Browse through any home decorating magazine and you will likely notice something common about all the homes featured. They will have quality millwork, crown molding and other moldings that make the home have a more distinctive look. While the drapery, furniture and paint can vary from home to home, it's the moldings that really are the star of the show.
Years ago homes were much different than they are today. Custom millwork was not just reserved for the most expensive homes, but was included in even the most modest homes. Solid wood doors, nice moldings and trim, solid wood doors and crown moldings were all standard and why these older homes are in such high demand today. In many communities even small homes built 75 can fetch much higher prices than those in newer developments, simply because of the quality of the millwork and finishings in the homes.
In the past two decades homes have been built in record numbers. Cost has become the major driver for many of these large developments that often includes thousands of homes thrown up in a field. While they do serve to provide homeowners with an economical home, they have not done a good job at creating a unique look, both inside and out. Most of these homes are cheaply built and their finishes are quite generic. Even though they will have baseboards, these will not be made of beautifully stained woods, but rather wood that's inexpensive and been painted white. It looks fine in some homes, but it's certainly not classy or unique and can often show that the home has been built on a tight budget. These homes when finished have a clean, rather generic look, but they seem to lack character; Character that comes from custom millwork and moldings.
If you want to take your home to the next level, one of the easiest ways to do this is to go through the home and replace the moldings. The baseboards need to be replaced, as well as the trim around your doors and windows. Adding a molding crown will completely change the look of your home as well and should be high on your list of things to do. Even inexpensive condominiums and townhouses can benefit from the addition of custom moldings and millwork, setting them apart from your neighbors. It's often refreshing to step into an otherwise average home to find a stunning work of art because they have the home tastefully decorated and have used nice custom moldings and millwork to finish off those details.