Please help! Paint dilemma.

We just purchased a very wonderful modern open plan home but sadly the previous owners were trend junkies. They did the front entry way in one of those hideous textured to look like a rustic Tuscan villa style paints that looks like it was a combination of sand, mud, and woodchips.

I have no experience removing this stuff but I have got to get the garrish wall cleaned up. I simply cannot allow the first thing people see when entering my home be a hall that looks like a cave.

Any idea on where to start? Oh and did I mention it's red?!?!?!?!

I have no experience with that sort of paint, but it seems like it would be worthwhile to try scraping the stuff off (first in some inconspicuous corner) with a narrow (~ 4 - 6 wide) taping knife. What's the substrate, drywall or something else? If it's textured drywall underneath, you may end up also scraping off some of the original paint and texture, and you'll want to avoid going too deep and gouging the paper. Do you know how you want the wall to look when you are finished? You may need to re-float, sand and possibly texture the wall (depending on your preferences) to fully rehabilitate it. If it came to that I would consider hiring a pro for the float and texture unless you are good at making surfaces flat and smooth.

Best of luck!
-KP