Wall Paneling and Wainscoting
Foyers, dining rooms, family rooms, primary bedrooms. Applied moulding panels or true frame-and-panel wainscoting -- the approach depends on the look you want and what the budget supports.
Two approaches. Different results.
Applied moulding paneling is what most clients picture: moulding strips applied to a flat wall in a grid pattern, creating the appearance of raised panels. Done well, it looks excellent. The depth is subtle and the shadow lines come from the moulding profile.
True frame-and-panel wainscoting is different. The panels are actually recessed or raised within a built frame -- stiles, rails, and panel fill. Traditional millwork construction with real depth and substantial feel that applied moulding cannot replicate.
Most residential projects use applied moulding. For heritage homes with original paneling to match, or builds meant to last a century, we talk about frame-and-panel.
Where we do most of this work.
Foyers first. The entry is where paneling has the most impact -- it sets the tone for everything inside. A well-proportioned foyer with painted wainscoting and consistent trim is one of the most cost-effective upgrades a homeowner can make.
Dining rooms and family rooms follow. Full-height wall treatments in dining rooms have come back seriously. Primary bedrooms increasingly in scope -- usually a single feature wall behind the bed.
- Applied moulding panel systems
- True frame-and-panel wainscoting
- Full-height wall treatments
- Paint-grade poplar or MDF
- Foyers, dining rooms, family rooms, primary bedrooms
On materials: for painted paneling we use poplar for standard work and MDF for budget-sensitive scopes. Poplar machines more cleanly and is less prone to moisture movement. MDF is more consistent and less expensive.