Why you should NEVER use carved brackets! Avoid at all costs.

[@jerrycaskey4483]

This channel is an absolute gem

[@BrentHull]

Thanks so much!

[@billk8780]

New additions to the lexicon: "McMansiony" and "train-wreck moulding". Brent, keep 'em coming my man!

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Thanks. Will do.

[@sharonvik2068]

Thanks for showing mockups of how trim should be constructed. Now I understand why trim in so many houses looks out of scale with the architecture.

[@BrentHull]

Great! I'm glad it helped.

[@NorthernChev]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! For being the one to finally say, "Adding carved corbels is trying to goop something up".

[@BrentHull]

Yes. Word!!

[@michaelbissen1946]

Brent, I've been installing those brackets on every fireplace for 2 different builders for the past 12 years. I've been trying to talk them out of using them. They won't listen. They want it to look "fancy." My trim supplier even tells me, these 2 builders are the only builders he is still selling the carved brackets to. Really enjoy your videos!!!

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for sharing. Maybe they'll catch on soon.

[@Chauvinbuilders]

Its an everyday fight! Keep fighting!

[@Joshua_Knowles_]

i think this is the problem today, people who want a classical designed house may only be getting a bad facsimile of it, which is why i think many people don’t like “classic” design as they may be getting confused with bad elements that don’t feel right of a modern facsimile.

[@BrentHull]

I agree 100%. Its a problem.

[@danielstover3029]

I truly hope that your brother shares this video with his local Mc Mansion Mouldings store. Truth and knowledge is rare. Great video and thanks for sharing. 😁👍

[@BrentHull]

I hope so too

[@tricia8727]

Oh man I can't wait to see what you and Richard create!

[@BrentHull]

It will be so much better than what is there. Thx

[@styleden22]

My son is applying to architecture school. We are enjoying your channel.

[@scottzagger]

Notre Dame is the one you want.

[@liamo8932]

​@@scottzaggerTrue, or else he'll just be making modern buildings that only architects like

[@scottzagger]

@@liamo8932 Apparently there’s a study that shows that with every year in (most) architecture schools there’s a greater divergence between what people like and what architects like.

[@pn4960]

@@scottzaggeri saw that too ! The KZbin channel that mentioned it is Aesthetic cities (I think)

[@BrentHull]

That's great. If he likes my channel I would suggest he avoids some of the modern schools. Good luck.

[@Captain-KTS]

Brent I made a mantel for my fireplace a few years back, everyone who see it loves it. Me not so much, I had used mass produced trim from a certain home improvement center. The scale works but I also used pre-made corbels that just screams cheap to me. One of these days if don’t sell the house I’m redoing it! Cheers Kirk

[@MichaelDinsmore]

If you build it yourself, be careful with fire code for how far out from, the wall and the height of the mantel from the firebox opening. Also, I’d recommend taking a look at some simple designs that Fine Homebuilding offers, using some built up pieces of molding to produce the final product. One article by architect Reid Highley offers some good building tips and recommendations for them.

[@BrentHull]

I think that is the sign of growing taste. You build something but realize later you should have done something else, or at least you know how you would fix it. I do that on the mantle in my house. I think the bed mold is too large and out of scale. People love it. Keep at it. Thx.

[@dennisdean3925]

Great job, again. Explaining what is 'correct' according to scale and exposing McMansiony garbage!

[@BrentHull]

Thank you!

[@avisitorhere]

My philosophy on trim is that it should look like it's carrying a load. It also needs to be proportional. Keep those two ideas in mind and you'll go along way to getting it right.

[@BrentHull]

Great point!

[@waynegoebel395]

I recently had the privilege to restore a 100+ year old front door from a Frederick Scheiibler designed duplex built in 1910 here in Pittsburgh (Wilkinsburg), Pa. Keeping in mind lessons learned from your channel, I was able to design and install a new window frame as the old one had deteriorated beyond restoration. Keeping it simple yet appropriate was key. Thanks for the channel and great information. I followed Richard to your channel, by the way. That young men is an inspiration.

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Thanks for sharing.

[@KenBissell-oq2ns]

Real professional and helpful, without being schlocky HGTV-type.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks. I hope it helps.

[@rogerhodges7656]

Thank you for another wonderful installment.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for watching.

