Roof Trim

Depending on the style of the roof, there can be a soffit, there can be brackets, and their can be a fascia that is either plain or ornamented.

The soffit closes off the area under the eave. The overhand of the roof is the eave. Along the edge of the roof there may be an eavestrough to carry water away from the edge of the roof and to a vertical pipe that will redirect the rain water.

Coffered Soffits

This is a Regency Cottage with coffered soffits and lamb's tongue brackets. The trim in the coffers in the soffits matches the trim on the dado panels under the windows inside.

The Regecny period is the tail end of the Georgian. Overall the style is elegant and uncluttered. The brackets are relatively understated.

Paired Cornice Brackets

Cornice brackets are found in Victorian architecture, particularly the Italianate and Italian Villa. Cornice brackets are often paired for extra effect.

A cornice bracket differs from a modillion in that it is generally longer in height than in depth. As well, it doesn't have the detailing of the modillion with the acanthus leaves, honey suckle and volutes.

Lamb's Tongue Langdon Hall

Lamb's tongue brackets can be found on Georgian and Regency as well as Colonial Revival and Queen Anne Revival. Compared to the intricate design of the capitals, this is a simpler soffit from Langdon Hall.

In some cases the lamb's tongue is almost the same size as the much more ornate modillion.

Modillions

This is an library in Galt done in Edwardian Classicism. The entablature is similar to that of the Corinthian Order. Along the bottom of the roof there are modillions. These are similar to acanthus leaf consoles rotated 90 degrees. A modillion is always longer horizontally than vertically.

Modillions

Part of the Corinthian Order, the modillion is made up of a variety of classical elements. The acanthus is used extensively in Corinthian. The volutes are known in Ionic capitals as are rosettes. Honeysuckle is also a popular decoration.

Modillion Toronto

Modillions are certainly a classical motif. Here they are used as a band underneath a guilloche pattern on a commercial building in Toronto.

Brackets

Modillions were probably used for continuous support along a soffit or cornice. Brackets are used to offer much more substantial support.

This bracket in Langdon Hall holds up the balcony above the front door.

Roof Brackets

Galt train station has roof brackets that help support the overhand in the eave. They are decorative and well maintained.

There is no soffit on this roof, and the supporting rafters are visible.

Cornice Brackets

Cornice brackets are found on residential buildings as well as commercial buildings like this one in Cobourg. The main streets of late 19th century towns were often filled with dichromatic brick and many decorative moldings along the roofline.

Cornice Brackets

This cornice is found at the edge of a Mansard roof on a Second epire building in Belleville. The brackets are painted to match the slate on the roof.

These brackets were probably painted with milk paint around 1890. Milk paint never peels or cracks, so there has never been any need to repaint it.

Paired Cornice Brackets

Cornice brackets are found in Victorian architecture, particularly the Italianate and Italian Villa. Cornice brackets are often paired for extra effect.

A cornice bracket differs from a modillion in that it is generally longer in height than in depth. As well, it doesn't have the detailing of the modillion with the acanthus leaves, honey suckle and volutes.

Cornice Brackets

Although still Victorian, this set of paired cornice brackets has a very contemporary feel, they are smooth and elegant, serving their intended functional purpose, but provide a lovely decorative accent.

Lozenges and Scalloping

This is a detail from a Georgian house in Grimsby. The fascia is not along the roof ridge but against the wall itself where it meets the roof. The detailing on it is a frieze of scalloping with a row of lozenges underneath. You would find the same type of detailing on ships and ferries of the same period.

Fascia

Along the edges of roofs or ledges on large buildings you can often find bands of trim. These often consist of a mixture of elements. In this case we have a guilloche pattern filled with rosettes, under a band of palm leaves, which is surmounted by egg and dart and then acanthus leaves, all in the classical tradition.

Scalloping

This is a Gothic Revival Cottage in Simcoe that has a scallop pattern along the roof edge. It is taken from the machicolations of the middle ages.

Fascia

Along the edges of roofs or ledges on large buildings you can often find bands of trim. These often consist of a mixture of elements. In this case we have a guilloche pattern filled with rosettes, under a band of palm leaves, which is surmounted by egg and dart and then acanthus leaves, all in the classical tradition.

Acroterion

On the same library in Galt shown above are three magnificent acroterions. This ornament can be found in ancient greece onthe Acropolis as well as other buildings. These are in the palmette style. There are similar details above the front door.

An acroterion can be this palmette or it can be a griffon, an urn or some other classical object. Acroterions are at the apex and both sides of the pediment.

Hamilton

This is a new cove molding painted on the left (by Arthur Bulter) and plain on the right. It is a late Renaissance pattern.

Cove 'cobra' pattern

This is called the cobra pattern because of the curved top.

Moldings like these can be found in Ontario at

Contemporary Mouldings,
Palladio Mouldings,
Petra Mouldings,
Prive Mouldings,

Arthur Butler can paint them for you.

http://www.apbpainting.net/

photo3_2.html

Late Renaissance/Baroque molding

This is the kind of sumptuous cove molding that Jacque Garcia would use. This is the first step in making your room a jewel.

Hamilton

This is a black and gold pattern that has a Elizabethan pattern with vines and leaves.

Centerpiece

This type of centerpiece is found in 19th century Ontario architecture, generally in the Victorian era. Italianate, Italian Villa, Second Empire, Queen Anne and Victorian Gable and Bay would all have had centerpieces.

Cove with Modillions, Egg and Dart, and Acanthus

Cove with Scalloping

Here is some cove molding from an Italianate house that has a scallop pattern. This is not surprising in that there is scalloping along the edges of many of the palazzo roofs in Florence.

Flavell House Toronto

This

Chair Rail Demorestville

This chair rail is from a Colonial style house in Prince Edward County.

Edwardian Mantel - Toronto

This house is gorgeous any time of year but really spectacular in autumn.

A five bay Georgian with traditional shutters and door, the windows were replaced later in the 19th century.

French Door - Toronto

French doors were carried over in elegant houses from the Renaissance through the Baroque, into the Regency period and up to the Edwardian.

Frescoe - Toronto

The Edwardian era had Art Deco influences mixed with Arts and Crafts.

Wood Panel - Toronto

The sitting room is paneled throughout. The ceiling has Arts and Crafts frescoes. The mantel is probably the best Edwardian mantel in the country.

Brisley House

Demorestville

This is one of a very few fully intact Colonial Houses left in Ontario. It was taken apart in Cobourg and put back together - brilliantly - in Demorestville Prince Edward County.

Brisley House

Demorestville

Here is the inside view of one of the sash windows with all the dado panels, and all the glass original.

Brisley House

Demorestville

here is the exterior view of the same thing.

Greek Key

This is a Greek design found in mosaic floors and moldings since the fifth century BC. It is often found in Classical Revival and Art Deco designs.

Hamilton

This is molding for around a door or to define an interior space. It is palm leaves and seeds.

Toronto

This is an early twentieth century Arts and Crafts wooden panel with special molding for the light switch.

Hamilton

Notice how this cornice along the top of the doors extends across the whole landing. Brilliant.

Hamilton Window Surround

Simple window with frame in the Arts and Crafts style.

Belleville

This is only one of the fabulous doors destroyed in a fire. It had a Baroque Revivaldoor surround with a festooned keystone and a broken pediment.

Consoles adorned the sides of the lugged door casing.

This is what we are losing.