Dado Dilemma in Victorian hallway renovation
Bella T
6 years ago
Looking for some advice on removing the dado rail from our Victorian hallway. I’m not usually in favour of removing original features but there’s a rather messy arrangement at the stop of the stairs which we have been scratching our heads about. If you can see on the dodgy pictures attached, there’s narrow shelf thing at the top of the stairs where the wall widens out slightly. Currently the dado is awkwardly chopped off before starting again and then zigzagging around wildly before reaching the top landing. This is the weirdest bit but there are plenty of other oddities.
So my question is - if we get rid of the dado will it emphasis the narrowness of the hall? Should we keep the picture rail if we don’t have a dado? We’re putting in a higher skirting and stripping the stairs and obviously the horrid floor tiles will be replaced with boards. Any advice or ideas very gratefully received.
So my question is - if we get rid of the dado will it emphasis the narrowness of the hall? Should we keep the picture rail if we don’t have a dado? We’re putting in a higher skirting and stripping the stairs and obviously the horrid floor tiles will be replaced with boards. Any advice or ideas very gratefully received.
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Carolina
6 years agoRelated Discussions
Wallpaper dilemma
Comments (23)Hi Liz, sounds like you've got an exciting project on your hands. My two penneth, for what it's worth, is that hallways are often neglected or left til the end. Some people don't think they are worthy of spending too much money on. However, I disagree. When you first walk in the door, or you move from room to room, your hallway gets oodles of views and movement throughout the day. When people visit - their first impression to your house is in your hallway, so you should start as you mean to go on. So rather than paint over the wallpaper and make do, if it was me, I would bite the bullet and take off the old wallpaper and repaint the walls. Whilst doing it, pay attention to the lighting in the hallway and make improvements to increase the light. I can't comment on what needs to be added from the pictures, but you could consider recessed lighting up the stairs, better quality pendant lights, placing mirrors opposite windows to reflect the light back in. Or why not follow Abigail Aherne's lead and embrace the dark side. Make it cosy, comfortable and a little bit quirky! There's lots to consider, but ditch the paper!! Most importantly, enjoy the process and don't think of it as a chore. It's exciting and the adventure is only just beginning....See MoreVictorian Hall Dilemma, please help.
Comments (7)Hi there, I agree with Daisy, paint the skirtings and banisters a nice fresh white and paint the walls in the darker colour. I like the colour you've started to paint the bannister in the last pic but think this should be on the walls, perhaps a shade or two lighter as well. I don't think you need a dado, keep the walls as one single colour. I think having a darker colour on the walls will absorb any dark shadows where as a white will accentuate them therefore making it look darker. Use a scrubbable paint so you can wipe any marks off. Add white framed mirrors/art, white furniture if you need any, to bring back the brighter feel that you're after. I will be interested in other comments as well, as I have very similar dark hallway which will be decorated in the distant future....See MoreVictorian Renovation in London Part 3 - Finish line?
Comments (240)Thanks - I have already fitted a horizontal column radiator in the hall: I have done this in most common areas. It's out of shot in the photo. In terms of off-whites, we have not used any. Either pure brilliant white (kitchen, window woodwork etc), or F&B Ammonite (the grey on the staircase etc) are the neutrals. I looking at something for the kitchen as the pure white is a bit harsh....See Morehallway renovations
Comments (20)Start with offwhite walls, ceiling and trim, fix the missing peaces of plaster and crown molding. Clear coat on your stairs, probably new carpet on the steps (it could be messy underneath that) or some other 'anti-slip and silent' covering, or paint when possible. Floortiles in the hallway, anything from victorian to terrazzo look or from portuguese pattern to solid charcoal. Then decide on wall colors (would personally not use wallpaper). Pick colors from the stained glass, for example, be it paler/darker/brighter. Or just keep your hallway white (with a heavily patterned floor and that stained glass, wow!). Love the victorian dramatic look and colors, but would modernise it a little. Brighter. Example: My hallway (not victorian, but 1950) already had terrazzo floors and cement plaster on the lower half of the walls, so I painted the cement and all trim offwhite (RAL9010 semigloss), sanded down the doors (painted the inset paneling offwhite, rest bare pine with clear varnish), black baseboard. Blank canvas. The wall next to the stairs had to be neutral and light, because it goes up, so painted that a light sand. Downstairs I used a warm yellow on the top half of the walls. Upstairs a dark teal, which contrasts really nice with the white trim and doors....See More
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