Cornice Advice
I have a wood frame house that does not currently have a cornice. I am working on the facade, and plan to add a cornice as well. The house has bay windows that go almost to the top of the house. My architect renderings show the cornice straight across the top with the bay sitting…
I have a wood frame house that does not currently have a cornice. I am working on the facade, and plan to add a cornice as well.
The house has bay windows that go almost to the top of the house. My architect renderings show the cornice straight across the top with the bay sitting just below it.
There is a house on my block with a bay that similarly goes to the top and the cornice wraps around it. However, I do like how it looks in the rendering I have.
My question is, is there a “right” way for the cornice to work with the bay window? Should it wrap around, or can it go straight across with the bay sitting below it? I understand that technically it can be done either way, looking for advice on what would look better.
Thank you!
I’m a little surprised at the lack of equivocation in Minard’s response.
I do think there is a question, and Bond points out it depends on several issues, including the distance between the top of the bay window and the cornice (perhaps a separate articulation of the top of the bay window is appropriate in this case)and the context (are there similar buildings in the area).
It may well be that a wrapped cornice is appropriate (especially, as Bond point out, if the distance between the cornice and top of bay will be a thin strip of ‘no-man’s land.’)
Its difficult to answer these questions without seeing the actual building, unfortunately….
No question the cornice should wrap around the bay window.
Do it, and you will thank me when it is done.
As you point out, it’s a matter of aesthetics, so whatever you like better is the correct decision, but I’m curious, how close to the top of the house is the bay window? I think too small of a gap will look strange. What is on top of the bay window to keep water out? If it’s flat, or a very slight slope that would affect my decision as well. Is there any possibility of posting pictures? It’s kind of hard to make a definitive statement without seeing it.
That being said, if the window is too close to the roof line, or flat on top, I like the idea of wrapping the bay window, it seems like it would pull everything together. The problem is it’s going to take someone who really knows what they are doing to wrap the cornice around the bay window and make it look good. You’re going to have issues with corbel spacing, especially on the corners. If you end up with a sloppy job, that sort of negates the whole purpose. If I were paying someone to do it, I might go with the straight run just to make sure that it looks okay, even though that wouldn’t be my first choice.
Not much help I know, but my two cents.