Apartment Therapy reader, Jude, emailed us her gorgeous house makeover. We wanted to share the molding treatment that she created on one wall in her living room. Jude has slowly been making over her house for the last 3 years and has finally finished this pretty space. Read more about her inspiration and how an impromptu design decision helped to create this neat look after the jump.
While the trim crew was at Jude's to install the crown molding, she decided to spontaneously add an additional trim design to the wall in the 10.5 x 15.5 room. Inspired by the design of West Elm's daybed, Jude quickly sketched the overlapping square design and they went to work. Initially, Jude had thought the squares would be the same size. However, the trim installer ended up varying them a bit by making some smaller then others and it worked! The trim pieces were attached simply by a nail gun and Jude couldn't be happier!

[The molding adds dimension to the space]

[Here's another shot of before and after in Jude's living room.]
We love the look too and find Jude's positive attitude about design a pleasure. Overall, the project was quick and affordable. It took two days to complete the trim cutting and attachment. Supplies were only $80 and labor was negotiated to a nice price. If you are interested in this semi-DIY, check out more of Jude's creative and inspiring makeover right here. (We love the Kelly green accent wall in her other room.)
Here are more wall treatment ideas:
I love the lighting and the candles
Beautifully done overall!
view mansi's profile
It's funny that at first glance I thought about the west elm furniture.
It's a beautiful room, but what really caught my eye is the color of the floor with that wall color. My floors are the same color, so it will be hard not to head back to homedepot (the day after I just went) for different paint chip colors now!
view iheartmini's profile
ive always wanted a green room with zebra chairs!
view Enamorada's profile
beautiful work! it feels innovative and very fresh looking! can i ask what color you painted the walls?
view claudianyc's profile
I'm lucky enough to have a trim carpenter for a dad, so this will be his next project! haha.
I love it!
view Hailee's profile
that is beautiful. what a well designed and coordinated space.
view Pistachio's profile
WOW that looks awesome!!! I thought it was a West Elm photo shoot at first glance!
view Erin Lang Norris/Yellow Canoe's profile
wow! it's not my style but i have to appreciate the impact that wall has... it's quite the commitment (too much for me considering i love rearranging everything...) but it's stunnnning. and i never use that word! ;)
view kdkaboom's profile
nice work with the molding.
the room as a whole feels a little over-designed to me though. i'm getting nervous just looking at it!
view misslyss's profile
I think the framed photos in the latticework is too much. Generally, there's too much going on here. Pared down a bit, I think the space could be fantastic. But edit, edit, edit!
view frontiersperson's profile
that is GORGEOUS. i just did moulding treatments in my new condo but it makes me want to take it down and do this!
LOVE IT!
view Bobbycat5's profile
WOW - I love it!
view bepsf's profile
It's a neat concept, but I think that wall is too busy. Incredibly busy. I'd remove the framed pictures and lighting to tone it down a few dozen notches. My eye doesn't know what it should be focusing on...
I would also like to see some color pop, it's kind of monotone.
And to cover up that gorgeous floor! Oh, no! (Forgive me, in Florida finding laminate/hardwood in a home is a gift from the Heavens! haha)
view Kimber's profile
It's a stunning transformation... but I don't want to think about all of the coping and cutting involved!
I think it makes a strong statement all on its own... I think placing all of those picture frames in the cavities was not a good idea.
view hejiranyc's profile
It looks cool but something I could never live with - way too busy for me.
view superchou's profile
Overdone. I'm sure it seemed like a good idea at the time but with pictures, it's just too, too much.
Love the colors though.
view LBhirise's profile
My fiance just installed a very nice and basic chair railing in our new guest bedroom. I begged him for it, and he was so nice to do it. Looks great. It was definitely a project though (he had never done one before).
So I just showed him this and was like, "At least I didn't ask you to do this dear!"
He staggered away and quietly went back to his computer.
