All new window trim to match the rest of the home.

Yesterday, I wrote about how I made some new casings to match the old ones in a house I was renovating.  (this post)  Here’s one more tip to help your new trim look old:

Sand down any sharp edges.

That sounds basic, but think about it.  If the trim has been there for 75+ years it probably has a well-worn look to it, and probably 7 coats of paint, right?  Whether it was done when it was installed or it happened over time, there are no sharp corners left.

I would sand every exposed corner from the baseboard up to the head casings.  If it’s not sanded it will be obvious that it is new, but not in a good way.  It will look new in the it’s-too-bad-it-doesn’t-match-the-rest-of-the-house way.