How To Make a Recessed Wainscoting Wall From Scratch

4 Materials
$85.13
2 Days
Easy
I’m excited to say we’ve finished the recessed wainscoting wall. The last part of this project I shared was the DIY Transom Window Entryway Before and After. We started this last project for the wall in much the same way as when we built the entryway. There are certainly many ways to make a wainscoting wall. A lot of techniques are complicated and can get expensive. The wall we built is simple and inexpensive.
Before, before there was actually nothing there. Here the before is about before we painted the walls and entryway and added wainscoting to the opposite wall. Ignore that poor door that is going to be refurbished next with a decorative glass insert and painted white.
Humor me since I know it may be hard to see the pencil drawings on the wall and plywood below.


Here's a list of how we did the wainscoting project:


First we drew the recessed wainscoting pattern on the wall with a pencil using precise measurements being square and level and to get an idea of how it would look.


Next we used the wall measurements to draw the wainscot pattern on the birch plywood for exact cuts.


Cut four exact rectangular openings in the 1/2 inch birch plywood to create the recessed appearance.


Cut moulding pieces. We used base cap pieces and made miter cuts to fit inside the rectangular openings.


Installed the 1/2 inch plywood using glue and nails.


Glued and nailed all miter cut moulding pieces.


Added chair rail


Primed and painted using painter's caulk on all the seams.
We used a 1/2 inch 4.8 sheet of birch plywood.
After making the cuts we laid it out on the driveway and placed our miter cut moulding pieces to make sure they fit.
Nailed and glued the recessed panel to the wall.
Painted it white to match the entryway on the opposite wall.
We are really happy how it turned out and so glad to be done with this part of the project. In case you like the wall color too, it is by Benjamin Moore and called Palladian Blue.


NEXT is the door.


I'd love for you to head over to my blog Housekaboodle for more details and 3 HOW-TO youtube vidoes. http://www.housekaboodle.com/recessed-wainscoting-wall/


MATERIAL USED - Bought at Menards:


One 1/2 inch 4x8 sheet Birch Plywood $39.95


Four 8 foot lengths 11/16 in. x 1-3/8 in. Pine Base Cap $7.92 each


One 8 foot lenght Base Shoe 3/4 in. x 1-1/4 in. for chair rail $4.84


Painters Caulk $2.19


One Tube Elmers Glue $6.47


Total: $85.13


Plus Paint and Nails that we already had.


TOOLS USED FOR THE PROJECT:


Skill Saw


Jig saw


Electric Drill and 3/4 inch wood drill bit


16 gauge Nailer
Sue @ Housekaboodle
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Jo Ellen Gambill Barnett Jo Ellen Gambill Barnett on Feb 24, 2018

    Beautiful job. What make and color is the green above the white ?


  • Bob Davidson Bob Davidson on Feb 24, 2018

    Hello, beautiful concept and execution. I’d like to try this myself! One question: If you were doing an expanse longer than 8 feet, how would you hide the “seam” where the two sparate panels meet? Thank you!


    • Bob Davidson
    • St. Louis, Mo.

  • Bob Davidson Bob Davidson on Feb 24, 2018

    Hello, beautiful concept and execution. I’d like to try this myself! One question: If you were doing an expanse longer than 8 feet, how would you hide the “seam” where the two sparate panels meet? Thank you!


    • Bob Davidson
    • St. Louis, Mo.

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