Sekelskifte offers a wide selection of trims and baseboards, all made from knot-free northern Swedish pine based on old templates from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Whether you want to complement an existing architrave, produce a profile cutter based on an old original, or simply give your newly built house more character, you are most welcome to either contact us, visit us at our store on Karlavägen or at our pick-up warehouse in Västberga for tips and advice!
How should I think when choosing mouldings?
The foundation of your home is important and sets the tone for the entire interior, so it’s worth giving some extra thought when it comes to joinery. By examining building details like wood profiles and mouldings, you can get clues about the house's history and more easily date renovations, etc. Feel free to read more about what is historically accurate for each era.
How do I combine architraves and baseboards to create a cohesive look?
It looks best when architraves and baseboards harmonize with each other and match in terms of width and height. Generally, the baseboard is one or a few centimeters higher than the architrave is wide. The baseboard is also simpler than the architrave and only has profiling on the top third.
For a natural junction between architrave and baseboard, we recommend a plinth block, also known as a corner block. The plinth block was commonly used in apartments and houses from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It used to serve as a replaceable part of the door architrave, as the section closest to the floor was often worn by cleaning water. Today, it is mainly used as a decorative joinery detail and an effective way to visually connect mouldings.
Installation
We recommend fastening the mouldings with quality nails both at the top and bottom. These nails are used indoors to secure wooden mouldings to lightweight concrete and other porous stone materials. Joints should ideally be cut at a 45-degree angle and glued with wood glue for the best possible finish.
Tips!
If you're installing a three-part baseboard, it's a good idea to leave a couple of millimeters between the middle board and the top rail to allow the wood to expand and contract with seasonal humidity changes. Another tip is to bevel the top rail and base at a 45-degree angle for a softer transition to the architrave and plinth block, which are usually thinner than these.
Painting
You can choose whether to paint the mouldings before or after installation—either way, there are a few steps worth following for the best and most durable result. We recommend using linseed oil paint, which provides a strong and long-lasting surface while also being breathable, which prolongs the life of your joinery.
Any knots should be sealed with shellac and nail holes/joints filled with wood filler before priming. After applying a primer, it’s time to apply your topcoat. We recommend a semi-gloss finish to reflect light and highlight the profiles of your mouldings. When choosing a colour, you can read our guides on historically accurate palettes for the Neo-Renaissance, Art Nouveau, National Romanticism & 1920s!
