Last month, I classified window
casings into three types: traditional
flat stock, plaster returns, and
window-box (edge-on) casings.
Door casings can also be classified
this way, but the second two
options are not often used. The
interesting cases are variations on
traditional casings. Visually and
practically, I can see four
approaches to "normal" door
casings:
(1) The traditional method,
which has milled or flat casings
that miter at the head corners, with
the baseboard butting into the
casing.
(2) Milled casings that miter at
the head and also at the baseboard,
forming continuous running trim.
(3) Casings with blocks at the
corners.
(4) Casings with extended head
pieces forming a lintel or cornice,
with or without blocks at the base.
The Traditional Casing
You might think