4th September 2022 Introduction to Hallway Arch Mouldings The debate between square sets or curved architraves for hallways rages on in design circles and with renovators. Hallway arches are used in everything from Victorian, Georgian, Federation, Art Nouveau, Coastal and Mediterranean homes to add style and grandeur to a hallway. Some people felt the square set is more timeless, but we challenge that when we look to the popularity of classic architectural designs that never go out of fashion. When Is a Hallway Arch Moulding Usually Used & Why? Curves are hot right now. They are being used on everything from arch hallways to bathroom mirrors, curved furniture, and architectural design treatments and finishes throughout the home. Architrave arches are purely aesthetic; they serve no load-bearing function to the wall and are not a structural element. Like all timber mouldings, they are a decorative design feature to create uniformity and tie together a style throughout the home. What to Take Into Account When Choosing Your Arch Moulding The design of moulding to use should be consistent with the architectural style and decorative approach you are taking in the rest of the home. A profile shape that complements your existing skirting boards and architraves can be used for your arch. Unlike a straight moulding used for a square set, an arch moulding is created from a custom template to ensure it is an exact fit. We do not bend the timber; the timber is moulded on precision machinery to your exact shape. What Period Aesthetic Would You Like to Create? Hallway arches appear across a wide range of Australian architectural styles, and the right archway moulding profile should reflect the design language of your home. Hamptons hallways typically feature clean semi-circular arches with simple Colonial profiles – unfussy, elegant and consistent with the coastal-classic aesthetic. French Provincial homes favour more ornate profiles with stronger shadow lines that echo a European tradition of grand entrances. Modern Contemporary interiors often use minimal arch profiles with crisp, clean reveals. Georgian design draws on classical Roman and Greek influences, with columns or plinths supporting the arch base and adding a sense of formal symmetry to the opening. Country Farmhouse style leans into warmth and texture – arches here tend to be simple and robust, sitting naturally alongside exposed timber and rustic finishes. Where and How Are Mouldings for Archways Installed? The archway moulding is made to measure. The arch size and curve radius will determine how many pieces it will be made and supplied in. The process may seem daunting, but it is pretty simple if you follow our ‘how to install a curved architrave’ guide. You can also see how arch architrave mouldings were applied to a window arch in the video below. Archway Moulding Design Ideas The Continuous Arch Select your architrave and keep the profile shape flowing seamlessly with no discernible joins. You can achieve this look with a number of different Colonial architrave designs. A Traditional Arch With a Supporting Column or Plinth This Georgian style dates back to the Roman and Greek influence on modern-day architectural designs we see in many of our current-day Australian homes. The decorative columns may match the architraves or be a unique profile. The crown on top of the column marks the start of the arch where the arch mouldings begin. Mediterranean Farmhouse Hallway Arches Arches are a huge architectural feature of this stunning Mediterranean-inspired home in the hinterlands of Northern NSW. Arch architraves are a feature on the arch windows and doorways, while hallway arches and circle windows were plaster set. The decorative painting is a nod to the design influence. The Naked Arch So it’s not really called this, but as it doesn’t have an architrave moulding to finish it off, we call it naked. This modern minimalistic look provides a clean, no-fuss finish. You can always add decorative timber architrave archway mouldings later if you wish or leave it as is. Either way, it still provides a soft, inviting entrance to the next room.