[@janderson8401]

Years ago I had put up crown molding for a customer in a 1960s “ colonial” I think it was 3-1/4” or 3-1/2 in a living room that was about 14’ by 20’. Later a neighbor of that customer called me about putting crown in a 5’ by 5’ powder room, ( it was the kind of neighborhood where a half bath would be called a powder room). This woman wanted me to use 5-12” crown. I thought given the size of the room with only an 8’ high ceiling a 2-1/2 or smaller molding would be more appropriate. We compromised at 4-1/2. I think she just wanted a bigger molding than her neighbors had.

[@АлексейМаринчев-м1з]

Well, it's a commonplace 😂. My neighbour decided to be cooler than his friend and ordered ceiling beams 30*20 cm. 😂 Solid wood!!!😮 I wondered why? He could have made them even bigger, but hollow, out of plywood etc. But he wanted a medieval castle ceiling in an 9 ft room😂😂😂😂

[@BrentHull]

Haha, well that sounds about right. Thx for sharing.

[@peterfitzpatrick7032]

She's obviously never heard the phrase "less is more"... 🙄😂

[@maudessen573]

You’re the voice of reason.

[@BrentHull]

Thank you!

[@jimhasselle4386]

Nicely presented. My only suggestion; when using the beaded casing that is shown at about the 8:30 mark, is not to miter the entire width of that casing. What you need to do (and the way they did over a century ago) is to "haunch" that bead in an attempt to keep the casing (which shrinks more in its width) from opening up, creating an unsightly crack. Haunching that casing involves only mitering the beaded portion of the casing, and square cutting from the mitered portion. Additionally, use biscuits, or if you can, pre-assemble the casing prior to installation and use pocket screws on the back side. The back band obviously gets mitered.

[@BrentHull]

Great point. Thanks.

[@jeremypalmer7177]

Currently rebuilding my house. You're giving me all kinds of things to consider! Thank you!

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for watching.

[@foamslinger2787]

"when they're trying to goop it up" lol perfect

[@BrentHull]

ha, thx.

[@heystarfish100]

You’re putting hair on Richard’s chest Brent and he is handling all of this information exceptionally well. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us all.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for watching!!

[@Renegator1]

Another great video. And I love seeing the cut away of the built-up molding.

[@BrentHull]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ensatlantic]

Learned something from this video … again. Thank you for spearheading the re-renaissance!

[@BrentHull]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@countrymuch2017]

I appreciate how you teach this.

[@BrentHull]

Thank you!

[@cborecky]

Designing for an ornate mansion is complicated, but IMO the most luxurious doorways are the basic flat-plank stained hardwood door frames found in craftsman, arts and crafts, and some Victorian houses. It is becoming rare to be able to find examples that haven't been painted over, which is all the more reason why I would covet owning such a distinctive finish (which would have been considered quite basic and normal 100 years ago).

[@BrentHull]

Ok, thanks.

[@MichaelDinsmore]

I like the phrase, “it’s a car wreck - full of bumps, bruises and cuts”. I see those moldings all the time at the store and refuse to buy them - they’re ugly. You didn’t mention it, but when you do the framing on the exterior door side, I hope you have your brother raise the height of those exterior lights. I’ve never seen them installed so low before - another disaster! He can keep them if he likes them, but they shouldn’t be at hip height!

[@BrentHull]

Noted. I'll let him know.

[@JeepMurphy]

Thank you.

[@BrentHull]

You're welcome!

[@drjrjules1]

Man I love these videos. Thanks Brent!! What do you do if you 'should' have a wider door casing, but there's not enough room on one side of the door because of a wall? is it ok to have the casing on the wall side skinnier?

[@BrentHull]

While not ideal, that is typically what I do. Thx

[@Tim.Foster123]

"..got in a car wreck. Bumps and bruises everywhere!" HA! I have soooo much to learn.

[@BrentHull]

haha, thanks for watching

[@stevepople9366]

Your passion for your subject comes through in the presentation. I had to watch twice to get all the information.

[@BrentHull]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Ang.0910]

Love your videos Brent! If I ever have enough money I’m hiring u!!

[@BrentHull]

Thanks so much.

[@willbass2869]

Just throwing a corbel up to make it look fancy..... AKA "cat house" decorating. And for bonus points we have the word of the day......"gloppy" Great episode Brent.

