Transition from Hickory to Paint grade Crown

[pops]

Hi Guys: great forum I was scanning to web for ideas to solve a problem I have with my brother-in-laws crown job. Maybe you pros can suggest a solution. This is new construction and he has asked me to do the crown on his kitchen cabinets (hickory) and then continue the crown into the dining room, which he wants in paint grade. The cabinets are installed 5 3/4 inches from the ceiling and will have indirect lighting behind the crown. He wants to use the rope lighting and continue the lighting behind the crown into the dining room. The dining room and kitchen cabinets share the same walls and ceilings, meaning there are no breaks in the wall the stop the hickory crown and then start the paint grade. The power source for the lighting is above the last cabinet next to the dining area. My question is: how should I make the transition between the hickory crown and the paint grade and make it look classy. My first idea was to finish the cabinet crown into the wall and just turn the paint grade into the wall leaving a space between the two. The problem with this is that the power source is above the kitchen cabinets and the wires need to be hidden that bridge across to the paint grade. I hope I have explained this clear enough. Another idea was to make a paint grade box to tie the crown into. Any ideas.

[Rich]

I would probably strategically place a trim block (maybe with a rosette or similar) where both the crown pieces die into.

[pops]

Thanks Rich, that's kind of what I thought. I've looked in the books I have on trim and I can't find an illustration of how the rosette would fit into the trim block. I am having a difficult time visualizing the trim block and where the rosette or detail would be placed. After a minute of thought, I guess if you extend the block down the wall a little you could do the detail on the flat below where the crown runs into the block...

[Rich]

http://www.vandykes.com/subcategory/79/
Although these are fancy on the edges - you can find them with smooth sides.

[Dragon]

Or drill two holes in the sheetrock and fish a wire behind it.

[pops]

Thanks Dragon, good info, I think I am leaning toward the fancy trim blocks at the corners to even out the look throughout the dining room. I think I'll build a prototype and check out the look. If I come up with a winner I will post the photo. thanks

[Dragon]

I tend to build corner blocks 1/2 " wider than the crown and 3/4 " longer. I then cut two pieces of crown to go under the box and wrap the box itself with crown.

Here is a picture of that particular look in the corner to the left of the mantle.

http://members.cox.net/dfh.construction/mathis.jpg

[pops]

You are my hero! What a great look. Pictures are worth a million words. Can't wait to crank up the old Dewalt. Thanks guys.

[Rich]

I would think pops would want to die the crown into the sides of the block - because of 2 different crowns - paint grade and stain grade. Then the question becomes - what do you do with the block - paint or stain :)

[pops]

Since I am not doing this job to pay my bills I think I am going to experiment with each and see what looks best. If neither looks good then I just might start poken holes in the walls. I'm not going to start until after Thanksgiving so if there are any other suggestions out there I'm open.

[Tom R]

That is one-hell-uva look, Dragon. Maybe you Ozarkians aren't as Draconian as you sound! :D

[Dragon]

I would think pops would want to die the crown into the sides of the block - because of 2 different crowns - paint grade and stain grade. Then the question becomes - what do you do with the block - paint or stain :)

I have done this quite often when there is a conflict between crown styles, most often in kitchens with a small crown on cabinets and a larger one everywhere else. In that case we make the corner block whatever the larger crown is. When using the same size and profile crown we'll break it on a crown joint. It seems to blend in best that way.

[Dragon]

That is one-hell-uva look, Dragon. Maybe you Ozarkians aren't as Draconian as you sound! :D

Thanks Tom. That is the Mathis house in Bella Vista, one of the last that I both framed and trimmed. I do so enjoy working with a homeowner that listens... heh.

[Dragon]

Oh and pops, have you considered using one crown everywhere?

[pops]

Yes, I would like to do it all in hickory but my brother-in-law thinks it would look best in paint grade in the dining room. When he gets back from Mexico next week I will show him the trim block look in the corners and hopefully he will change his mind. The crown over the cabinets can only be about 4" and continuing around the dining room would make it look like a thin stripe of wood, although if I place trim blocks in the corners and the final, I think it will make the crown look beefy and tend to be more eye pleasing. I am a retired UPS driver doing a little woodworking on the side and believe me, this type of work is really refreshing and fun compared to humping brown packages in brown trucks wearing brown clothing and not having time to smell the lacquer.

[Dragon]

I'll get a closeup picture of a corner tomorrow and post it here tomorrow evening.

[Dragon]

Or the evening after. :D

Here is a crown-wrapped box with teardrop.

http://members.cox.net/dfh.construction/crown/crown1.jpg

And here is one with the crown butted into the sides.

http://members.cox.net/dfh.construction/crown/crown2.jpg

I can't be held responsible for the crappy paint job. :evil:

[Tom R]

That work is beautiful enough to even make a bad paint job disappear! Congrats!

[Rich]

Masking tape can only do so much.

[pops]

Great photos. Thanks for wrapping the crown both ways. I was wondering which way would look best. I purchased the lumber today and will start on friday. I'll post the results in a week or two. Thanks again..

[pops]

Finished my brother-in-laws crown and thought I might post a few photos of the finished project. He liked it so well that he now wants two other rooms done the same way, indirect lighting an all. Thanks guys for all your input, couldn't have done it without you. Great forum and I will probably be back soon. Thanks agin. steve

[Rich]

Hey pops - it looks great. I really like how you ended it - very different.

[Tom R]

Yeah, - - beautiful work, pops!

[Dragon]

Hey I didn't show you the double box trick!

Good job, looks great.

[Tom R]

Damn! - - DRAGON has created a MONSTER!! :lol:

[Dragon]

Quality craftsmanship, one carpenter at a time...

:wink:

[Tom R]

Hail to the King of all Dragons!! :lol:

[Dragon]

http://members.cox.net/decadent-dragon/fart.gif

[Tom R]

Hot-damn!! - - what have you been eatin'!! :lol:

[pops]

Thanks guys, I can't believe it's been two months since my last post. Thanks for the kind words, I couldn't have done it without you guys. I have been busy the last month being a mud man and tiler thanks to the John Bridge forum. I just love these forums. I'm getting ready to start my mother-in-laws crown job next week. 450 lf and 63 turns, 10 foot ceilings and cathedral in the great room. I think I'm crazy doing jobs for my relatives. I may get a shrink when this one is done. Thanks again for all the help. Pops

[Cole]

Just found this thread, great job.

[Dragon]

You're late.