Hi,
I'm sure you could do a really nice paneling job if it looked traditional. I think it would only look wrong if you picked the wrong one. We had a living room that was literally plastered with a cement material and had a very lumpy look. After going through a few different ideas my husband did 'plaster' over the walls. I think it was topping compound or some similar name. It was a thinner substance that went on quick and sanded easily. The walls are smooth and perfect. Just in case you change your mind it really didn't take long and was pretty easy.

I'm not a fan of paneling, so I'd get a quote for skim coating those textured walls from a drywall contractor. They should be able to get you smooth walls or a texture you like. Or as noted above you could do it yourself (I have and would again). You may find the pro skim coating job is less money than good paneling. If you sell, you may find many people don't like paneling.

But, you do like painted paneling, and you should have what you like. So, if you do it go for a traditional look. Maybe beadboard, board and batten, or a raised panel design for a dutch colonial. I think any of those could look very appropriate, but the "circa 1970's style paneling" would look wrong in your home, IMHO.

Thanks for your responses.

My brother is a professional drywaller. The reason I am considering paneling is because of his reaction to the plastering. This is not a thin coat of texturing. The valleys in the texturing are up to 3/4 inch deep in places. He felt that it would need to all be sanded down before skim coating. Either that or he said I should consider putting up a layer of drywall over the existing plaster. He'll help me do whatever I end up deciding to do, so cost isn't the biggest issue.

I have the same type of knock-down plastering in the dining room and entry way too. I'm not crazy about it there either, but I have painted it and it looks okay. In the bedroom though, two windows were removed at some point and they did a really poor job of matching the texturing. It's pretty unattactive the way it is now.

Trust me I'm definitely not thinking circa 1970's style paneling. I love my house too much to do that to it!! I'm also not crazy about the idea of beadboard in a bedroom. I'll look for images of the other two styles you mentioned. Thanks for the suggestions!

Wow, that sounds like quite a texture. Do you think the surface is flat enough to be a good substrate for paneling? Or might it go wonky/wavy?

Wish I had a professional drywaller in the family. Want to adopt a sister, LOL?

I would go with the layer of drywall over existing wall. I thin a lot of people have an aversion to paneling, even if it is traditional.

Quip,
I wondered also whether it would be too wavy to work with paneling. My brother says he can do it well though, and I trust him.

Lila Thabit,
I realize that some people aren't crazy about paneling. If I were worried about resale, I would agree with you that I should probably go with drywall. I'm not planning to move anytime soon though, so resale isn't a big factor in my decision.

I'm thinking something along the lines of paneling as seen in the link below, except that it would be a full wall.

I was hoping to find somebody here who had installed paneling and hear from their experiences with it. Anyone??

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

We have painted paneling and it looks wonderful! It wasn't el cheapo paneling, but not fancy either. We kilzed it and then painted it a beautiful rich-cream color. It just made our kitchen, and the vertical grooves gave us the impression of some much needed height. Our house is a 50's ummmmmmmm I'm not sure what! :^)

Wow, my husband would love that in his hime office. I dunno, maybe it would work.

I have a paneling question and was reading back posts to see if I could get an answer when I came across this thread.
My MIL has a "Parson's house" built in 1930. It is similar to a colonial. Almost every room is panelled with the original paneling. Most is pecky cypress and one bedroom is pine. They certainly were paneling in the 1930's. Many homes in her area are that vintage and have paneling although I think she has the only Parson's house.
What is 1970's paneling?
Thanks!

Do you mean wainscoting? I think it looks gorgeous, especially in colonial houses and cottage houses. There's a magazine out, um, I think it's Cottage Living, and I swear every month they have a new project on how to use wainscoting.

Now the 70's rec room panelling, ugh, that stuff is awful!

The paneling in her house is floor to ceiling except in the dining room and entrance hall where it is wainscoting. Two of the four bedrooms have paneling. There is no paneling in the kitchen or bathrooms.
1970s paneling - is that the stuff that came in 4x8 sheets?