[@BrentHull]

Gloppy . I love it.

[@Lou.B]

Very interesting! Thank You!

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for watching.

[@damonroberts7372]

If I saw those carved corbels framing a doorway, I'd be thinking, "...why do they have a mantelpiece over their door?!"

[@BrentHull]

Ha, good point.

[@splashpit]

Because that’s where you throw the match

[@jimhasselle4386]

As a side note to those who are designing; the "S-curved" pulvinated frieze helps if you have a narrow area (I find this especially in Libraries of new homes, where a fireplace may be centered in between two windows ) as it reduces the total projection of the cornice (in its frontal elevation) from what would be present using that other type of pulvinated frieze, also referred to as a "cushion" frieze.

[@BrentHull]

Yes. good point. Thx.

[@tye-gehring]

I'm a web developer by trade, but I am pretty handy and refuse to hire out for pretty much anything unless it's beyond what I can handle. I have always been fascinated by trim working, stair casings, and lighting. Great channel and I love the videos. The next time we do a remodel, my wife may kill me, but I have a new channel to refer to.

[@BrentHull]

Nice, welcome aboard.

[@jeffkellytucker8966]

I love your channel, I’ve always been and architecture geek at heart, though ended up in engineering. I am planning to build my final “retirement home” as a stone farmhouse, and my biggest goal is to make it appear old. I wish your channel was around when I was 40 years younger, ha ha. I do have one question. Isn’t that a carved corbel on the natural wood piece behind your easel?

[@BrentHull]

Good point. I should have pointed that out. I will clarify soon. Thx.

[@cr-iv1el]

Thank you!

[@BrentHull]

Welcome!

[@flybyav8tor]

Why do people feel they have to use what’s in the catalog? Kuiken only ships finger joint and we wanted solid poplar so I printed off the historically accurate profiles for my 1850 GR farmhouse. Picked out some 5/4 poplar at the local lumber yard, paid $500 to have some knives made, and a $200 set up fee and bam period correct solid wood moldings.

[@BrentHull]

Thx.

[@ivonekowalczyk5823]

Car wreck molding...haha...Go Brent Go!

[@BrentHull]

Thx! 😀

[@NavyBlue41]

So right. It was nearly impossible to find the right mouldings in DFW. We had to ship them in from East Coast. Our tradesmen were shocked at how good everything looked.

[@BrentHull]

Good to know. Thanks.

[@moneymakingmikeg.9555]

Yoooooo Brent!!! Keep these gems coming Bud. And... I'm honored you're giving Richard another chance after scoring him an F- on his mantle. He deserves another chance just on handsomeness alone LOL!!! Hope this makes you chuckle. Blessings Bud, Dirty Jersey out!!

[@BrentHull]

Haha, I love it. Thanks for watching.

[@BuildinIt]

Thanks Brent! Love your videos. I’m working on getting y GC license and hope to build beautiful things as you are one day.

[@BrentHull]

Good luck, a long obedience is the goal.

[@AnthonyAnthony-tk4ye]

Lol at first I thought you said “pre-carved deplorables”….. I was like “they’re not that bad…..🤔😂

[@BrentHull]

Haha. Funny.

[@georgegitau6740]

Can you do a video on how to make a pulvinated frieze from a piece of lumber?

[@BrentHull]

Yes, good idea. Thx,

[@georgegitau6740]

@@BrentHull Great👌👌

[@Darrida]

Concept of S-curve allegedly was invented in Greek Order by Praxiteles , 4th century BC. It is knowledge proved by thousands years.

[@horacerumpole6912]

Cyma Recta & Cyma Reversa-

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for sharing.

[@victoriathorlacius874]

Praying that I come into enough money to have you build a traditional house for me.

[@BrentHull]

That would be great. Thx.

[@brainwashingdetergent4322]

I’ve just discovered your channel, and I’m wondering if you have any input on the standard middle class mid fifties ranch style house. My house has 1” wide wood flooring throughout, all the trim is period, solid wood and the casings match between doors and windows. The windows are all Anderson windows from the 50’s. It’s nothing like what you show, but it’s simple and well made. How does one put a bit of flourish on a mid century home, without contradicting too much the mid century aesthetic. Thank you!

[@BrentHull]

Nice, it sounds like you have a gem of a house. I would study midcentury design and use color and furniture to complete the look. I wouldn't change moldings. Good luck.

