I'm going to have the Artex tested for asbestos first and probably leave it if it tests positive.
A few questions:
1) I have coving around the room. Is it possible to remove the artex without damaging the coving? Also once the artex is gone, can the ceiling be skimmed in such a way that it would look okay with the existing coving? (I'm goinh to have a plasterer fix the ceiling after I've taken down the Artex).
2) I've read about Xtex and watched some YouTube videos: http://www.ecosolutions.co.uk/homestrip-xtex/ It seems possibly to be not as good as it sounds but is probably less messy than knocking off hard stipples by hand. Has anyone used it or anything similar?
3) Would I need to remove everything from the room - chairs, table and so on - before removing the Artex or would plastic sheeting be okay?
I'm thinking though that if I just do the living room, it will look odd because every other room has artex celinings (the buggers put it everywhere).