Decorating with Architectural Trimwork fills a void in the existing literature on trimwork. There are plenty of books that tell the reader how to install trim around windows and doors, but few that also explain how architectural trim can enhance a room's aesthetic appeal. Responding to the recent trend of building houses as empty boxes, author Jay Silber shows readers how to choose and use a wide variety of moldings, trim, and design concepts to transform a sterile, open floor plan into a warm, inviting, richly textured home. Trimwork shows readers how to decorate their homes with trim and wall panels so that their walls, passageways, and stairways can radiate the warmth, character, and beauty of the well-trimmed homes of eras gone by.

Average Customer Review: ( 18 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.

while there are better boooks for pure trim carpentry skills, Jim Tolpin's book comes to mind, I find myself reaching for this book over Tolpin's as it has great color pictures, concise instructions, good organization, and most importantly, ideas.

When I was choosing how to make my base moldings, or build the decorative cap, I needed guidance on which moldings to choose, what size they should be proportionally, and how to build them. This is where this book becomes worth every penny--its descriptions and pictures, along with techniques for different styles such as neo classical, victorian and Arts and Crafts, with suggestions on how to put all the components together on walls, floors and ceilings.

Overall I highly recommend this book for anyone that's going to trim their house themselves.

12 of 12 found the following review helpful:

Finally, the trimwork book I have been looking for!Aug 02, 2001
By Ricardo David
I have been searching for over a year for a good book on finish carpentry and trimwork for the past year. This is by far the most comprehensive and complete text on the topic. I stumbled upon an article featuring Jay Silber's trimwork methods about year ago in the now defunct Today's Homeowner magazine. I was hoping Mr. Silber's book would be as good as the few short lesson in that article. I am happy to report that this book has exceeded my expectations. If you are interested in architechural trimwork, from basic how-to's, to the different styles of trim, then this is the book to get. Each page has full color photos of techniques, detailed construction drawings, before and after shots, and the basic styles of trimwork that you can select to best match the decor of your home.

15 of 16 found the following review helpful:

Pretty Pics, Spotty AdviceApr 27, 2004
By Richard Mastello
If you're interested in ideas for interior woodwork, this book offers some nice photos that may inspire a project ... and sometimes inspiration is just what's needed to get us out of the chair and actively working. However, if you're interested in executing the work that's shown, an inexperienced carpenter will be hard pressed to succeed based on the information here. No book can substitute for experience, and this book is great for dreamers, but there are better carpentry guides out there if you actually want to do the work.

9 of 9 found the following review helpful:

Excellent Step-by-Step finish carpentry guideOct 21, 2002

I loved this book. It's very helpful in planning, estimating, and installing molding. Unlike most finish carpentry books this book is beautifully illustrated with examples of moldings and decorative ideas. It is not an exhaustive example of molding styles - and I didn't expect it to be. What this book does well is explain how to make your rooms resemble the rooms in the book. If you are a do-it-yourselfer I'd highly recommend this book

See all 18 customer reviews on Amazon.com