Too Much Crown Molding?

by hookedonhouses on May 20, 2008

You guys know how much I love crown molding. But as I was perusing the MLS listings today, I found this master bedroom that had so many layers of it that I had to stop and ponder: is there such a thing as too much?

I don’t know. I was staring at this picture and pondering it, but I’m still not sure. Doesn’t it look a bit heavy, like it could all come crashing down on you as you lay in bed one night? Or am I crazy, because the more crown, the better, no matter what?

Let me know what you think!

UPDATE: To see photos of the rest of the house, click here.

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{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Jessica 05.20.08 at 8:20 am

Yes, it is a little strange, huh? After consideration, I think I like it. It’s something different.

2 priscilla 05.20.08 at 8:20 am

It looks mcmansiony ridiculous.

3 Marie 05.20.08 at 8:42 am

I still can’t get past the beautiful floor and wall color to notice the molding! And oh…all those windows.

The molding… well, it may be a bit much, but I have NO molding so who am I to criticize? :o)

4 Arlene 05.20.08 at 8:42 am

Looks kinda top heavy. Not my taste. “mcmansiony” LOL

5 Amy 05.20.08 at 9:16 am

Hmmm, I think it’s too much. It seems like they didn’t know what to do with it so they covered it all up with crown molding.

6 Meredith 05.20.08 at 9:18 am

I think it throws the lovely room off balance. And it draws the eye to it when it should be looking around instead of up.

7 Bonnie 05.20.08 at 9:26 am

What the f—??? Way too much. I like crown molding and a tray ceiling as much as the next person, but something is just not right here.

8 Laura 05.20.08 at 9:57 am

I would be afraid that the wall couldn’t bear the weight of it and it would fall on me in my sleep!

9 Deanne 05.20.08 at 10:09 am

As the saying goes…..everything in moderation! Moderation can not be said of that molding, that’s for sure!

10 REAGAN 05.20.08 at 10:41 am

I think it’s fine since it’s in the cove. Obviously if it was on the wall that would be crazy! I don’t mind it since it’s up there featuring and accenting the ceiling…and I like that it’s white. It doesn’t feel as heavy that way to me.

11 Hairy Weisenheimmer 05.20.08 at 10:43 am

Ok. I’m the weirdo in the bunch. I love it :-) But then again, I’m a crown molding freak myself.

12 JLB 05.20.08 at 11:00 am

It’s a bit much. It looks like a bank loby or something. I think they went a little to far. It looks like they bought it all at a firesale and decided to use the entire truckload in one room.

13 Diana 05.20.08 at 12:41 pm

Yeah - seems a little overdone for my taste - and I normally love molding!

14 Elizabeth 05.20.08 at 2:56 pm

I’d prefer the extra two feet of ceiling to QUITE so much crown molding.

15 Amy Jo Trager 05.20.08 at 2:59 pm

It is a fascinating use of crown molding. I could do my whole entire house with the amount they used in one room! I don’t like it…

BUT! You inspired me to add a frame to my bathroom mirror. You can check it out on my blog. I’m really happy with how it turned out, so THANK YOU!

16 Melissa @ The Inspired Room 05.20.08 at 4:49 pm

Hmmm, I think they might’ve been better off using some flat wood in amidst the molding to balance out the weight and texture. But sometimes photos are deceiving when you can’t see the space as a whole. Maybe it looks better in person.

Happy day,
Melissa

17 TraceyB 05.20.08 at 5:02 pm

I’m with Amy. My first thought was they didn’t know what to do and covered the entire space. WAY TOO MUCH!!

18 Pat 05.20.08 at 5:12 pm

I started a comment and needed another look.

I love crown molding. This seems a tad heavy, though. I think some variation in the trim might make it better for me…maybe some dentil or rope molding worked in as one of the layers. I love the room and the simpleness of it. The floors are beautiful.

19 courtney @ nesting instincts 05.20.08 at 5:12 pm

I agree…”crashing down” was the very image I had in my head when I first saw it. It would be gorgeous with less moulding and a decorative faux paint treatment…or even a cool metallic paint on the inset…gold maybe? Anyway, there are better ways to add drama then to actually put people in fear of the sky falling on them.

20 Tori 05.20.08 at 5:19 pm

I believe that, when it comes to your house, you should
not have to be indecisive about the way it looks. I know
that there is always going to be that one thing that you
would change in your house, but still, when it comes to
your house you shouldn’t put something up that you are
not sure if its a wonderful thing or a horrible thing.

21 Lynn 05.20.08 at 7:48 pm

Not sure about this one.

As far as the “Crashing down” problem.” That more than likely won’t happen. Most builders today are using the plastic/foam type molding. It is cheaper and does not require as many nails. In this house I’m not sure if they used that or not. I do think it really takes away from anything you do in this room. Your eyes are drawn straight up, and even in this picture, everything looks so off centered.

In this case, less is best.

Lynn
John 15
http://www.earlswife.blogspot.com

22 Robin 05.20.08 at 8:26 pm

I think this is how the conversation went with the builder:

“Put some crown molding at the top of the tray, where it meets the ceiling”

“Now it looks naked near the bottom, can you add some to the part where the soffit meets the regular ceiling?”

“Now it looks odd in the middle. What color should we paint that? white? or the color of the wall? Maybe we should take the top part off? Or the bottom? I know, can you add more molding?”

My dad was a GC and this kind of thing happens all the time.

23 Billy 05.20.08 at 9:15 pm

Two words: wedding cake

24 Judy 05.21.08 at 9:59 am

I think it would look much better if they used about half of what they used would look a lot nicer. Too much of a good thing is not always “good”!

Judy

25 Linda macDonald 05.21.08 at 10:07 am

I think this home belongs to folks who live by the motto: go big, or stay home!!!

Too much and yes, very McMansion-ish!

26 Kathy :) 05.21.08 at 8:15 pm

GEEZ.I have to say I HATE it…LOL it makes me think of a movie when i was little called 13 Ghosts, it was 3 D and a big deal back then……but the part of the movie that stayed with me was a canopy bed with the top crashing down and killing the peeps in the bed…I COULD NOT sleep in that room with the enormous moulding…..and I do love crown moulding…

Thanks for the memory Julia…I think…. as I go off to BED…

LOL Kathy :)

27 susie 05.27.08 at 6:27 pm

If I had that bedroom, decor and all, I would live with that crown molding. It is a little thick, but I think the decor being so light and fresh makes the molding blend right in. Now if the room was dark, I think the molding would stand out and be too much. Just give me that bedroom please with all those wonderful windows and all that space.

28 susie 05.27.08 at 6:28 pm

P.S. I would love to see photos of the rest of the house. Please share!!!

29 bea 08.21.08 at 6:32 pm

Yuck. Too much crown moulding! Too thick too!

30 Robin 01.02.09 at 3:55 pm

It feels like it has too many necklaces on.
Very pretty, but excessive. I think it needs to be thinned out.

31 Lisa in Australia 01.09.09 at 11:30 pm

Too much. In Australia, we call that cornice! Just for your info! lol

32 bungalow_bliss 01.12.09 at 2:04 pm

WAY too much. It would have been very tasteful and pretty if they hadn’t gone quite so overboard.

I think they need a rug or two in there, as well.

bungalow_bliss’s last blog post..Two Parts Ambition, One Part Lunacy

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