Cabinetmaking

A Guide to Architectural Millwork If You’re Considering Cabinet Making School

December 12, 2019

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Architectural millwork adds to the aesthetics of a building and is often a major part of what people notice and remember about a structure.  Produced in a mill, millwork is manufactured to create decorative elements both for the interior and exterior of a building. Millwork can refer to doors, crown molding, baseboards, mantels, window casings and more.

Cabinet making is a skill that can lead to work in this field, as both require a technical and creative understanding of woodwork. Millwork also requires a good understanding of many elements, since building directly into a structure means interacting with other parts of it. Read on for some more things you should know about architectural millwork before graduating!

Millwork After Cabinet Making School Requires Diverse Knowledge

Millwork involves building decorative wooden elements directly into a building. Things like plumbing and lighting are affected by this, as these elements can interact with one another. Having a good basic knowledge of other trades is helpful and it is essential to know where elements are located in a structure to avoid problems or interference.

Since millwork is usually custom made, every job will be unique. The more diverse and extensive your knowledge is, the more you will be able to adapt to different rooms or environments when doing millwork. The projects you encounter will have to adapt to various layouts, dimensions and requirements. Cabinet making school is a great place to start understanding different types of projects and how to keep track of measurements and designs.

Architectural Millwork on Exteriors After Cabinet Making School

Architectural millwork refers to millwork made to fit in with the (often exterior) decor of a building. This could be elements such as trim and more elaborate details on the outside of a structure, like accents and moldings. Usually, exterior architectural millwork is done before millwork on the inside of a building. Architectural millwork can be done in a variety of styles and can be highly individualized.

Millwork on exteriors creates custom style elements for homes
Millwork on exteriors creates custom style elements for homes

An example of variation in exterior moldings is classical or ancient moldings versus gothic and medieval. The former have Grecian/Roman influence, while medieval and gothic styles draw from flora and fauna for inspiration.

Why Cabinet Making Matters for Architecture

A major difference between millwork and mass-produced pieces is the element of customization. When mass-produced pieces are used in spaces, they cannot be adapted to specific layouts or dimensions. This interferes with the overall look and style, which is important for architectural value. With customized pieces, woodwork can be designed and created to fit with the space, instead of finding a way to make the space work with the piece. Cabinet making training may lead you to working in the field of architectural millwork, which allows more opportunity for beauty and cohesive design.

A very important part of cabinetmaking is choosing materials. In custom projects, materials can make the difference when trying to achieve a look. Not only lumber, but also hardware for cabinets will affect the way that they are received. Architectural millwork can be a fulfilling path if you are interested in combining creativity with technical knowledge to improve spaces and environments.

Millwork can add to the look of a room
Millwork can add to the look of a room

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