Bob meets Jason Hill from New England Classic as their ready-measured and pre-cut paneling system is installed in the Manhattan Brownstone. This flat-panel classic American design is modeled after the Arts and Craft style made popular in the late 1800s. This paneling is made of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) faced with a wood veneer. New England Classic offers Oak, Maple, Cherry, paint-grade wood, or a variety of standard finishes. The entire system is designed as a kit of parts that is custom fitted to the customer's space and style. Customers can go the the Web site and download design forms that gather the measurements and product specifics for the job. An in-house design team then creates a design, an installation plan, and a materials list. Once on-site the system is easy to assemble. First the center of the room is determined and marked, then the baseboard is set and leveled. The first panel is then centered on the line marking the center of the room. Panel adhesive is used on the back of each 3/8-inch panel to hold it in place and keep it off the wall enough to push it into the slot of the rabetted stile. The panel is then tapped into place and check for level. A top rail is slash cut along the edge before being installed with adhesive and nailed in place along the bead. A top cap completes the installation, and gives this panel a true 1890s feel.
Bob checks in on the finish carpenters who are installing wall paneling in the entranceway. They are using a medium density overlay (MDO) and 1/2 inch poplar slats to create the recessed panels. Bob also shows off the finished second floor bathroom tile and the repaired windows.
Carpenter Bob Ryley is on location to begin work on a reproduction wood-paneledwall in the project home's formal dining area. The wall panels, which were inspired by a visit to the Winslow Crocker house, a 1790 example of Colonial architecture on Cape Cod,. They will be made from knot-free, select grade pine. After discussing the room's layout and consulting an architectural rendering, Ryley begins to cut, assemble, and dry fit the panel elements. Ryley first mills the vertical trim pieces, called stiles, and the horizontal rails on a router table. Next, a wall panel is milled from three boards which have been glued and clamped overnight. Finally, Bob and Ryley begin to temporarily assemble the panels on the wall. Once all the pieces of the wall panels have been test fit, final assembly can begin.
Bob tours the front vestibule, highlighting the beautiful stencil work done by Kim Sweet. The stencil work replaced moldings in many homes of this nineteenth century era. The stencil work is not just on the wall but extends to the ceiling. This small vestibule will take the artist four days to complete using oil based paint. Greg Rochlin meets with Bob to discuss a few architectural pieces that borrow modern technology, combine stock pieces to antiques to create an authentic paneledwall and inlayed flooring. Bob meets with Susanne Csongor and Christine Lane of CLC Interiors to discuss some of the choices made in decorating the dining room and front hall. They used dense busy patterned wallpaper in the small dining room to give it an intimate feel. Combining it with red cotton chintz drapes with goblet pleats to accent the berries in the wallpaper. A Russian rug on the floor in the hallway was the color palette inspiration for this room as well as a blue Greek turnkey pattern for the runner up the stairs.
Inspired by the interior wall panels seen in the Winslow-Crocker house in Yarmouthport, Mass. (see tour in episode 1), Bob and crew go to work on replicating the panels in the Modern Colonial project house's dining room. To talk more about the general design of the home, Ben Larochelle, director of custom home plan services for Drummond Designs, visits the project house. Larochelle demonstrates the computer design software that was used to modify the house plans. Using professional design software, Drummond Designs can make custom modifications to any home plan to suit the owner's needs.
Carpenter Bob Ryley visits the project house to install the WindsorONE crown molding in the dining room. The five-piece crown molding assembly requires careful measurements, and a selection of electric- and hand-powered saws for a successful installation.