Should I remove dado rail or not?

[StartingAgain33]

I want to slightly update this living room (the screenshot) by painting it with a plaster effect (picture called 'distressed walls'). Thoughts?

I don't mind the dado rails but I don't think they'll go with the plaster effect, but i'm not sure if I will lose too much character taking them out?

The two styles don’t go together. If your heart is set on the plaster paint, I think they have to go.

That "plaster effect" reminds me of 1990s rag rolled walls. Basically like that to disguise the nicotine stains.

I think that plaster look would be nice in an old period house in Tuscany or rural France but I am not sure how it would work in a normal British house. What sort of house do you have OP?

It's a very cute victorian terrace cottage with lots of character and a spiral staircase etc. I think the person who took the picture with it in her home has a similar period property actually.

An alternative would be colourwashing - which isn’t as drastic & wouldn’t mean you have to remove the dado. See the delicious colours and finishes at Bauwerk.com
🌈

Definitely look at Bauwerk their paints are beautiful. Is the dado original, do you know?

Are the dado rails original? They look to be at a strange height.

I thought when I clicked on the thread that I’d be advocating keeping the dado rails but I think your plaster effect could work very well. I say go for it.

Dados are great if you have small kids as you can just repaint under them

@StartingAgain33 this is from Bauwerk's Instagram, to inspire you...