DIY Network

L.A. Craftsman Style: Column Room-Partition and Picture Molding From "Restoration Realities" episode DRTR-203

The project home: a turn-of-the-century craftsman style in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles.

In this project, DIY's restoration specialists help a Boston couple, Erica and Jim Tonsney, re-create a period-correct column-and-base-style room divider to replace one that was removed by previous owners of their craftsman style home. One original room divider still remains in the house, so the new replica will be based in style, material and dimensions on the existing one.

For an additional accent, wooden picture-rail molding is stained and installed to complement the refurbished woodwork and new paint of the refurbished living room and music room.

advertisement

	The homeowners: Erica and Jim Tonsney.
	The existing room partition
	The room transition before the restoration.
	The existing room partition serves as a model for creating the new replica.
	The picture rail molding selected for this restoration.
	Before the renovation...
	...and after.

Project Background

Ericka and Jim left chilly Boston a few years ago to pursue both media and acting careers in sunny L.A. Once there, they fell in love with the charming mix of architectural styles from Mediterranean to arts-and-crafts. When they heard that a turn-of-the-century two story arts-and-crafts was on the market in the up-and-coming and historic West Adams neighborhood, they jumped at the chance to purchase it. The bulk of the ambitious restoration--including all new electric, new plumbing, new porch, roof and paint--took the better part of a year. At the outset of this particular project, the Tosneys are just about to move in.

During the interior restoration, Erica and noticed the "ghosting" (i.e., discoloration or outlines on the floor) indicating where a previous column-style partition had been between the living room and music room. Evidently, previous owners had removed one of the existing room divider. The Tonsney's would like to restore this special feature to the house.

The couple have also painstakingly recreated period-correct cove ceilings in those same two rooms. They would like to paint the walls and ceiling in colors that are suited to the historic look of the house. To separate the two spaces, Restoration Realities helps them select, stain and install period-appropriate picture frame molding. A final coat of paint, and installation of period lighting finishes off the restoration.

Project #1 Summary: Replicating an Original Room Partition

As you enter the Tosney's home, an entry hall is separated from the living room by a partition made of douglas fir. The partition extends from floor to ceiling and is composed of a square eight-inch wide column supported at the bottom by an inset horizontal wall. Across the room, between the living room and the music room, careful examination reveals the "ghosting" of a second partition wall that has been removed. Using the existing partition and the ghost markings as their guide, Restoration Realities helps the couple recreate the missing partition and, in doing so, complete the living room's structural restoration.

Project #2 Summary: Installing Picture-Rail Molding

The living room and music room feature coved ceilings that the Tosney's have carefully recreated. They would like to paint the ceiling in a color that will be appropriate to the historic style, but one that is different from--but visually in keeping with--that of the walls. To help highlight the visual separation between the two spaces, Restoration Realities helps determine the appropriate location for hanging a picture rail. The material is ordered, cut, sanded and stained. The molding finally hung as a finishing decorative touch in the beautifully restored rooms.

Tools:

10" table saw, contractor style or larger
12" sliding compound miter saw
12" thickness planer
6' fiberglass stepladder
pipe clamps
hand clamps
biscuit joiner
3/4" hp router
router table
8" dado set for table saw
pocket-hole jig kit
router bits
air compressor and hoses
extension cords
framing square
4' level
cordless drill and bits
pneumatic nailer
micro-pin nailer
orbital sander
pad sander
coping saw
mallet
finish hammer
nail punch

Materials:

1x6 fir stock
2x4 fir stock
1/2" fir plywood
2x4's
Picture-rail molding
pocket-hole screws
finish nails
wood shims
carpenters glue
sanding discs
sandpaper
tack cloth
wood conditioner
wood stain
rags

Page  1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6