It has a texture. At first I thought it was wallpaper, but then realized it was paint when I saw the marks on the ceiling as well. By "texture over" do you mean make it all even but it would still have texture? There is a product for that?

This makes me think of the powder room I sponge painted some years ago. I used up all the old cans of paint from the entire house that had just been painted in different colors. I mixed up all new colors and went to town on that little room. it really looked great when done- to me that is! No white walls.

Ya, I'm not a fan of white walls either, but the sponge was done poorly, so it's got to go! It looks sort of purplish in the photo, but it's actually silver! I would prefer something warmer in color.

There are many styles of texture - we are in Oklahoma, where the builders apply a hand-troweled texture using drywall joint compound thinned with water. Applied with a concrete trowel (180 degree radius ends), it makes a swirly sort of pattern on the wall. I forget that other parts of the country have flat walls! Texture was invented to help reduce the amount of work making walls flat during the building process, thereby making homes less to build... But, it can add a look to the room if you like it.

Another option is a different style of faux finish - something thick, like Lusterstone. It is a thick water-based product that can be beautiful! But it is also over $100 a gallon, so if you are going to do remodel work later - hold off on that for now!

When you run your hand back and forth over the surface, if you can feel the paint texture, you will most likely see it after you repaint. If you want to stay with flat walls, I would see if it can be sanded (a lot of latex paints will not sand - they just roll up). If it can be, a couple of passes with some 220 grit may solve it - then repaint. If not, you may need to look at more than two coats, or a thick primer plus two topcoats. (Ask Sherwin Williams about the drywall primers).

You're making me realize I think I want to hire a pro for this job. Thanks for the explanation. Where I am living in Florida right now, the walls have the texture like you mentioned...to cut down on the cost, but back home I don't think I've ever noticed anyone with textured walls, so that's probably why my preference would be to get rid of it!

Just paint with Kilz, then paint color you want. If you are going to paint a deeper hue then have the kilz tinted. I grew up in FL, I now live in TX, more often than not walls have some kind of texture. No big deal.

Consider having the room textured by a professional drywall contractor and then painting anew.