Nothing defines a room quite like trim. No matter how young or old your home, no matter what your personal style, trim can make your rooms look better and, more important, feel better. Trim Idea Book showcases hundreds of ideas for using trim of all types and materials to transform ordinary spaces into special rooms.

From the Introduction
I have to admit I'm a sucker for trim. The first house I ever bought - a 1940s Cape - had simple, slightly curving, one-piece trim where the wall met the ceiling. To me (raised in a succession of Ranch boxes in the '60s and '70s), such fine detail seemed the height of luxury. Although I didn't know it at the time, that simple bit of trim enhanced the classic proportions of each of the four small rooms, the dimensions of which were all divisible by three (9 x 9, 12 x 15, 12 x 18).

No wonder I fell in love when I saw the crown molding in the dining room of my next home, a 1923 Colonial Revival. No doubt the original trim had been identical in appearance to the molding in my little Cape, but the seller had the foresight to replace and double up the trim. The effect - achieved with stock pieces from the local home center - made the crown molding look far deeper and grander than the original had been, especially in the dramatically painted room. The effect of the rich, dark blueberry paint against the crisp white trim effectively sold us the house.

Years later, it finally occurred to me that if the owner of a house built with trim could pump up the volume, so to speak, why couldn't homeowners whose houses lack trim do the same? Indeed, they can, and in so many ways that we needed an entire book to show you just a few of the most dazzling examples. Not all trim is traditional, and not every trim material is wood or plaster. No matter how young or old your home, no matter what your personal style, trim can make your rooms look better, and more important, feel better. That's the motivation behind the Trim Idea Book. Use it with abandon.

Table of Contents
Introduction. Chapter 1: Trim Basics Trim 101; Dressing Up With Trim. Chapter 2: Relief for Walls From Baseboard to Crown; Wainscots and Paneling; Enrichments. Chapter 3: Accent on Ceilings Crown Moldings Revisited; Applied Ceilings; Beams. Chapter 4: Adornment for Doors Door Casings; Arches; Columns. Chapter 5: Window Enhancements Window Casings. Chapter 6: The Rise and Fall of Stairs Balusters and Balustrades; Newels; Treads and Risers. Chapter 7: Making Room for Built-Ins Fireplaces; Seating; Cabinets and Shelving. Resources. Credits.