www.iNeedCrown.com

Seven Guiding Principals

2009-04-14T17:41:00.000-07:00

"Finish carpentry that provides the greatest visual impact using the least amount of tools, effort and money."

That's about as concise as I can be if you asked me to distill this website into one sentence. But how do you transform your 1970's ranch home into an Arts & Crafts bungalow without the cost of a major renovation? And exactly how do you go about creating an eight-piece Colonial dentiled crown molding with materials from your local lumber yard? And most importantly, how do you do all this with little knowledge of the finish carpentry craft? These are all important questions to ask, and they are all questions I've asked myself over the years, first as a do-it-yourselfer and then later as a licensed finish carpenter.

So here are the seven principals that guided the creation of every pattern in the iNeedCrown Pattern Book, from the simplest crown molding to the most complex fireplace.

Historicaly inspired designs

Paint-grade finish

Add only to the existing architecture

Use mostly local materials

Simple tools and installation techniques

Ornate details must be affordable and high-resolution

Finish with a high-resolution paint job

I'll elaborate more on these seven design principals as time permits.

Cheers, Ken

Wainscoting-100 Installation Details

2009-04-13T21:25:00.000-07:00

Craftsman

Height 52"

How To Install Wainscoting-100

How To Install Wainscoting-100 DIY

2009-04-13T21:11:00.001-07:00

Introduction

Cheryl always wanted an Arts & Crafts style home. But she just couldn't justify the high price of a fully renovated historic home in the trendy, gentrified neighborhoods in the area. She and her husband, Brian, didn't want to undertake a renovation themselves, either. But she just loved the high wainscoting in Arts & Crafts style kitchens and dining rooms, she told me. And then she asked me that question I'm always waiting to hear, "Can you do anything with my kitchen and dining room?"

All of the materials I used to create this wainscot design I bought from Lowes and Home Depot. What follows are a few snapshots of Cheryl's wainscoting installation. Feel free to contact me If you need clarification.

Above Cheryl and Brian had already started work renovating their kitchen and dining area. But now it was my turn to make the mess. We selected this wall as the feature wall that would receive the wainscoting. Below Looking at the same wall from the other direction. Note the hallway that goes to the left. Creating a sensible transition between the two is the only design challenge we face.

Below Looking down the hallway off the kitchen.

Below I always encourage people to get started on their color choices early. Cheryl chose these colors from Benjamin Moore's Arts & Crafts historic collection.

Below I started with the upper horizontal wainscoting rail. I like to build from this starting point. Don't forget to use a liberal amount of liquid nails on every piece and nail to the studs.

Below I use a biscuit joiner to mate flatstock pieces together. Note all of my layout sketches on the wall? It's OK, you're going to paint over it, so sketch whatever you need to make the right design decisions. In this case I needed to make sure I have room for the vertical stile, the cove detail, and then the plate rail on top. The plate rail absolutely has to terminate at the outside corner. Why? So your paint scheme has a clean place to transition.

Below The vertical stile is now installed. Now I can install the plate rail on top, as you can see in left side of this photo.

Above Note how the plate rail terminates at the outside corner. The top of the plate rail is 52". Below Next I wrap the cove molding around the upper horizontal rail of the wainscoting. See how the cove return neatly fits the layout sketch I drew on the wall.

Below Install the vertical stiles evenly spaced. Narrow spacing is more typical in Arts & Crafts style wainscoting. Use a biscuit joint to join the vertical stiles with the horizontal rail, and don't forget to use plenty of glue on those joints.

Below Next I install the lower horizontal rail in the same manner as the plate rail above. Before you do this you must decide how much of the lower horizontal rail you want exposed after installing the baseboard on top of it (this step will make more sense later).

Above I've added a few scrap nailers to the vertical stiles. These nailers will be used to attach the baseboard securely to the wainscoting. Here you can see I'm placing the first piece of the three-piece baseboard. Below Once the primary baseboard has been attached to the wainscoting, it's time to place the base cap, a simple smaller flatstock detail I made from 1/2" mdf, on top. This makes a classic craftsman style step detail found in both Arts & Crafts crown moldings and door surrounds.

Above Here you can see the finished baseboard attached to the wainscoting. Below I made the baseboard larger as part of the wainscoting and then subordinated the baseboard in the rest of the room. Why? Architectural subordination.

Below After installing the 1/4 round base shoe, all the nail holes get spackled and sanded smooth BEFORE I apply the primer. Use a vacuum to remove the dust, and then wipe with an ever so slightly damp rag--I don't want to seal in dust under the primer.

Above I apply two coats of Benjamin Moore's Satin Impervo to the wainscoting and baseboard BEFORE I paint the walls. Below The finished product.

