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Wainscoting is an ornamental dressing that is applied
to the lower portion of a wall. It is composed of wall
paneling, moldings, baseboard molding and chair rail
or wainscot cap. It is an old world embellishment that
is enjoying resurging interest, particularly in the
Northeastern United States. There are various kinds of wainscot
applications. A common format is when wall panels are created by
rails and stiles, which form boxes adorned by elegant
molding. Raised panel and flat panel wainscoting
is formed in this manner.
Raised panel, a style mostly seen in formal home
environments such as living rooms, studies or libraries,
is particularly appealing when used in the following revival
styles: Colonial, Queen Anne, Georgian, Federalist, Shingle Style
and various other revival styles. The most visible characteristics
of raised panel wainscot are its beveled edging treatments.
This is a traditional effect used in Western European
woodcarving. Flat panel, by contrast, is a less formal style
seen in family-oriented rooms such as kitchens and family
rooms, and is
appealing and periodically succinct when used in the
American Mission, Shaker, Craft, and Prairie and Arts
styles of the 20th century. Flat panel wainscot aesthetically
differentiates itself from Raised panel in that its edges are
completely flat.
With regards to materials, wainscoting can be made of
wood, MDF (medium density fiberboard), plaster and even
marble. MDF is used in humid environments, such as basements,
since it does not warp when confronted with the prospects
of water damage. The earliest documentation of
wainscoting appearing in homes
is in 16th century England; to cover the lower
part of walls; at a time when homes were not built to
resist rising dampness. These days, however, it is used as an elegant
way to decorate rooms in the home. While wainscoting is usually
applied in the more formal rooms of a house, including
the dinning room, living room and bedrooms, it is also
found in bathrooms, hallways, staircase areas and foyers.
With its exquisite and varied patterns, wainscoting
is mainly selected by interior designers looking to
add historical charm to a home. While it can certainly be done
by a 'do-it-yourself' homeowner, applying wainscoting to a home
is an elaborate process that requires the knowledge
and skill of an experienced professional.
Copyright © Harold German, 2007. All
Rights Reserved.
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