Add Creative Twist to Traditional Style Wainscoting - The Post Crescent, Judy Waggoner, Page 2

   For those who want to avoid nailing paneling to a room's perimeter, wallpaper manufacturers are making three foot high borders that resemble paneling, picket fencing or shrubbery.

   "I've seen beautiful rooms done in wood raised panels, expensive library finishes, not just vertical boards," Mac Swain said.

   One imaginative wainscoting technique Mac Swain saw was flanking glass display cabinets housing Hummel figurines in hallway walls between a dining room and foyer.

   To add traditional wainscoting to a room first determine the height you want. Typical chair rail height is 32 inches.

   Measure wall length to calculate the amount of wainscoting needed. Conventional style has a top horizontal board (or "rail") and a matching bottom rail.

   Prices vary with style an company but 40 linear feet of classic unfinished beadboard wainscoting with a height of 3 inches is about $700 $800.

    With a hammer and pry bar remove cover plates from all electrical outlets and base boards. Measure from the floor to the desired wainscoting height and using a level, mark line around the room.
   
    Locate room studs and mark their center points with vertical lines that extend from floor to wainscoting top.
Cut rails and panels to length and prime unfinished wood before attaching. Begin by attaching the base rail into a stud with wall adhesive and finish nails.

    Next attach panels in the same way, checking level and plumb around the room. Measure and mark panels around electrical outlets. Drill holes at outlet corners and cut out using a coping saw. Finally add the top rail around the room. Rails will butt together at room corners.

"(Wainscoting) gives a cottage chic look to walls and many times it's painted, stained, faux finished or glazed," Sippel said.