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Architecture/baseboard and door casing trim design

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Expert: - 5/2/2009


Question

Entryway with sample b
Hello!

We have just tiled (no grout yet) our entryway from the ground floor to the main floor and are now thinking of trimwork.  Our house is all cedar similar to that you can see in the picture.  We have not done the trim in the main part of the house, but expect it will be all cedar trim.  We don't know what to do in this entryway.  Cedar trim similiar to the one placed in the first photo looks nice relative to the floor and the walls, but I'm not sure of it around the white doors.  There I think white would look best especially since the jams are white.  Do you think we would regret using cedar baseboard and white painted door casings in combination?  Or would you recommend only one or the other?  

Thanks for your help.

Doug

Answer
Hi Doug,

I think you're on the right track. In this case I would do the trim around the door painted the white trim color (same as door) and them have the cedar baseboard terminate into the side of the white trim.  And typically we make the door trim thicker than the baseboard so that the baseboard can terminate into the side of the door trim.  By having the door trim thicker, it won't look odd to change the colors.  

I agree that it will look funny to have cedar trim on a white door jamb so I don't think that's a good option.  I have seen this done, but it looks very 'applied'.  

Nazim Nice

Expertise

I am a Seattle Architect and can answer architecture and design related questions. Ask me about material suggestions or usage. Ask me about design options - what is good design and what is bad. Ask me about choosing exterior house colors and furniture layout options. Ask me about detailing and assembling houses or components in the home. Ask me about green design or materials. Ask me about choosing an architect, the architectural services, basement remodels, second story additions, and whole house remodels. Ask me about garage design, bathroom remodels, laundry and mudroom design, family room additions, and roof deck additions.

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Over 12 years of practice in the Architectural field including three years of internship plus 5 years of school. I have taught at the Knowlton School of Architecture at the Ohio State University and lectured at Carnegie Mellon University. I currently own and run the Seattle Architecture Firm, Motionspace Architecture + Design PLLC.

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