Over the past few years, interior design trends have seen a noticeable shift towards creating spaces with a more lived-in look that feels less like a show home and more like a real home. One way to achieve this is by adding personal touches through intentional, decorative details found in design features such as millwork. In this article, we'll take a closer look at what millwork is and how it can be used to add character, depth, and the perfect final flourish to your home.

What Is Millwork?

Millwork originated during the Industrial Revolution. At the time, wood was the main material used in home interiors, but towards the 1900s, newer materials like plastics, synthetics, and composite materials such as melamine were introduced to comply with modern fire and building regulations.

Today, the term is used to describe a broad range of design details found in the home. Companies offering millwork may specialize in custom-built pieces or standard, pre-built designs, while firms like Riverside Millwork Group offer the best of both worlds, with a combination of both standard millwork and unique custom designs including molding and trim.

Examples of Millwork

By definition, millwork is a piece of woodwork that is built into the space in order to create decorative flourishes and to accent certain features of a room. Some examples of this might include:

• Stair parts, such as balusters, banisters, and staircases
  
• Paneling used to add visual and textural interest to walls
  
• Molding to highlight ceilings, walls, and connecting surfaces
  
• Custom-built integrated casework, such as cabinets
  
• Door and window design, including casing and frames

Beyond its use as an accent, millwork can also be used to create eye-catching focal points like custom-made mantelpieces. Additionally, it can be used to complement outdoor spaces such as gardens.

The Benefits of Millwork

As an investment with the potential to add value and distinction to your interior spaces, millwork is well worth considering for a number of reasons:

• Function and form: Millwork isn't just about aesthetics—for example, crown molding (where the decorative trim meets the wall and ceiling) can also be used to hide wiring and gaps in surfaces.
  
• Customization and appeal: Design elements tailored to the space can be a great way to increase the value of a property, as they help draw the eye to the most attractive features of a room.
  
• Versatility and style: Millwork designs can be adapted to fit a wide range of styles, whether contemporary, traditional, or an eclectic combination of the two.

Adding Millwork to Your Property

When hiring a company for millwork, ask for samples of previous projects, as well as feedback from clients. As with any other home renovation project, professionalism and communication are key: it's important to find a firm that will not only understand the design concepts you have in mind but also be able to translate your ideas into well-executed finalized projects.

Finally, millwork encompasses a wide range of materials and tasks, which can make it a challenging project to budget for, but as a general rule, the key components should include materials, design, engineering, installation, and hourly labor costs, in addition to a 10% to 15% contingency fund to help cover any unexpected changes or issues that might arise during the course of the project.