Kaleinani, (didn't I get French magazines from you?) I would use a satin on the walls, and if the rest of the mouldings/doors in your house are semi-gloss, do the same in the DR.

I haven't had the picture frame/chair rail installed in my new home yet, but when I do, this is the way i'll do it. One of the gals here painted the top portion of her DR BLACK, with the bottom being a tan color~gorgeous! After seeing her pics here, I decided that's the look I want in my home. ;o)

If you want the bottom half of your wall to look like real, authentic wainscoting, then you will want it to look like wood. We wanted ours to look like wood... Ours is simply chair-rail and trim applied to drywall, which we then painted white gloss to match the rest of the trim in the house.

Patty Cakes-No French magazine from me but I have been scouring this forum trying to find the black and tan dining room.

mclarke-your dining room is exactly what I have!!! Now, you painted the chair rail, wall, moulding and baseboard with a semi-gloss?

I would also paint the lower area and all the trim semi-gloss if you are going for the wainscot look.