This is the photo.

We paid $1k to get wainscoting in a powder room so i think you're doing fine either way.

I'm not sure anyone would do that nicely for either of those costs--certainly not for $200.

Really

Then I best be careful with the $200

Obviously the price will differ depending on where you live and exactly what you’re asking them to do. If it’s an exact replica of that picture, with niches and all, I would guess it’s at the very least a 3 day job for a crew of two guys. 2 very fast and focused guys. 3 8-hour days is 48 manhours which earns them just under $17/hour at the $800 price. If the materials are included they are giving you the wall for pennies.

My guess is, if you go cheap on this what you will get is a ”paneled” wall that consists of squares of shoe molding glued to your current wall and topped with one fast coat of paint.

Before you engage anyone, check the quality of their work in other jobs.

Whoever does the work, ask them, "What level of quality can I expect?"

Do anything you want after your contractor is done. Before depends on the contract.

Who is painting?

Even $800 is super cheap for something like that to be done *correctly*. $200 is just halfass screen molding and some PL adhesive and zero painting at all. Or at least not good painting. The materials should cost more than $200. And that *done properly* is 10x your high quote.

@Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor my GC is painting.

Just use your $200 guy after close - you still have to do all the drywall and painting, right?

Yes, my GC has to soon paint once I pick out my

Herr is an update on my accent wall paneling. It came out really nice.