Seven Guiding Principals

"Finish carpentry that provides the greatest visual impact using the least amount of tools, effort and money."

That's about as concise as I can be if you asked me to distill this website into one sentence. But how do you transform your 1970's ranch home into an Arts & Crafts bungalow without the cost of a major renovation? And exactly how do you go about creating an eight-piece Colonial dentiled crown molding with materials from your local lumber yard? And most importantly, how do you do all this with little knowledge of the finish carpentry craft? These are all important questions to ask, and they are all questions I've asked myself over the years, first as a do-it-yourselfer and then later as a licensed finish carpenter.

So here are the seven principals that guided the creation of every pattern in the iNeedCrown Pattern Book, from the simplest crown molding to the most complex fireplace.

1. Historicaly inspired designs


2. Paint-grade finish


3. Add only to the existing architecture


4. Use mostly local materials


5. Simple tools and installation techniques


6. Ornate details must be affordable and high-resolution


7. Finish with a high-resolution paint job
   

I'll elaborate more on these seven design principals as time permits.

Cheers, Ken

Wainscoting-100 Installation Details

Craftsman

Height 52"

How To Install Wainscoting-100