There is absolutely nothing wrong with clamshell or colonial casing, but the fact is that there are so many other choices for trim that it seems a shame that those two end up being the default trim in many homes. There are a number of ways to dress up a room with trim without turning to oak or cherry or mahogany. Pine and poplar are the most common and least expensive wood types and how and where one chooses to implement them is the key; for instance if the ceiling in the living room is over eight feet tall some crown molding, which is attached at the wall/ceiling, adds an interesting touch. Similarly, a small dining room can be enhanced by installing a chair rail. Ultimately, the more edges and surfaces that light can hit the more interesting a space becomes.

Once the trim has been decided and installed the next step to completing the intent/feel of the space is choosing a finish that further enhances the material and brings a cohesiveness to the entire room: walls, ceiling, trim, floor.

I will often recommend that a client see if they can find what they are looking for at a store first. And when they canŐt find that cabinet or table that fits a particular space or fits the particular style theyŐre looking for, then we work together to design the piece.

Cabinetry
Armoires
Dressers
Tables
Molding
Mantels
Wainscoting
Furniture Repair
Partitions


Click here to view a gallery of Chrysalis wood projects.


Finishes are the best way to protect surfaces. Finishes include paint, stain, polyurethane, shellac, wax and oil. Although these finishes serve primarily to protect a surface from wear it does not mean that they have to do that to the exclusion of an aesthetic. The two are of equal importance.

The biggest decision when figuring the finishes in a room is how the room is to be used and what are the types of furnishings that will go in there. In museums the walls are always painted white and not because they donŐt like color, but because the art that is displayed stands out better with a white background and generally there are no other furnishings in the space to consider.

What are the other colors in a space? Is the space used primarily during the day, night , or both? Is the room well illuminated, either with natural light or artificial? How does the flooring effect the space? Is there a piece of furniture or painting that is really the focal point of the room? Who uses the room? How many elements can be distinguished in the room in terms of different finishes? Once these types of questions can be broached then the finishes for the space can be chosen and developed, one element at a time.

Walls, Floors, Ceilings & Trim
Drywall & Plaster Repair
Furniture & Refinishing
Window Restoration


Click here to view a gallery of Chrysalis paint projects.


Durable and easy to clean, tile can be used in a variety of spaces and on a variety of surfaces. The great thing about tile is that it adds texture and color in essentially one application.


Countertops
Surround
Dressers
Ceilings
Floors
Repairs


Click here to view a gallery of Chrysalis tile projects.