Architectural trim — crown molding, wainscoting, chair rail, baseboard, and picture frame molding — is one of the fastest ways to transform a plain apartment into something that looks thoughtfully designed. In New York City's pre-war buildings, restoring or enhancing original trim is an investment in authenticity. In newer buildings that lack any architectural character, adding trim is an investment in creating it.
Crown Molding in NYC Apartments
What It Does
Crown molding at the junction of wall and ceiling draws the eye upward, makes ceilings feel higher, and gives rooms a sense of finished quality that flatly painted drywall can never achieve. In pre-war apartments with 10-foot ceilings and original plaster crown, matching and restoring damaged sections is a priority restoration. In post-war apartments, adding crown creates architectural interest from scratch.
Profile Options
Crown molding profiles range from simple cove to elaborate multi-member built-up assemblies with bed mold, fascia, and crown. Simple profiles (3-4 inch flat or cove): $12 to $18 per linear foot installed. Medium profiles (4-6 inch classic): $16 to $24 per linear foot. Complex built-up profiles: $28 to $45 per linear foot. For an average 12 x 15 living room (54 linear feet of perimeter), simple crown runs $650 to $970; complex crown runs $1,500 to $2,430.
Wainscoting Options
Board and Batten
Vertical boards with thin strips (battens) covering the seams, running from baseboard to approximately 36 to 48 inches high. Clean, contemporary, works beautifully in farmhouse, transitional, and modern traditional spaces. Cost: $18 to $28 per linear foot installed.
Raised Panel Wainscoting
Traditional raised or flat panel wainscoting below chair rail. More formal and appropriate for pre-war apartments with original architectural detail. Cost: $22 to $36 per linear foot installed.
Shiplap
Horizontal planks with small reveals between each board. Casual, clean, and popular in transitional and contemporary spaces. Works beautifully as an accent wall treatment in bedrooms. Cost: $16 to $24 per linear foot installed.
Picture Frame Molding
Rectangular frames of flat molding applied to the wall surface in a grid pattern — most commonly above wainscoting in a dining room or throughout a foyer. Purely decorative, adds enormous architectural richness for relatively modest cost. A full dining room in picture frame molding typically runs $1,200 to $2,400.
Co-op and Building Considerations
Trim installation is a standard interior alteration that doesn't typically require co-op board approval beyond standard notification. It's non-structural and doesn't affect building systems. We provide before/after documentation for your building files on every trim project.