Location:
Newmarket in Cambridgeshire is known as ‘Headquarters’ in the racing world. It is one of the world’s leading horseracing venues and equine centres. It is one of the most famous towns in England and has roots that date back to 1200 AD.
Background:
Carlie Allan is the founder of Buck & Bear Design, She’s a traditional sign painter and gold leaf gilder by trade. Her home is a beautiful listed gate lodge in Cambridgeshire. In this case study, you can see how Carlie has easily added character back to her interior using our plaster mouldings... prepare to be inspired.
The Challenge:
Carlie was desperate to bring some classic decor back into her lodge after the previous owners modernised everything.
The lodge is a ‘listed building’ and is therefore considered to be of national importance due to its historic interest. This status is intended to protect buildings from alterations that may negatively impact the character of the building and its historical context.
Carlie had a vision for her lounge and had looked at various designs and substrates before reaching out to us. It is very important to use sympathetic designs and materials for this project, in keeping with the lodge’s history. Luckily, our mouldings were perfect for this job... as they are made from gypsum.
The Project Plan:
Wall panels and wall moulding (or wall moulding, as it’s more classically known) remain perpetually on trend and always will be. Traditional wall panelling is a fantastic way to add a timeless element to your home and evokes style and ambience to any interior, from the grandest of Victorian and Edwardian properties, to modern new builds.
Decorative wall panels are also a cost effective way to update the design of any interior living space. Whichever room you’re looking to furnish, the addition of mouldings will give your interior extra elegance and class. Our plaster wall mouldings MR008 / MRC008 were the perfect addition for the lodge, and Carlie felt very confident installing this small project herself.
Carlie carefully measured her walls and mapped out how many metres of floral panel moulding and corners her design would require. She wisely ordered an extra 20% to cover any ‘off cuts’ / waste. She was happy to undertake this ‘do-it-yourself’ project and already had all the simple tools she required... a mitre block, saw, spirit level, step ladders, adhesive, caulk and paint.
It was a seamless project. The mouldings were in stock and arrived within a week. Carlie dedicated most of her weekend to complete a large wall and area above her fireplace... and voila... the room was back to its former glory!
Before & After:
The walls have now been transformed - Carlie has created a characterful home full of interest and talking points.
We advise that with characterful features (inside or out), it’s worth trying to stay close to the original design even when you’re replacing them. Wall mouldings bring so much character to a room because they help build a classic look. Not only do they create added texture, depth, and visual interest – they make the room feel more special.
Customer Testimonial:
Carlie couldn’t be happier with the result... “What a transformation! I’m OBSESSED. These mouldings and corners now take this room back to all its glory! We decided to install wall mouldings to restore some of the character into our lodge. Maintaining the house’s original ambience has been crucial to us during our renovation process.”
Plaster Products Used:
• Floral Panel Moulding Corner MRC008
Explore our ‘Plaster Panel Mouldings’ product pages to find the perfect plasterwork for your renovation.
Q&A:
Adding our decorative moulding is a DIY-friendly project. With the right tools, adhesive, and patience, you can achieve professional-looking results. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions that you may find helpful.
Where can mouldings be used?
You can transform any living space or room with our mouldings. We recommend sketching out your design first. These can simply be rough diagrams to try and work out what you want. And, always double check your measurements to ensure it’ll fit like a glove. ‘Measure twice. Cut once!’
What should I do if I chip my moulding?
Don’t worry - this can be easily remedied. Small chips and dents can be ironed out with a suitable filler.
What should I do about any gaps and cracks?
Caulk it! This step hides all the gaps between the moulding and wall. It makes a huge difference in the finished product. Once you have applied the mouldings to your walls, go over them with decorators caulk to patch up any unsightly gaps, cracks or holes. You may need to fill some in the sides, depending on whether any gaps appear (don’t worry as you can cover this with paint).
What’s the best Paint to use for mouldings?
Now it’s time for the fun part! You’ll need to paint the installed mouldings. Before painting, ensure that the adhesive, decorators' caulk and filler (if used) are fully dry and has set.
We recommend painting with two coats of matt emulsion, ensuring the first coat is a ‘mist coat’.
A ‘mist coat’ is a watered down coat of paint which is applied to fresh, dried, new plaster before you apply a standard coat of paint. Our gypsum coving has a permeable surface (which means it will soak up moisture very quickly).
If you want to see more from Carlie, hop over to her instagram account, @buck_and_bear_design where you will find inspiring ideas, and amazing gold foil creations. https://www.buckandbear.co.uk/
Do you know we deliver across the UK?
Our experienced drivers will make sure you get your plaster mouldings quickly and safely.
For sales and general enquiries please call 0333 043 1471 or email service@shawfieldpark.co.uk.
