Cove molding is the wonderful curvy stuff that can dress up any room with a decent 9-foot ceiling. Its close cousin -- crown molding -- is the flatter version of this classic ceiling treatment.

Intricate crown molding and baseboards—you know, the kind with scrollwork and dentils and multiple layers—are all well and good in a restored historic apartment in some romantic European city.

The molding enhances the architectural charm of the space and highlights the transition between the living area and the staircase. Painted in a creamy white, it complements the mushroom-hued walls ...

Hint: The right crown molding helps. Because this room is so large, the ceiling appears lower. By Chris Chu - Globe Correspondent July 20, 2017 2 minutes to read ...