With so many products to choose from, we understand how overwhelming picking out mouldings can be. In addition to an extensive product selection, we provide you with the education and design help that you need.
At White River™, our trademark is our ornamental mouldings. Inspired by classical designs, our mouldings are functional, yet ornamentally embellished. We paid careful attention to historical motifs when designing our mouldings; not only the design, but also the proportion, pattern repeat, integrity of motif, and the combining of details to make larger build-ups.
When trying to make your own large combination details, or LCDs, start off by noting your ceiling heights and personal preferences. You may prefer a robust build-up or something more understated. Also, take note of any air vents, electrical outlets, lighting fixtures, tall windows, oddly shaped walls and ceiling shapes that could impact your design.
Below are additional more design tips to keep in mind. The next page illustrates these guidelines:
- Ornamental motifs have varied expression and size.
- Crown mouldings define a ceiling and can add a heightened effect to a room. Don't be afraid to use a larger crown to add interest.
- Glazing any embellished moulding or woodcarving will accentuate the motif.
- Don't use too much of one motif. For example, don't use too many mouldings with a rope pattern. Instead, use mouldings with complementary motifs.
- Use small supportive motifs to complement larger motifs, instead of all large or all small patterns.
- When designing with many large repeats, keep vertical space in between the patterns, or vary the build-up with smaller patterns.
- Don't use too many patterns. Always leave some unadorned spaces for the eye to rest.
- Use a variety of different types of mouldings — crowns, friezes, panel moulds, to create interest.
When deciding how large of a build-up works with your room, use the guidelines below:
| Ceiling Heights |
Crown |
Door & Window Casing |
Baseboard |
Chairrail |
| 8' |
3 1/2 - 5 1/2" |
3 1/2 - 4 1/2" |
5 - 8" |
3 - 6" |
| 9' |
5 1/2 - 10" |
4 - 5" |
8 - 10" |
4 - 6 1/2" |
| 10' |
10 - 20" |
4 - 6 1/2" |
8 - 10" |
4 - 7" |
| 12' |
10 - 20" |
5 - 7" |
8 - 12" |
4 - 7" |
| 16' |
18 - 25" |
5 - 7" |
8 - 12" |
4 - 7" |
| 20' |
18 - 34" |
5 - 7" |
8 - 12" |
4 - 8" |
Examples of good design:
 |
Pg. 2:18 in Vol. 4 Middle of Column Build-up has a projecting shape — the Acanthus crown pushes up, while the frieze runs underneath. |
 |
Pg. 2:23 in Vol. 4 Top of Page Build-up has a projecting shape — Egg & Dart is static and allows Grapevine Frieze to run below. |

LCDS — 8142, 8144, & 8182 — Pg. 1:16 & 1:21 in Vol. 4 These Build-ups have varying sizes and shapes of mouldings; the ornament ranges from very small to very large and there is balance between running and static ornament and between the types of ornament. |
Examples of bad design:
The Build-ups at below break many of the design rules listed on the previous page. "A" has too much running ornament, not enough variation in ornament size, too many random patterns, and not enough variation between profile shapes. "B" has too much small ornament and all of the ornament is concentrated in one area. "C" has too much ornament, too many large details close together, and lacks small supportive details.