Before
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After reframing, windows installed, rough electrical added, and drywall hung
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Windows trimmed out, temporary light fixtures
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Chair rail installed
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Sconce lights installed
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Each trim piece cut, then painted, then installed
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DIY must haves : Dewalt chop saw, tool belt, Senco finish nailer, dog
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Picture frame trim installed
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After
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Exhausted
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This was about a two month project. It starts like most we've done, with a lot of net surfing to find pictures of nice master bedroom interiors. One feature that caught my eye in all those google images was windows surrounding the headboard of a king sized bed. I also saw several trim designs that looked good and planned to incorporate them in the finished project. Crown molding really makes a room and I liked the look of an accent strip below it.
The window install started with removing most of the drywall on one side of the room. Then framing out new windows with 2 by lumber and a LOT of measuring. I spent extra time ensuring level rough framing and symmetry for the side windows. We already had the bedroom set purchased so the measurements allowed for width and height of the headboard. I also had a plan for the sconce lights as well as how much trim (and it's dimensions) would surround the windows.
The rough framing and window install went smoothly with diagrams and info from the web. I hired a contractor for the windows and he handled the exterior trim and stucco repair. He did fine until it came to texturing the interior drywall. Didn't come close to matching the other walls in the room. So we hired another crew from Craigslist that were able to come out in half an afternoon and match the rest of the room.
Electrical rough-in was next and that was another careful process for obvious reasons. I decided early-on that instead of lamps on a nightstand, I'd prefer a wall-sconce on a switch. I stay in a lot of hotels and don't like fumbling for a lamp switch under a shade that is always turned the wrong way. A wall switch is easy to find and this bedroom has two individual switches for each side of the bed.
Wall color is Behr 300F-4 Almond Toast in flat. I think it is a very pleasant color and goes great with the trim. We put up a lot of samples from Home Depot before deciding. The white trim color is Behr ultra pure white 2-8050 in high gloss enamel. It reflects some of the color in the rest of the wall and looks very pretty early in the morning from natural light through the windows.
The trim gives the room a real custom feel and took about two weeks to install. That was with a good chop saw, compressor and finish nailer. Everything is painted first, then secured. This is, in my opinion, the easiest way. Painter's caulk is next and works great for filling some good sized gaps in places like the crown molding. I went through about four tubes for the entire room. Baby wipes with aloe are very handy for keeping the caulk mess under control, but you will find you can go through a lot very quickly.
The trim designs came from styles I spotted on google images. The squares below the chair rail are a Lowe's accent trim that is MDF and pre-primed. It is very easy to work. Vertical pieces are all one length (except below windows) so I could cut the 50 or so using a stop block on the chop saw to the exact same length. Horizontal pieces are different lengths and need some planning to work around electrical outlets. All corners are mitered and each piece is installed with strong construction glue dotted on about every 4" or so then secured with a brad nailer.
Here is a nice install trick: make sure the chair rail is installed first and absolutely level and straight. Use a laser level if you can to establish a line on the wall where the top of the chair rail will be and nail it as perfect as possible. Find stud locations, mark them and fasten the chair rail at each stud. I didn't use any glue for this trim or the crown.
The picture frame squares go under the chair rail and the best way to get a consistent spacing is with a block of wood. In my case, the spacing was about three inches. Hold the top horizontal piece of picture frame in place first using the wood block for a guide. I put up / down arrows on that wood block so I wouldn't mix it up sideways. Top of the wood block against the bottom of the chair rail. Then top of the picture frame trim piece against the bottom of the spacing block. With strong construction glue I could use 3-4 brads to hold each trim piece. Make sure to fasten on the ends at the miters.
You get the hang of it after a couple of squares, then it gets boring. But pretty nice looking when it is all done.
My very able blonde assistant took care of filling in about a thousand nail holes and touch up painting. Sconce lighting came from Lowe's - about $20 each - they came in a bronze color and we sprayed on a nickel satin finish. Then some cushy carpet, baseboard trim and the rest of the bedroom set went in place. Now, just another couple of months to finish the home office on the other side of the room.
