unwanted "gap" between the crown molding and ceiling. I nearly fainted.

Our older midtown Tulsa homes are rich in history. It's so interesting to walk through a home that has been remodeled through the years to accommodate our changing lifestyles, yet see and appreciate some of the rich heritage preserved.

Pictures hung on hooks above crown molding

These photos were taken at a Tulsa home for sale at 1520 South Evanston Avenue. See more photos and a full description of this beautiful midtown Tulsa home for sale.

Originally Posted at: Midtown Tulsa Homes for Sale - Lori Cain

 

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Please visit my web site if you are shopping for Tulsa homes for sale or call 918-852-5036 for more information about Midtown Tulsa Real Estate. In addition to my advanced grasp of the internet to market your Tulsa home for sale, I include a home staging consultation with every listing AND professional photography - at no aditional cost to you!

Lori is a residential Realtor with eXp Realty serving the greater Tulsa area and specializing in downtown Tulsa and midtown Tulsa real estate.

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Robin Dampier REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker King - Hendersonville, NC
Hendersonville & Western NC Real Estate Source

Very interesting info.  I, like the contractor, had never heard of the purpose of crown molding in older homes with plaster walls.  I like crown molding but always felt it was decorative.

Sue of Robin and Sue

Dec 26, 2010 05:22 PM
Jim Hale
ACTIONAGENTS.NET - Eugene, OR
Eugene Oregon's Best Home Search Website

Crown mouldings and large family portraits in gilded frames.

They went together like love and marriage.

Dec 26, 2010 06:13 PM
Lori Cain
Own Tulsa - Tulsa, OK
Midtown Tulsa Real Estate Top Producer

@Sue - in newer or remodeled homes, if the crown molding is flush with the ceiling, it IS decorative.

@Jim - "they went together like love and marriage" - I LOVE that! Wish I had written that!! :=)

Dec 26, 2010 10:20 PM
Kat DeLong
Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ
REALTOR

Great post, Lori, explaining to those who had no idea.  I love touring old homes, and I remember being told about this once. AND what fantasic idea our older builders had.

Dec 27, 2010 01:53 AM
Tricia Pearson
Tricia Pearson - Pearson Real Estate - Texas Hill Country - Boerne, TX
Real Estate Broker, San Antonio/Hill Country Homes for Sale

And I always thought it was to make my low ceiling rooms look taller!

Dec 27, 2010 02:20 AM
Lee & Pamela St. Peter
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU Realty: (919) 645-2522 - Raleigh, NC
Making Connections to Success in Real Estate

Now this is really interesting Lori, I always thought it was to hide the unevenness of the wall/ceiling...  I like Jim's comment too!

Here's to a fabulous New Year!

Dec 27, 2010 02:51 AM
Lori Cain
Own Tulsa - Tulsa, OK
Midtown Tulsa Real Estate Top Producer

@Kat - fantastic idea indeed. I sell mostly in midtown Tulsa where we treasure our older homes. In fact, the home we live in was built in 1915 - we're having a birthday party for it in 2015!!

@Tricia - they do that too!

@Pamela - it probably does a good job of hiding the unevenness also - that hadn't ocurred to me!

Dec 27, 2010 03:19 AM
Larry Lawfer
YourStories Realty Group - Newton, MA
"I listen for a living." It's all about you.

Growing up outside Philadelphia and living in Boston for most my life I am very famiiar with the use of crown molding.  It had its function for the home.  The hanging of images in your home was a sign of your culture and creativity.  It still is.

Dec 27, 2010 07:15 AM
Lori Cain
Own Tulsa - Tulsa, OK
Midtown Tulsa Real Estate Top Producer

Larry - that's very nice. Someone pointed out to me today that there was crown molding and picture molding. So if the picture molding is used for hanging pictures, wonder how that's different from crown molding? I didn't know there were two types.  More to learn!

Dec 27, 2010 08:18 AM