My artex ceiling has grown on me! (with pics)

[betrocrowd]

We moved into our new house in November and are now decorating our living room. I remember viewing the house and thinking oh dear lord when I saw the artex and thought it would be the first thing that would go.

Today my husband did a test for asbestos (so we can move a ceiling light) and a plasterer came out to give us a quote to cover it.

The quote was acceptable but now I'm wavering. The artex work is quite impressive and when I thought about getting rid of it I felt a bit guilty over the person who did it originally. Yes, I know I'm being ridiculous.

My husband is happy to keep it as likes that it's a design rather than a flat "boring" ceiling. I seem to be drawn to decor that's very 70s and art deco and he is adamant it will come back into fashion (tongue-in-cheek).

Would you get rid or keep it?

Sorry, I'm not keen.

Get rid!

Keep! I love a retro ceiling!

I like it!

I like it (child of the 70s), but I’d get rid.

We had artex in our previous house. It's a bugger to paint!
This house doesn't have it, but frankly I think the plasterer who did the ceilings might have been a bit pissed when he worked here🥴🤦‍♀️

Get rid!

If you and he both like it, I'd leave it and either save the money or spend it on a different part of the house/room. There's nothing objectively wrong with it, after all. It's all down to aesthetic preferences.

Depends what you do with the rest of the room. If it has a 20s vibe with wicker and palms it would look great.

I really don't like it personally, I prefer a plain texture ceiling with coving / ceiling roses etc.

I absolutely love that

I like it and would keep

I love it and I agree with you. It’s a lost skill and I can imagine in the near future (young) people paying a fortune to have an artex ceiling. I also have artex (but only in bedrooms) as couldn’t bear to get it removed.

But, please note that what you have is a good example of artex. There are some horrendous lumpy ceilings (and walls) with sharp edges and swirly bits - they are the ones you should cover up.

I do quite like it, but if it's got asbestos in it you might be better getting rid, or it will put off new buyers when you come to sell. I love an ornate ceiling myself. Mine in the lounge is original Victorian. Needs work really, as it's really not at it's best, but can't really afford to get it restored as there's so many other things taking priority 😭

Noooo. Get rid.

LOVE IT! Love retro shit. Also, don't worry about asbestos!!! Only need to worry about that if you decide to remove the artex. Asbestos is safe in the house if undisturbed!

I think it depends on what way you Decorate the room- quirky features and vintage features that might pull it in as a feature itself and it would look purposeful, but I'm not sure it would work in a modern room.

Retro, love it! We had some cork walls in the 70s, paper lampshades, lots of Habitat, G Plan. Our living room had white walls and a dark green ceiling

Keep it, I love mine

We had very similar in our last house, it was brilliant at bouncing the light across the whole room, I'd keep it.

Get rid.
My friend just had an extension and modern kitchen fitted, then did her lounge with brand new windows, plaster on the walls painted, wooden floors all the way through. And left her artex in the lounge. It dates the entire thing. It's mind boggling. In my opinion, it's never coming back in fashion.

I love all things retro.......except artex ceilings, got rid of them from last two houses, they are horrendous to paint aswell as ugly😕

OMG I'm loving these replies! 😂Artex is obviously the martmite of interior design.

I was a bit embarrassed about having people round and seeing it and as we're decorating I thought it was the perfect time to say cheerio but I don't think I can do it.

We're going for a bit of an industrial style BUT I've just been googling art deco light pendants to try and style it out😆I've got a huge dresser I'm going to paint and I haven't yet decided on the colour/style - I might incorporate the fans into it to tie it together rather than everything else complementing each other and then we have an artexed ceiling...

I'd just park the decision for 12 months. Then see where you are both at.

Keeeep it! It's a good example and in great condition. No brainer.