DECEMBER 2018 THE MAKIF INTERIOR DESIGN MAGAZINE FEATURED DESIGNER ÍËÍßÒ ÍÌÎßËÍÍ YITZCHOK WAGSCHAL EDITOR IN CHIEF EXECUTIVE MANAGING EDITOR MOSHE HOLENDER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MENDAL WAGSCHAL CONSULTING EDITOR SUSAN STRAUSS CREATIVE DIRECTOR RIVKY SCHWARTZ ASSOCIATE CONSULTING EDITOR PESSIE KRAUS COPY EDITOR MOSHE HOLENDER ART DIRECTOR JOEL FRIEDRICH CONTRIBUTING ART DIRECTOR MOSHE ADLER EXECUTIVE ADVERTISING DIRECTOR ISAAC WAGSCHAL ÝÑÒÌÛÒÌÍ [email protected] CELL 646-589-4541 MEDIA PARTNERS A ROOM, REIMAGINED (COVER) ACCENTUATIONS BY DESIGN & ABODE )ë LIVING SPACE 2.0 BY SUSAN STRAUSS PRODUCED BY ZMAN PUBLICATIONS ïð FROM THE DESIGNERS DESK ïî MATERIAL SPOTLIGHT BY AARON HOUSMAN © Pnim Magazine. Published by Zman Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form without prior written permission from the publisher is prohibited. The îî EYE FOR DETAILS publisher reserves the right to edit all articles for clarity, space and editorial sensitivities. Pnim Magazine is not responsible for the kashrus FLASHES OF INSIGHT BY SUSAN STRAUSS of any advertised product or service that appears îê in these pages. Pnim Magazine assumes no responsibility for the content of articles or advertisements in this îè MEET THE ARCHITECT BY YITZCHOK WAGSCHAL publication, nor for the contents of books that are referred to or excerpted herein. Ads should not be read on Shabbos or Yom Tov. 2| PNIM ײ¬®±¼«½¬·±² Everyone knows that architectural design trends come and go. What’s in style this year may fall out of favor in the future. Of course, the important thing is not what our neighbors like, but what matches our personal taste and style and what composes the kind of living space that will make us feel most at home. Still, even our own tastes may change over time. When designing a house, there is also an investment aspect to the decisions we make. Most of us sell a home at some point, and we want it to remain attractive. With those con- siderations, it often pays to implement timeless designs that we and others will appreciate far into the future. Trim and millwork are timeless architectural features. Even those design el- ements have gone in and out of style; there was a couple of decades when moldings were rarely used in America. But a look at history should have told us that they would certainly resurge in popularity. From the elaborate design and ornaments of the Corinthian columns of Ancient Greece, to the intriguing egg-and-dart design or dentils of crown molding, to an understated molding featuring just a groove and a quar- ter-round bar, there are limitless possibilities and combinations to beautify our homes, and they have stood the test of time. Architects and carpenters have been designing beautiful moldings for thousands of years. The recent gain in the popularity of moldings proves that their appeal has not dimmed. The history of building design tells us that elegant millwork is a feature that adds lasting value to any home. It doesn’t need to be heavy or ornate—a simpler look can beautifully frame a space as well. In researching this month’s feature, I spoke with Aaron Housman of Ornate Ô·ª·²¹ Mouldings for some insights. He mentioned to me that years ago, interest in millwork dropped precipitously and he lost around two-thirds of his busi- ness—until Susan Strauss revived it. “She single-handedly brought back our entire business by coming up with beautiful designs that people just couldn’t turn down,” he told me. ÍÐßÝÛ I hope you will use the valuable insights in this issue as a guide to asking the right questions when it comes to implementing moldings and trim in your unique home. MOLDINGS FRAME YOUR SPACE AND HELP DEFINE THE FEEL OF Sincerely yours, Yitzchok Wagschal A ROOM, SO CONSIDER YOUR Editor-in-Chief CHOICES CAREFULLY. BY SUSAN STRAUSS 4| PNIM DECEMBER 2018 | 5 LIVING SPACE 2.0 < This entry by Susan Strauss Design features a recessed base trim. The smooth lines enhance the uncluttered and elegant feel of the space. v A girls room, design by Susan Strauss Design, has large scale wainscot wall detailing and a soft palette to complete the classic scheme. All millwork pictured was supplied by Ornate Millwork. GN I S DE SS AU TR S N A S SU BY T EC J O R P T RIM IN THE HOME minimalistic with no trim at all. Susan added trim back Interior moldings and trim are generally associat- into modern spaces in a way that enhances the design ed with traditional design. In olden times, and more while remaining light and minimalistic. recently when traditional styles were more popular, There