Wooden picture rails – remove?

Eric H

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Have some picture in rails in the bedrooms that I'm looking to remove. Thoughts? should they stay or should they go?

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Gallifrey

7 years ago

i would leave them. incredibly sensible way of hanging paintings and other frames, without the need to put holes in the wall.

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Comments (26)

Neryl Hollingsworth
7 years ago
I have had this dilemma too! What style of room are you hoping to create?

If you want something a but timeless and not a full-on modern update, I think you should leave them. They are practical.
Eric H
Original Author
7 years ago
I'm adding a new modern extension to the rear of the property so will look to also have this flow through the front. I think I'll be removing them

What are you deciding on doing to yours?
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bigreader
7 years ago
Have a peek under one first. In rooms with high ceilings they may hide a join.
robin_kinross
7 years ago
Are you keeping the VJ boards and ceiling? It looks like a beautiful character room which would be a shame to lose. Such a high ceiling...gorgeous. I would keep the picture rails
Jo M
7 years ago
I would keep them too. Looks like a beautiful period room....Doesn't need to match a modern extension.
Eric H
Original Author
7 years ago
I've made a decision, and the picture rails are... going!
Will also be replacing the ceiling with a new gyprock ceiling. Had to do it, as there is a small leak in the roof and the board's are no good. Looking to modernise the existing house to be in line with the new extension going in at the rear of the property
94236633
7 years ago
I was just thinking how lucky you are to have them. I love picture rails in a high ceilinged room.
When they're gone, they're gone, shame.
Al McA
7 years ago
Think carefully, when you remove them they may bring old materials with them!
We put them back in our house, could see the line under the 70's wallpaper and they remained in bedrooms. Proportion of rooms looks better with them and they make moving pictures SO much easier, much less commitment in altering the length of picture wire than banging in a nail.
Note you don't have to paint them all cutesy, contrasting paint and trim, we have done ours same as walls they don't leap at you but you get the benefit of them and a subtle hint at history without being twee. Dodgy photo, shows picture rails both in white and colour in our dark hall
Jane
7 years ago
It depends where you live, however removing period features from your property could devalue it. Many buyers put a high value on period features - I'd check with your local real estate agent first. The integration of period features in a modernised property usually reaps rewards come auction day.
rwalton5
7 years ago
Period features = $$. I'd keep the ceiling (restore it to original condition) and picture rails.
LesleyH
7 years ago
They are extremely useful.
PRO
KOEDAM DESIGN PTY LTD
7 years ago
Hi Eric
We just worked on a lovely old home with picture rails & traditional mouldings, including architraves & skirtings. They did a contemporary addition at the rear of the old home. We left all the old mouldings to honour the original home.
By using a contemporary colour palette and leaving the picture rails, we were able to use different hues on both bottom & top wall sections. This added wonderful interest to the home.
Think about it before removing the picture rails. Does it change the proportions of the wall, will you need to change the skirtings also & will the rooms loose their character?
Good luck with your decision!
Eric H
Original Author
7 years ago
thanks for the comment. any chance you have any pictures of that project you can share?
another general question - if the picture rails provide such a high level of charm, why do more people not decide on adding this to their existing properties?
PRO
KOEDAM DESIGN PTY LTD
7 years ago
Firstly, people don't use picture rails now because our ceilings are normally not as high. Picture rails and dados were added for the proportions. Cost is another very big factor. Fashion also dictates. Modern homes just don't suit all the additional mouldings of traditional, older homes.
Don't forget what picture rails were used for, to hang pictures off. Whether that was because you could move picture around or that you didn't need to put hooks into walls, I'm not sure.
As for photos, I don't have any of this project yet. I'll find some from another project and post.
PRO
KOEDAM DESIGN PTY LTD
7 years ago
This is not the project I was talking about, but shows how you can still have picture rails and use the same hues on walls and timberwork. This project I worked on sold last year, for a record price because of the characters and that all the original features were retained.
The other I was talking about we used whites and taupes.
PRO
KOEDAM DESIGN PTY LTD
7 years ago
Here's some other examples of Houzz
LesleyH
7 years ago
Period homes with modern furnishings often highlight the period features more. Not putting holes in walls to hang pictures is a real bonus. Photos above are excellent. Please reconsider. Timber board ceilings are a real bonus. What drew you to the house in the first place?
antonia_d
7 years ago
Our recent renovation involved an extension to our home which has both picture rails and ornate ceilings. We kept all these features and our extension is quite modern. As the rooms with picture rails are out the front (lounge and bedrooms) it's not obvious when you walk down the hall to the new area. We painted the walls, picture rails included all one colour so it blends as a previous poster noted.
LesleyH
7 years ago
Most new houses today have ceilings of 2400. From 2700 and above picture rails can be used. Many old homes have ceilings of 3000 to 3400.
PRO
Adam Cox
7 years ago
If you have high ceilings, most definitely leave them. They add so much character to a room. You can paint them the same colour as the wall if you prefer for them not to stand out too much, or you can make a feature of them. In our home, we painted them the same colour as the walls.
'Pen Y Llechwedd' Ipswich Project · More Info
Jo
7 years ago
If this is a bedroom and you are modernising the back of the house, then please leave them. If you remove, you may find there is a plaster join underneath. They look great with the ceiling. You don't have to paint different colours of make a feature of them if you don't want to.
nancymiller48
7 years ago
I see what looks like vents on the upper section of wall - these will look strange on the wall if the picture rail is removed. With those high ceilings, tall tunnel-like room will be the result if they are removed. I would just paint the same colour and think what fun you can have moving your pictures around! Mix of modern and trad is FANTASTIC!
LesleyH
7 years ago
After all these "keep" comments are you still planning to remove them?
Eric H
Original Author
7 years ago
feels a bit like the brexit vote. everyone is expecting a remain, but a leave might just be on the cards...
Paula Priaulx
7 years ago
It's a hard decision when you have to balance the cost of a full renovation to the ceiling timbers. If you remove the rails and gyprock the ceiling, maybe you could add a paper frieze or stencil where the rail was. This would break the height a little so the room doesn't feel like an empty elevator shute! I've got 3m high ceilings, masonry walls, but no rails. We are adding picture rails in some areas and doing dado's in others. Good luck, I wish you well....it looks like a lovely home.

Wooden picture rails – remove?

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