We at AJH Renovations, LLC and Designed for Downtown, LLC, specialize in completely reworking mature homes into modern homes, Turning a 20th Century House into a 21st Century Home. It is often a very challenging prospect, especially as we try very hard to maintain at least some of the ambiance of the old house in the renovation of the new. One of the design features that must always be considered is ‘Sight Lines.’ These are, as the phrase implies, the paths our eyes most naturally take when we enter a building. Medieval European cathedrals, for instance, instantly draw our eyes upward, as the sight lines follow the ornate columns, soaring buttresses, and vaulted ceilings. The architects intended that to happen, to draw both our eyes and our thoughts to heaven when we entered a building designed for worship. On a standard residential project, however, there is rarely a call for soaring buttresses. Nonetheless, vertical sight lines are important to consider. For instance, with the modern desire for the ‘open floor plan,’ the designer must consider the height of the ceiling: a wide room with a low ceiling will feel like a cave, like the ceiling is coming down on top of you; that’s not a good look or feel. Conversely, vaulting the ceiling in a narrow room can result in what appears to be a crevice; again, the feeling that the walls are coming in on you is disconcerting. And the long and narrow plan needs to be avoided in all designs other than a bowling alley.

Sight Lines are also important within individual rooms. In older homes, especially, there is often an existing feature that draws one’s attention – an old fireplace, for instance, or classic interior French doors. With the large kitchen becoming a standard feature in modern renovations, it is important to have a focal point, a line of sight that draws the eyes to a wide window over the sink or a tile mosaic over the new range. Sometime these elements can be combined, as with an exposed old brick chimney giving a nostalgic cameo appearance in a new kitchen. It takes vision and experience to be able to follow sight lines that have not been constructed yet, and that is what the design/build process at AJH Renovations, LLC and Designed for Downtown, LLC brings to your renovation process.

Give us a call today to start the conversation!

We all admire a good piece of trim work. It elevates a room above the ordinary, and reveals a little more about the owner’s tastes. But good trim often gets sidelined in the process of designing and building houses. Most of us are stuck with bland, flat trim that does little to spark excitement.

If you’re in this boat, these design ideas will get you excited about your house's potential again! Gain some ideas and goals for your next project, be it small, like DIY bookshelf trim, or a major rework of your entry way. Either way, please let us know what you think!

Top photo: Ceiling trim in an arched hallway.

This deceptively simple look adds an extra layer of fancy to an arched ceiling. It frames the front door and puts a little space between the living area and the entryway.

Second photo: Dentil moulding and full wall wainscoting.

Smooth wainscoting on the walls balances the heavier mantelpiece and crown trim. Both wainscoting and dentil trim are old classics that help tie together the room’s other design elements. Painting them a neutral tone lets them harmonize with the modern lines of the coffee table, lamp, and light fixture.

Above, Custom cabinetry with moulding detail.

This bar mimics the clean lines of its glassware, slim and minimal, but obviously well stocked. It lets the drinks do the talking, but note the detail on the toe kick; it isn’t all plain!

Library with wainscoting and tray ceiling.

This library, painted in a calming shade of green makes great use of decorative trim around the bookcases and fireplace to soften the linear effect of the bookshelves. The wainscoting ties the three pieces together, creating visual harmony. A little detail is in the moulding on the tray ceiling, drawing the eye up and softening the transition from the wall.

Dining room with coffered ceiling and wainscoting.

Another pairing of wainscoting and ceiling trim, this one makes use of stained trim to add a strong visual element to the ceiling. Using the same trim on the windows and doors keeps it from being a one-off detail, and the wainscoting ties the whole room together. They get bonus points for a cool light fixture, too.

Bedroom with directional wainscoting.

This bedroom takes your typical vertical-horizontal wainscoting to the next level by rotating it 45 degrees. It creates a strong center of interest above the head board, giving a lift to what might otherwise be a bland room.

Bar and arched door trim.

More arches, but this time the emphasis is around the doorways and on the ceiling. The grey-blue of the trim unifies the cabinets with the slim coffering. Perhaps the neatest aspect, however, is the paneling under the ceiling trim.

Dining room with wainscoting.

This dining room only has one thing in common with the last dining room we looked at: the wainscoting. While some of the previous rooms have been trim heavy, this one uses moulding as a light detail to mimic the modern style of the furniture. It is best defined by the saying, “less is more.”

Mudroom with colorful millwork.

This mudroom plays with color as well as moulding style, painting the doors, cabinets and casing all same blue. The single color draws the eye, and adds a much needed pop of color to a usually drab room.

Inspired? Give us a call, and let’s start designing!