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The “Why” of a Project like Crown Molding as Much as the “How”

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with William Raveis Real Estate

When I sat down with my lawyer Dan Tota of Durante, Bock & Tota PLLC in Yorktown Heights, it was to discuss his project of installing crown molding in his home but, after we talked for a while, I was as interested in the “why” of his project as the “how.”

“After working all day in a high pressure job, dealing with intangibles, it’s a welcome change to come home and make something that’s tangible with my hands,” he said. “There’s a lot of enjoyment in doing the job and, if you do it well, it gives you continued satisfaction again and again whenever you look at it,” he continued. “Of course, if you botch the job, nobody wants to be reminded of it afterwards!”

“Would you consider yourself a handy person?” I asked him. “While I’m an attorney now, I actually grew up working as a mechanic, so I know how to work with my hands. At the same time, I’m realistic about those projects I know I can do and respectful of those I can’t. Also I’m fortunate to have friends who are contractors who can advise me when I need help.”

Besides personal satisfaction, Tota pointed out the marketing value that improvement projects add to the house looking forward to the time when he chooses to upgrade to a larger home. His most recent project was adding crown molding to his entrance hall, living room and dining room. In my opinion, crown molding is the most immediate “dress-up” upgrade an interior can give itself at the least expense.

Crown molding is literally the crowning touch in that it draws the eye upward in much the same way curtains hung at ceiling height do, while providing that smooth transitioning from vertical to horizontal. I would say that good proportions are magnified with moldings and, in effect, it’s the finishing touch. In fashion, it might be compared to the collar on a shirt or the cuff on a sleeve.

When I first visited the condos at Trump Park Residences in Shrub Oak, the first upgrade detail I noticed in the hallways and units themselves, one of which I ended up buying, was the generous crown molding, in this case a big simple cove molding, a full seven inches wide for ceilings that are almost nine feet high. Cove molding features one big dramatic curve that makes a much bolder statement and avoids the busyness a more complicated crown can add, and that impressed me.

But not all crown molding has to knock you over in size to be dramatic. A simple eight-foot ceiling room can become much more dynamic with a simple but strong four to five-inch crown molding, and adding a five-inch base molding. By emphasizing both the base and ceiling, the room has much more character and strength. Of course, you can always get a good carpenter to do the job for you and I recommend mine at the end of this piece, but if you’re a DIY enthusiast, the two basic pieces of equipment your need are a miter box and coping saw, coupled with a lot of patience in calculating the amount of molding you need and angles at which to cut it.

To read the rest of this column, click here. Bill Primavera is a Realtor® associated with William Raveis Real Estate and Founder of Primavera Public Relations, Inc., the longest running public relations agency in Westchester (www.PrimaveraPR.com). His real estate site is www.PrimaveraRealEstate.com, and his blog is www.TheHomeGuru.com. To engage the services of The Home Guru and his team to market your home for sale, call (914) 522-2076.

Comments (2)

Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Bill Primavera Crown molding is challenging, even with a miter box and coping saw.  I love the look of crown molding and 5 inch base molding.

Aug 02, 2015 12:49 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Oh yes, I agree.  Crown molding can make a big difference.  It's a nice finishing touch.  And, yes, I can so relate to appreciating it over and over again.

Aug 02, 2015 07:54 PM