are many different types of moldings to the aesthetic called for extensive and elaborate moldings—the more the better. Although moldings curves and ornamental motifs. create a beautiful style and appeal, they create a very It standard and usually necessary in any home to “heavy” look. When minimalism became fashionable, install a base molding around the perimeter of each moldings went out of style. Today, although we are no longer in a strictly minimalist phase of home design trends, many people are opting for a cleaner and more well as protect the wall from furniture bumps. Casings GN I modern look. around doors and windows are also essential. The de- S DE There are options for trim in both traditional sign of these elements can enhance a room, but their SS AU TR and modern styles, and a subtle trim will enhance a S N A modern space with a unique character. One of Susan and windows with the surrounding wall, concealing S SU Strauss’s innovations in the design world has been to unsightly spaces and shims, creating a contiguous BY T take moldings and put them elegantly into spaces with surface and helping to insulate the room. EC J O R a modern design. In the past, walls were either tradi- Today, the standard size for a base molding is 5 P tional, often with elaborate moldings, or modern and inches, and the standard size for a casing is 3 ½ in. 6| PNIM DECEMBER 2018 | 7 LIVING SPACE 2.0 In homes with a more modern look, people often of materials, for example, embedding brass into the install a recessed base. This means that the sheet wall with the trim. Another option is to use the entire headboard wall to create a design combining trims between. Casing can also be recessed. Since there are and other materials. several ways to achieve this look, it’s probably best to A more modern and clean alternative to mold- ings is to layer the walls and ceiling with sheetrock. more comfortable with. Any design detail on the wall is created with layered When it comes to crown molding, recessed trim is sheetrock. This must take place during the sheetrock usually more ornate and has a more traditional look. process, not after. Applied molding is less layered and a little more mini- malistic. It is also less labor-intensive than the recessed PAINTING VS. STAINING option. You need to decide whether you want stained At times, when designing a modern and minimal- or painted trim before you decide which material to istic space, Susan Strauss will focus trim just on the buy. You can either choose a wood species that can ceiling and leave the walls simple. be stained, or you can order pre-primed molding that Decorative molding can also be placed in the middle of the wall in geometric and modern designs. Often in bedrooms, Susan Strauss creates a head- v and unexpected color choices for a luxurious and unforget- board that is wall trim. The design can include a mix table lounge area designed by Susan Strauss Design. could be made of several different materials. It is best thane, which is a stiff foam. Then there is poplar, to order a trim that is primed and ready to paint. which comes from hardwood poplar trees. This Traditionally, trim was made either of stone or species is the best in terms of durability—it doesn’t plaster. Today there are four basic types, called “spe- chip—and gives the option to paint or stain. Home- cies” in the trade. The oldest and most traditional owners who want a more beautiful stained wood can of the species now in use is plaster. Plaster could be look into more expensive options like oak and maple, GN I S used for any type of molding, but since it is suscep- which have a nicer grain than poplar. DE SS tible to chipping, it’s almost never used on base The most commonly used species for molding is AU TR molding or casing. primed pine. It’s a soft and inexpensive wood that is S N A Slightly less expensive than plaster is polyure- used in basic homes. Most often painted, it can be S SU stained as well. BY T v The cheapest species of molding is MDF, which EC Various millwork elements are on display, coming togeth- J O R is a composite of sawdust and cardboard glued P together. 8| PNIM DECEMBER 2018 | 9 ÑÓ Ý ×Ô ß Ó àÙ È Ø× Ð ß Î ÑÙ ÚÎÑÓ ÌØÛ Ç ÜÛÍ×ÙÒÛÎŽÍ Ü»•µ S USAN STRAUSS hen you are working on a project, noth- ing can replace the experience of going took off 30 minutes earlier… but it was in a different Éto the job site to see and evaluate the project with your own eyes. minutes, but we explained that 30 minutes means But sometimes it doesn’t work out quite the way a lot when you are shomer Shabbos.