Below The wainscoting is starting to take shape. The nail holes have all been spackled and sanded smooth, two coats of primer applied (always sand between coats), and then all gaps caulked with a high quality latex caulk.

Below Here all of the trim has been painted with two coats, wainscoting and baseboard, leaving the walls for last.

Above A look down the hallway shows all of the wainscoting, baseboard and crown molding ready for paint. Below The hallway is finished. All that needs to be done now is install new flooring, doors and ceiling light.

Above and Below The finished product.

What once was a dull early 1970s ranch kitchen, now has an historically inspired Arts & Crafts style wainscot treatment that didn't break the bank. Now just imagine all of the color combinations you could use on this treatment!

Cheers, Ken

Free Profile Page For Finish Carpenters

2008-11-30T08:12:00.000-08:00

I know there are many great finish carpenters out there without a web page. That's OK, I'll make you a profile page for free! Times are hard in the home improvement industry, you'll need all the help you can get.

Required information for your free Profile Page.

1. Your name and your business name.
2. Area you service
3. Phone number
4. One good picture of you.
Your picture can be of you working, a family portrait, fishing--it doesn't matter, just make it a good one.
5. At least five good photos of your work (you can send as many as you want).
Each photo must be of a different pattern because you don't need five pictures of the same fireplace to represent you. Before and afters are great. Photos of production installations will not be accepted. Photos of cabinetry will not be accepted. Including your happy clients in some of your photos is very helpful. Your photos will appear on your profile page and may also appear in the iNeedCrown.com Pattern Book, as well as other places on this website. Wherever your work appears on iNeedCrown.com, a link back to your profile and or website will be included.
6. Tell us a little about yourself.
How you got started in finish carpentry, how long you've been a craftsman, what's your favorite period style. That kind of stuff. When people hire a finish carpenter they feel a lot better about calling you if they know a little about you in advance.

Send your information to: ken@ineedcrown.com Subject "Finish Carpenter Profile."

Note: I may not be able to post your profile right away because I still work out of town during the week. In addition, none of this is automated, it's just me doing one thing at a time at my computer. So please be patient with me. I hope to hear from you soon.

Cheers, Ken

Iowa Finish Carpenters

2008-11-30T07:59:00.000-08:00

Add your favorite finish carpenter to this list. Send me their information for consideration to ken@ineedcrown.com Subject "Iowa Finish Carpenter."

Bellevue
Braden Wood Products

Door Surround Patterns 111-115

2008-11-29T16:28:00.001-08:00

Door Surround-115
Victorian/Traditional

Door Surround-114
Traditional/Victorian

Door Surround-113
Traditional

Door Surround-112
Traditional/Victorian

Door Surround-111
Craftsman

New Jersey Finish Carpenters

2008-11-29T07:55:00.000-08:00

Know of a great finish carpenter I can add to this list? Send me their information for consideration to ken@ineedcrown.com Subject "New Jersey Finish Carpenter."

Hillsborough
JL Molding Design

Door Surround-102

2008-11-28T14:52:00.000-08:00

Traditional/Victorian

Base SRP $5,500.00

Note: Same as Door Surround-103, but this one includes the window treatement.

Door Surround Patterns 100-110

2008-11-28T08:38:00.000-08:00

Door Surround-110
Traditional/Victorian

Door Surround-109
Traditional/Victorian

Door Surround-108
Traditional/Victorian

Door Surround-107
Traditional/Victorian

Door Surround-106
Traditional/Victorian

Door Surround-105
Traditional/Victorian

Door Surround-104
Traditional/Victorian

Door Surround-103
Traditional/Victorian

Door Surround-102
Traditional/Victorian

Door Surround-101
Traditional/Victorian

Door Surround-100
Traditional

Next Page of Door Surrounds>>

Florida Finish Carpenters

2008-11-28T07:58:00.000-08:00

Know of a great Arizona finish carpenter I can add to this list? Send me their information for consideration to ken@ineedcrown.com Subject "Florida Finish Carpenter."

Tampa
Esposito Carpentry Serving Hernando County as well as Pasco, Northern Hillsborough and Citrus Counties

Connecticut Finish Carpenters

2008-11-27T12:36:00.000-08:00

Know of a great finish carpenter I can add to this list? Send me their information for consideration to ken@ineedcrown.com Subject "Connecticut Finish Carpenter."

Hartford
Lawrence P. Stewart

Colorado Finish Carpenters

2008-11-27T12:25:00.000-08:00

Know of a great finish carpenter I can add to this list? Send me their information for consideration to ken@ineedcrown.com Subject "Colorado Finish Carpenter."

