Where Has All the Millwork Gone?

Whether you’re restoring, renovating, or building from the ground up, utilizing a millwork specialist is what offers not only the finishing touches but the flair and individuality of your home

Know your terminology

Millwork is custom-made woodwork that is fabricated either in a mill shop or onsite and then installed within a home by very experienced trim carpenters. There are a number of applications, including built-in cabinets and shelving, wall paneling, staircase detailing, crown molding, coffered ceilings, and trim pieces, among others. The development of custom millwork is a highly creative process involving the design, fabrication, and installation—often by hand—of these beautiful embellishments. Each one gives a special style and feeling to a home.  

Going custom makes a big impression 

When you’re executing a beautiful, well-designed home, bringing in an artisan who creates custom millwork is what will set your home apart from the rest. This adds a level of character to the interior and exterior of a home that you can’t typically find with materials in your large retail lumber yards, no matter how much you try and duplicate it.  Having someone who is knowledgeable in both materials and style of your project is important. 

Keep up with current trends 

Another benefit of going with custom millwork vs. a large lumberyard, is an artisan shop’s ability to implement new trends, or a specific client request, instead of being limited to mass-produced styles that were designed years ago.

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Try to Opt for a design expert to realize your vision

There are many steps that go into the final millwork project. Vision, then fabrication. Either hand-sketched or for more intricate elements like 3D models are created.  An expert can guide you.  If you need help, call me for references.

The right wood choice matters 

When you hire an expert architect or millwork shop, part of what you’re paying for is knowledge about wood species. For example, pine used today by window and door companies might last five to 10 years because the wood quality is low. An expert will search for wood that is old-growth, will stand the test of time, and has a history of being decay and rot resistant. The investment may be worth it.

Architectural details are important in your home

When you’re restoring an older home, (and we have lots of them in our Somerset Hills area) or replicating a specific architectural style, the most expressive determinant of the style of a house is the millwork on columns, molding, stairs, and paneled rooms. It could be French (Parisian or Country), English, American, Victorian, Federal, or Georgian- all of the millwork will be unique to the style and time period. 

Cozy up large spaces

Layering custom millwork adds complexity to walls and ceilings and is significant in helping to break down a large-scale space into a human-scale room. Beautiful millwork details help divert attention away from features you may not want while generating a real emotional feeling of warmth, comfort, and hominess within an environment. And who can argue with that?

WELCOME HOME!