The United Kingdom has a long history of using large decorative timber mouldings in the way of skirting boards and architrave to add a degree of class to a room. Some of the most beautiful skirting boards can be found in the luxurious Victorian era homes in London.
There are few factors which distinguish a traditional London skirting board from the newer examples, as well as examples in other countries around the world.
Timber:
Old English Oak’s were the timber of choice for pretty much all properties dating back to the 20th century and earlier. Pine was not as commonly available and was known to be soft and cheap.
For those wanting to show off their wealth Walnut was often used. This dark timber has a beautiful grain and gives an immediate sense of quality. The allure of Walnut skirting was such that even the well to do who could afford Oak skirting would stain their boards to achieve a darker colour which might be understood to be a more expensive material.
Finishes:
A simple skirting board was often finished with white paint. In a more ornate room which also included panelling and dado rails the timber was more likely to be stained or lacquered to retain the natural wood look.
Profiles:
The shape of the skirting boards historically used in London is very important. Most expensive properties had very expressive profiles which took up a large portion of the height of the board. These profiles often matched the Dado Rails and worked hand in hand with the panelling.
Height:
The height of the skirting board makes a big difference to it’s stature within a room, and the skirting board in London’s 20th century were tall. A 250mm skirting board was not uncommon.
Thickness:
These days skirting boards are 18mm thick as standard. London’s skirting boards wouldn’t be seen to be thinner than 25mm and some run as thick as 50mm.
The practical purpose of a skirting board is to cover the gap between a wall and the floor, often known as the expansion gap. The design purpose of a skirting board is to frame the room and convey a sense of wealth through design.
Different regions in London have come to be known for certain skirting board profiles. Essex for example, hosts a reasonably strong profile which features multiple radiuses. The Kensington skirting board profiles is less obtuse, the profile having less depth than an Essex profile.
Other profiles have been common in Buckinghamshire, and southern counties in England also have their own particular designs.
If you are renovating a historical London property or if you are simply looking to replicate the traditional London design in a new property the skirting boards will play a large part.
In tall rooms, with ceiling heights over 3m, a taller board in the 250mm range and with a thickness of at least 25mm will look fantastic. In modern times people prefer not to encroach into the room too much with a thicker board, and a 25mm thick board will give plenty of presence
In rooms with lower ceilings, around 2.5m high, a board under 200mm will look better. With shorter boards you can also afford to go with a thinner board in say, 18mm.