Boulder
Crucial Carpentry In and around Boulder County

Link Exchange

2008-11-27T12:16:00.000-08:00

If you feel a link exchange would benefit your site as well as mine, just drop me an email to ken@ineedcrown.com.

Cheers, Ken

Georgia Finish Carpenters

2008-11-22T20:54:00.000-08:00

Add your favorite finish carpenter to this list. Send me their information for consideration to ken@ineedcrown.com Subject "Georgia Finish Carpenter."

Lawrenceville
Cutrite Cabinets LLC

Washington State Finish Carpenters

2008-11-22T16:14:00.000-08:00

Add your favorite finish carpenter to this list. Send me their information for consideration to ken@ineedcrown.com Subject "Washington State Finish Carpenter."

Seattle
Russel Carpentry Serving Seattle, Redmond, Eastside, Everett, Snohomish County and King Counties

Novick Construction
Serving Snohomish and King Counties

California Finish Carpenters

2008-11-22T15:51:00.000-08:00

Add your favorite finish carpenter to this list. Send me their information for consideration to ken@ineedcrown.com Subject "California Finish Carpenter."

Southern California
Architectural Upgrades

Newport Beach
Bramco Builders Inc

Los Angeles
Weston Woodworks

Virgina Finish Carpenters

2008-11-16T19:51:00.000-08:00

Add your finish carpenter to this list. Send me their information for consideration to ken@ineedcrown.com Subject "Virginia Finish Carpenter."

Richmond
The Trim Man
Mitre Contracting Serving Northern Virginia

Michigan Finish Carpenters

2008-11-15T10:11:00.000-08:00

Add your favorite finish carpenter to this list. Send me their information for consideration to ken@ineedcrown.com Subject "Michigan Finish Carpenter."

Fowlerville
WES Finish Carpentry Statewide

Arizona Finish Carpenters

2008-11-15T10:00:00.000-08:00

Know of a great Arizona finish carpenter I can add to this list? Send me their information for consideration to ken@ineedcrown.com Subject "Arizona Finish Carpenter."

Phoenix

Valley Wide
Jeremy Lilly

Valley Wide
The Crown Moulding Company

Massachusetts Finish Carpenters

2008-11-15T09:19:00.000-08:00

Add your finish carpenter to this list. Send me their information for consideration to ken@ineedcrown.com Subject "Massachusetts Finish Carpenter."

Concord
Robert Robillard Finish Carpentry and Renovations, LLC

Rouleau Interior Carpentry

Finish Carpentry
See website for area services

Local Finish Carpenters

2008-11-15T09:06:00.000-08:00

A good local finish carpenter is hard to find. To help you in your search I'm starting to collect links to finish carpentry websites I like from around the country. Not every finish carpenter can be listed here. Only finish carpenters who's work demonstrates attention to detail.
Add your favorite finish carpenter to this list. Send me their information for consideration to ken@ineedcrown.com Subject " Finish Carpenter." If your favorite finish carpenter does not have a website, I will make him/her a free profile page. Learn more...

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
DC
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
North Carolina
New Hampshire
Nebraska
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington State
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Work Van and Tools for Sale: Call Ken at (480) 299-0136

2008-11-14T16:29:00.001-08:00

Note: The van and tools are all first come first served. I will not hold anything.

2002 GMC Savanah 1500 (Same van as Chevy Express 1500) Great work van. 4.3L V6, 4 speed automatic w/overdrive, AC, captains chairs/cloth. New tires. Left rear door latch needs repair but still works and the passanger side rocker panel has a few small dents. It has super heavy duty rear and side door locks (see the locks here) and security screens on the rear windows. At 115,113 miles the van is still in good condition. It has lots of years of reliable service left in it. Selling because I work for the Forest Service now. See more pictures here. Ready for work. $3500.00 Firm. Call Ken at (480) 299-0136

Above Blue Scaffolding--$50.00 ea. (Cost $90.00 each new at Lowes). Working height of 4' and 21" wide. I have two of these left.

Above Gorilla Aluminium Work Platform--$45.00 ea. These heavy duty work platforms are great for painters cutting in ceilings. I would set them up in a room and then put 2"x10"x10' planks to connect them. Extended height is 33" and not extended height is 22". The platform is 40" long. I have 4 of these.

CROWN MOLDING PATTERNS 11-20

2008-11-08T19:29:00.001-08:00

Crown Molding-120
Victorian/Craftsman/
Traditional
Installation Details
DIY!

Crown Molding-101

2008-11-08T19:02:00.001-08:00

Traditional

SRP $8.00/lf

Crown Molding-110

2008-11-08T18:47:00.001-08:00

Traditional/Victorian

SRP $18.00/lf