After replacing the A/C units, the vinyl covered trim had a big gap in the bedroom because the unit is smaller. After trying to match the vinyl and slicing in some from the TV replacement (disaster), I decided to get some trim from Lowes and use the leftover Minwax Polyshades Antique Walnut that Pat C discovered and it came out really nice. It looks much better in person. The TV job from the previous thread looks a bit worse than the pictures.
Quite an improvement over the vinyl strip covered board. What type of wood did you use? Different woods react differently to stain.
I have been considering doing mine and now that I see how it looks I might proceed.
I'm not sure. It was a basketweave pattern a little slimmer than the 3" vinyl strip. The came in 8' sections for about $12 per piece. I needed 4. It is probably pine. I used the wood conditioner and put three coats of stain on it. It looks very similar to the plywood TV inclosure box and pretty close to the walnut interior generally. At least on my coach, some of the original walnut was darker and some of it is lighter so all of it looks like it belongs together. I have to say I'm kind of disappointed in the TV box. I should have taken it out completely and used good wood to fashion something more attractive to support the TV. I like the idea of how I did the TV but I think I need to redo that at some point. The trim strip came out great though. It looks very elegant. It looks like the vinyl should be leather. I didn't do the greatest job of trimming around the A/C unit in the bedroom but for my level of craftsmanship it came out ok. It looks better than it did before which is what I was trying to accomplish. I cut each piece to 7' with the last one in the bedroom being around 6 1/2' and between each piece I used a square piece of trim that I found right next to the others. They are a little thicker though. I should have sanded the corners because a tall person coming in would have to be careful. I cut notches out of each square so that the trim boards tucked under the edge. I bought a few bags of 3/8ths wood buttons and counter sunk each hole (1' spacing). They tapped right in over the screws with a rubber mallet. I reused the same screws that held the vinyl covered trim.
That looks really nice Dwayne. A sagging headliner is something I need to tackle soon, and what you've done looks a lot better than the original vinyl strip.
I seem to be following in your footsteps to some extent. Don't mean to be a copycat, but you've got good ideas and do nice work. Hope to be able to reciprocate in the near future. ;D
Steve