Nice job - can't imagine the work!!
view faith's profile
What a transformation!
view ChrisToronto's profile
wah! too much!
view amt230's profile
I like the pillow on the side chair. Anyone know where I can get one?
view SourApple's profile
That's a big transformation! Looks like a showroom. That being said, it feels staged and not very personal, though very well put together. Maybe some more personal items could be incorporated. Also, I find the lattice wall, which is already a statement in itself, a bit busy. I would take the pictures/artwork off that wall.
view reb's profile
Not at all my style - but very beautiful and impressive!
view twenty twenty-one's profile
Someone loves their nail gun! :)
view kellylc's profile
I love it, but for the record, this must have been the furthest thing from impromptu
view ce_pelle's profile
Great creativity but a little over the top for my taste.
Props for being brave and trying something like this!
view Laura's profile
you must have a really grey and dull job to want to come to this excitement and visual overkill. personaly i prefer my home to be much more paired down, but if it's your style, impressive.
view aad's profile
I love the look, but agree with others - it would look so much better without the picture frames.
view first5times's profile
too busy, do not like.
view writous 's profile
Great job! Total moulding commitment!
view jen_g's profile
"That's a lotta look."
view tallguylehigh's profile
I like it, but a little bummed to find out someone was paid to do it. Sure, $80 for materials, and then another $40/hr for the labor... all those cuts, that measuring?! that adds up to a ton of money...
view Imblebee's profile
wow, this is amazing
view hanako66's profile
dizzy, overdone, pretentious, one-sided. half of those mouldings, would make it interesting and elegant and if placed classically in tall rectangles would elongate the walls. there are so many other great details in that room, furniture, display items, art, photos but the eye just get trapped in that spider web wall.
view Astrid Vladi's profile
...I am printing to add to my inspiration board:)
view hanako66's profile
I agree with Astrid, I would have opted for the tall rectangle look, for sure!
view Kimber's profile
I don't think it has to add up to all that much. Trim's not expensive, and those cuts aren't dovetailed. Got a mitre box?
I love the look, think one huge picture would be better than all the ditsy ones.
And you don't have to have a grey, dull job to want a stylish home. What a bunch of sourpusses.
view Palmetto's profile
Lord. Dusting nightmare.
view Voodoo's profile
Major points for the craftiness of this, but I'd personally prefer to live in the 'before' pictures.
view Kris's profile
This is what a before and after should be. The attention to detail is impeccable and well executed.
Contrary to what others say, this does feel personal because clearly this is the style and items that Jude likes, which is all that matters.
It's a breath of fresh air to see a home alive with color, texture and flair. Thanks for sharing with us, Jude.
view Seaside's profile
Imagining the math involved makes my brain hurt.
view That70sHeidi's profile
Suffocatingly crowded.
view sarahisaghost's profile
I absolutely LOVE Jude's living room. The molding is so impressive that one day I hope my living room will look half as good as her space. Beautiful home, Jude!
view kylie of bandelle's profile
While I appreciate the effort, the style isn't for me - I think I'd get a headache if I stayed there too long. Still, it's an inspiring project!
view DCE's profile
Gorgeous, amazing transformation!
view annieo217's profile
I love it.
It's absolutely gorgeous. If I thought for a second that it would work in my space, I'd copy it and swear that it was my original idea.
view OnlyMe's profile
whoa.. so crowded. i dont think i would enjoy actually being in the room
view bluetoes's profile
I think painting the molding the color of the walls would help a lot to make it a less dizzying effect. As is, in my opinion, it's some what exhausting to the eye.
view Garrett's profile
Brilliant idea, but this is going to be dated very soon.
Another fifteen years after *that* however, and it'll be a gem.
view john m's profile
amazing but not for me. loving the pairs of smaller pics.
view Jennyb's profile
Yuck.
view sfdoddsy's profile
Garrett has a good point.
And why on Earth have I commented thrice on this topic?
view Kimber's profile
Pretty colors!..but def. too busy to look at...but pretty things as well...!
view keeks's profile
Jude dear, this is shockingly beautiful...
view tulpoeid's profile
um please take down all those baby sized frames, its way too fussy. Try putting a large gold or silver framed mirror above the credenza. Tone the lightong down and put a lamp on one end of the credenza. I think the wall is stunning just clean it up a bit.
view superrenee's profile
very neatly done, and it certainly is a very personal room and style. far too much for me, i do prefer calmer spaces, but as this is not my room ⦠:-D
view maike's profile