[@brainwashingdetergent4322]

@@BrentHull thanks!

[@andrewkennedy9704]

I assume Richard is using windsor one? Plus I wish it was available here in canada. I want to use it to trim my house when I get to that.

[@TristanB499]

Kiuken might ship to Canada ask them

[@BrentHull]

Thanks! Yes he is.

[@snafunet]

I get why you're saying people should not use carved corbels because they don't fit the architecture of the house and are carelessly tacked on as a way to add flare. But if you know where and when to use them correctly and you size them properly, I see no harm in it. For people who don't know, the correct place to place them is right under the bed mould on a pilaster on each side adjacent to the architrave. The width of the pilaster will be the same as the top of the corbel.

[@BrentHull]

Your right, but it is rarely practiced with those guidelines.

[@user-kq2co9zf5k]

Hi Brent, love that pulvinated freize. Gorgeous. Do you know any suppliers for those (I’m assuming it’s a custom order)?

[@snafunet]

I already went through this and nobody really makes a moulding that matches that frieze exactly that's not custom. On the other hand, saroyan hardwoods carries a door casing (in stock) where if you cut off the top which looks kind of like an astragal with a table saw, you can make the lower portion into a pulvinated frieze (s-shape).

[@BrentHull]

I don't know anyone that stocks them. Sorry.

[@user-kq2co9zf5k]

Thanks! Will check it out.

[@BradVaughn]

Hey Brent. Can you share with viewers where you can find appropriate mouldings without having to find a carpenter who can custom build the components?

[@BrentHull]

Kuiken Bros Classical molding line. I put that line together for them.

[@a97chrjo]

Shoe molding, carved brackets and chair rail at 36 inches. Got it😂

[@BrentHull]

Haha. Thx.

[@GimpGladly]

I can't say that classical design is very appealing to me personally. Perhaps like others have said, it's because I've just seen too much done poorly and wrong. On the occasion I see it done well I can certainly appreciate it, and the challenge involved in the build, but it's still a somewhat on the busy side to my personal taste. What I enjoy about these lessons though is the logic to it; the ideas of proportions and readability. With the projects I've built (nowhere near the refined level of what you or Richard do) I try to take some of these ideas and apply them with simpler geometries and profiles; primarily square faces with eased edges and the ocasional bevel or bead. Ive come to realize that my primary dislike is the ogee, and along with it, pretty much all the standard trim profiles available from the usual suspects. I'm not sure if I've stumbled upon a "classical modern" look or if there is another term for a "simplified classical," as I might try to call it, that primarily plays with the shadow lines and reveals. I would be interested to know if there is an established style along these lines and what some of the thought involved is in it. I find myself applying some of these ideas to much less refined projects and "rustic" materials such as decks and knotty pine repectively and have to wonder if there is any developed disipline in these realms at all. After all, some of the most ridiculous things I see are not just in the McMansions but also these modern log homes, like 15'+ stacked riverstone 12" columns that make no sense.

[@BrentHull]

You are asking the right questions and on the right track. Keep it up. Good design is learned and refined by experience and good taste. Thx.

[@georgedoolittle7574]

Biggest plus i have seen for those who want custom work is to fail at doing anything the first time around then suddenly have that 5 plus year old design given a complete re look when now can actually swing that new build. Invariably everything was way too busy the first time around with way too much use of material so yes always good to work with a client go through the entire process but my view is after everything complete in the design work do nothing for 5 years then revisit. 9 times out of ten all that is needed is a colorful door and presentable entry way in the meantime😊😊

[@BrentHull]

Interesting idea. Thx.

[@michaelbeck7799]

Amen.

[@BrentHull]

Thx

[@anthony01571]

OUTSTANDING : o .....

[@BrentHull]

Thank you.

[@theotherserge]

As a carpenter I’ve mostly have worked on modernist or arts & crafts houses/buildings but there’s the occasional Tuscan nightmare and I wonder where on this green earth these architects got their degrees. At this point in my career, factory carved corbels on kitchen islands or fireplaces almost give me the hives!

[@BrentHull]

Haha, me too. Thx.

[@conwaytomlinson277]

Could you talk about rococo moldings sometime?

[@BrentHull]

Wow, ok, don't get too many calls for that. Yes, coming soon.

