Are picture rails "authentic" in arts and crafts homes?

[DarkBlueEyes]

We have not long moved into an arts and crafts home, 1934 ish. It is in dire need of a lot of work, which we are planning.

The bedrooms have picture rails. They don't always go right round the whole room, randomly. Are they typical of arts and crafts properties or can I ditch them?

Ceilings aren't very high and I think they make them look even lower....

Some of them look quite old, others are obviously reproductions (crisp edges etc).

And while we are on the topic of arts and crafts, does anyone know what kind of cornice/coving is authentic? No cornicing anywhere and I'd like to add cornices to the rooms, they look unfinished without them.

[PigletJohn]

Don't know. Have a look at the William Morris website, though his was a big house.

Some rooms didn't have them, for example servants rooms and bathrooms. I used to live in a house where you could see the hall and main reception rooms had fancy cornicing and joinery; the housekeeper's sitting room had picture rails but nothing fancy, the maid's room had no picture rail and flat plaster (and a tiny grate).

[ChablisTyrant]

Yes to picture rails in all the arts and craft house around here. No to coving or cornicing. Many have curved plasterwork between ceiling and walls, downstairs at least. Very expensive to get done because modern plasterers aren't experienced in doing it.

[Lighteningirll]

Pictures rails in my thirties houses but no coving we've had to remove and replace due to excessly enthusiastic artex and dh isn't keen but I love them. In previous Victorian houses coving wAs very ornate but no picture rails so I am more comfortable with either but not both.

[RidersOnTheStorm]

Here's a preserved one

www.winterbourne.org.uk/index.php/photos/house#!house1

[DarkBlueEyes]

Hmmmm. Thank you all. It's a large 5 bedroom house but feels cottagey and I want to make it feel lighter and more airy. Not sure what to do! More research I think.