Which side towards the ceiling?

[Buer]

I'm going to install ceiling moldings and my partner has chosen moldings with an antique look. Which side do you usually/would you put against the ceiling? Side 1 or side 2?

 

[Enk Projektet]

Yes, it was tricky... I should have placed the 1 against the ceiling

 

[nimhed]

Number one against the ceiling.

 

[mattiasp]

I had the same thoughts a few years ago when I was trying to restore our century-old house that had been poorly renovated. I was a bit lucky when I found a mounted part of an original molding from 1906 in a closet/storage. That molding was installed with the 2 up. By the way, the profile in 2 is called a swan neck. Since then, I've remembered the rule "neck up."

The carpenters who (relatively recently) renovated my parents' house, built in 1884, placed 1 towards the ceiling. I don't think either option looks better than the other. Decide for yourself?

 

[Blindnit]

Should be the second one upwards as you see more of the profile on the first one towards the wall or how I should express it. The first one should disappear more if it's on the ceiling and lose a bit of its purpose then.

 

[Mikael_L]

My first thought was 1 against the ceiling. But then I became very unsure about how they originally intended this trim. I wonder if you would get more and better answers if the thread was moved to building preservation? There is probably someone there who has an uncanny knowledge of all the antique trims that have ever existed. You can PM a moderator if you want the thread moved. Otherwise, as has already been said, you can technically choose whichever side you want, whatever you think looks best.

 

[Buer]

Yep... it seems to be split 50-50 both here on the forum and among those I've talked to. My partner and I are leaning towards placing side 2 against the ceiling. I'll get back with pictures of the finished result when I have time to put them up ...