[@conwaytomlinson277]

@@BrentHull Thank you! You obviously have your specialty, and yet I'd really like to see what a Classical expert has to say about a style that was all about artistic excess.

[@Daihatsu_Hijet]

😮Oh…your house is soooo fancy! 🤭you like my “corbels”…

[@BrentHull]

Hahahaha

[@flybyav8tor]

Why do people feel they have to use what’s in the catalog? Kuiken only ships finger joint and we wanted solid poplar so I printed off the historically accurate profiles for my 1850 GR farmhouse. Picked out some 5/4 poplar at the local lumber yard, paid $500 to have some knives made, and a $200 set up fee and bam period correct solid wood moldings. Also, I followed Richard before he knew you and you have changed his life in a dramatic way. If you did nothing else empowering Richard with the knowledge to keep playing the game would be enough. Highly recommend infinite game by Simon Sinek.

[@snafunet]

$700 before you even get any moulding. Ouch. I don't have any problems with Kuiken mouldings even if they're finger joint. Everything I do is paint-grade anyway so you're never going to see it. And historically speaking, if you're opting for a Georgian or Federal look, it was all paint grade moulding. Also, thanks again Brent for designing the Kuiken mouldings! I plan to use them more for my projects.

[@BrentHull]

Noted, thanks for sharing. Good work on the solid wood.

[@ElizabethE1267]

He’s talking about the fundamentals of proportion historically known as the Golden Mean. American builders in general have no glue how to design homes that are correct proportions. Bigger is not better. More complex is not better. Classic is always the right choice.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for sharing.

[@seanpopecoffey1340]

❤

[@BrentHull]

Thx.

[@Makoonga]

One man's opinion.

[@BrentHull]

Yep.

[@ccwnyc5671]

Glad you're using Richard again. Just don't give him too much artistic license. 😉

[@BrentHull]

Haha. Richard's great. Thx.

[@nickpapa1721]

Gooopy! Learnt a new word to tell my wife - who's got bad taste.

[@BrentHull]

Haha, please keep me out of that. Thx.

[@lazygardens]

The fad is for HUGE crown moldings in 1 piece because building them up in the traditional manner is too hard.

[@BrentHull]

Yep, takes too long to do it right. Sadly.

[@stephen7938]

If only this work was still common place even in more contemporary homes we wouldn't have such crap that we have in mass today.

[@BrentHull]

Agreed. Thx.

[@BoBandits]

That catalogue is really depressing. My lumber yard has a thick magazine of casing, shoe, shingle, rail and more.

[@BrentHull]

Ok. good.

[@ivonekowalczyk5823]

Let's just call it like it is. LOTS of people in the building business do not know what they are doing, and are not talented.

[@pamelah6431]

Applies to nearly all professions. :(

[@BrentHull]

Well...not sure i completely agree but I think I know what you are saying.

[@victorseastrom3455]

You just need to get out your copy of "Building with Assurance." Smile.

[@BrentHull]

Yes! Thx.

[@NorthernChev]

That "sweep" over the door is way over the top. It makes the interior doorway look like you're trying to emulate an exterior porch. And there's nothing else proportion-wise anywhere near it to justify it's height. There has to be a better way to "tie into" the window than this behemoth.

[@BrentHull]

Just one idea. You can also enlarged the frieze. Good options.

[@MAGAMAN]

It looks better with the block than that chinese roof looking thing you drew.

[@BrentHull]

Good to know. Thx.

[@HerbaceousM8]

9:56 a guitar solo that tries to jam as many notes in instead of understanding that there is far more than just note density

[@BrentHull]

Great analogy. Thx.

[@christopherpardell4418]

For a one off like this I would just SCREED it in situ in plaster.

[@BrentHull]

ok

[@charlesmoser7720]

Where are these classical rules written down? ONE BOOK could do it.

[@russdee333]

Check out the book Get Your House Right G

[@BrentHull]

I wish. Thx.

[@carlost9454]

Please, please don’t say it as if corbels should not exist, they are beautiful in the right place. Don’t throw them away.

[@BrentHull]

Corbels have a place, just not those. Thx.

[@martinp1544]

I like the more opinionated Brent Hull…. No really tell us how you feel on……

[@BrentHull]

Haha. Yep, sometimes it just comes out.