Home · Journal · Historic Nashville Trim

Window Trim Styles for Historic Nashville Neighborhoods

Nashville Window Trim Pros · Exterior Trim Guides

One of the joys of working on older Nashville homes is the variety of window trim profiles that come with each neighborhood. One of the frustrations is that when those profiles fail, the obvious off-the-shelf replacements rarely look right. Here's a tour of the trim details that fit some of Nashville's most distinctive historic styles — and what to think about when repairing or replacing them.

East Nashville bungalows (1910s–1930s)

The classic East Nashville Craftsman bungalow has wide, flat casings, a chunky head casing with a slight projection at the top, and an apron below the sill. The look is sturdy and proportionate, not delicate.

For repairs, the most important detail to preserve is the projection of the head casing and the relative width of the side casings. Skinny modern trim instantly cheapens the look. PVC stock in similar proportions can work for replacements; just match the depth and the simple, flat profile.

Germantown Victorians (1880s–1900s)

Germantown's Italianate and Victorian homes feature decorative head pieces, carved or molded brackets, and detailed casings with ogee or cove profiles. Sills are typically pronounced with weathered edges.

These profiles rarely come off a big-box shelf. Repairing in-kind usually means custom-milled wood or specialty PVC profiles, and matching the existing paint sheen is just as important as matching the shape. For decorative head pieces, salvaging and consolidating the original with epoxy is often a better choice than trying to recreate it.

Belmont-Hillsboro and 12 South (1910s–1930s)

This part of town blends Craftsman bungalows, Tudor cottages, and early Colonial Revival homes. Trim styles vary block by block. Tudor cottages often have narrower, dark-painted casings with stone or stucco surrounds. Colonial Revivals favor classical profiles with backbands and crown details at the head.

The biggest mistake on these homes is replacing original casings with flat 1x4 stock and calling it done. The proportions look wrong even if you can't immediately say why. Take a profile gauge to an undamaged window before sourcing replacement stock.

Inglewood, Donelson, Madison (1940s–1960s)

Post-war neighborhoods around Nashville often feature ranches and minimal traditional homes with simple, narrow trim — sometimes a tight 1x3 casing with no decorative head. This is the easiest style to repair in modern materials. PVC trim in matching dimensions is nearly indistinguishable once painted.

Belle Meade and Forest Hills (varied)

Larger homes in these areas range from Tudor Revival to Georgian to French Provincial. Trim is usually deeper and more detailed, often painted to contrast with brick or stucco. The right repair material depends heavily on the style; cedar and PVC both have a place.

Tips for matching trim on any historic home

• Use a profile gauge on an intact piece before ordering stock. Profiles vary by tiny but visible amounts.
• Match depth as well as shape. A profile that's the right shape but a quarter-inch shallower will read wrong.
• Repair before you replace. Epoxy consolidants and patches can save decorative pieces that have no modern equivalent.
• Watch your fasteners. Visible nail holes and modern fastener patterns can give away a repair. Plan the nailing pattern up front.
• Don't forget paint sheen. A satin or low-gloss finish usually fits historic trim; high-gloss can look out of place.

If you own a historic Nashville home and the trim is starting to show its age, the worst thing you can do is wait until pieces are too far gone to copy. Catching damage while the original profile is still readable makes a faithful repair much easier — and much cheaper.