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?

@betrocrowd yours is worlds away from mine. I'd happily have your ceiling to look at. I like how neat it is. Can't bear the chaos of mine. It looks like a toddler did it.

Op it looks really nicely done.
My Aunt has similar and at one point had the box round it painted in a contrasting colour to match the walls.

Personally I'd leave it but when you do decide to get rid the easiest way is to plaster over it rather than to take it down.

I couldn’t wait to get rid. Too busy for me.

Thanks to this thread I've just found a squirrel in it though...

Love it. Better than a boring flat ceiling.

Most artex can be removed quite easily with water (I used a wall paper steamer and scraper) ceiling was perfect underneath (no need to plaster) but do make sure its asbestos free first!

Mine was like that! Was there when I moved in, had it for about 20 years but then had it skimmed. It was amazing how big the room then felt

If you keep it you can change your mind later, if you get rid and change your mind, it'll be impossible to reinstate. If you're wavering over a decision, it's best to choose the route that keeps your options open.

If I was wavering like you are I'd definitely keep it for a year or so and see how I felt then.
At least it's well done. There's terrible DIY artex in our rental DH's it's an absolute nightmare.

You've made me fall in love with my lovely ceiling (never a phrase I thought I'd say). I'm glad others appreciate it and I didn't just go with my first gut feeling.

This is the house that just keeps on giving, DH was looking out the window and saw a glow in a bush in the garden. I went to investigate and it was a pretty solar butterfly hiding in the middle that neither of us had noticed before tonight.

We have beautiful artex ceilings in our 70s house and we love them. But only in the bedrooms as we remodelled downstairs and had to redo the ceilings.

The plasterer who came to do our downstairs told us his dad was a plasterer in the 70s and was always complaining about how there was no art to the trade anymore. We showed him our bedroom ceilings (which are very elaborate, a real tapestry of designs interwoven) and he said he absolutely hates getting rid of artex as it makes him feel so bad for his talented dad! I thought that was lovely.

Keep your historical beauties OP!

Love it

I’m not from the UK originally and when I went to my now FIL’s house for the first time and saw a ceiling like yours I was - a thing of beauty. I then learned that the British generally hates it I don’t care, I still love it and I would keep it.

Keep it! It is beautiful.

NB because this is done so well I probably would keep it.

We have the same style as OP in a few rooms still and I’ve got used to it. Every time I think of getting it done the mess puts me off (when when had our bedroom done it was terrible). Plus I can think of a hundred different things I’d rather do with the money.

Same!! Why have plain and boring when you can have a funky ceiling instead!

I agree with you that when it's been done well it demonstrates amazing skill, and yours is a good one. I'd still get rid of it.

Yours is identical to what my gran had and what my mum currently has in her room, very tastefully done I would say. My mum also has a large hallway with very high ceiling that has bark-like delicate artex on the walls - she hates it but I love it and keep reminding her how hard it is to decorate her hall and how easy it is to just paint the artex which gives it texture! Sometimes it’s a good thing but like others have said, depends on how well done it was at the time!

My son has been house hunting and Aertex ceilings rule a house out completely, it depends on whether you're intending to sell your house on.

Keep. There's nothing wrong with it so why spend money you don't need to spend? The ceiling is fine, use the money for more important things ❤️

Anaglypta and her friend Lincrusta

I'm having a similar dilemma- my living room ceiling is even more controversial but I think I've grown to like it. My mum says it's Stockholm syndrome. I was okay with my kitchen ceiling until mh sister described it as "labial" and now I can't unsee it

I’ve got artex, it’s never been a priority to spend hard earned cash on changing it and I do wonder if it’s due a revival. Mine is testicles though!

I like your artex. I would keep that. I, unfortunately have grim artex. In every single room in the house ☹️