Reader Project: Magnificent Moldings Added to Living Room

Several years ago, Lou Minna and his wife bought a new house—nice enough, but “kind of plain and cold.” Ever since then, Lou has been adding character, one room at a time. This living room is the grand finale: Brazilian cherry floors with maple  inlay, half-walls with composite columns and a majestic 14-ft.-tall fireplace mantel. It’s all topped off with stunning “built-up” crown molding, made from a six-layer combination of MDF, polymer and pine moldings. With such a high ceiling, Lou needed scaffolding to install the crown.

“Hundreds and hundreds of miter cuts—I’m glad I did it, but I don’t think I would do it again.” — Lou Minna