Client: Saint Joseph Church

Location: Crestline, Ohio

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The plaster wall and ceiling surfaces of the original Gothic Revival church interior were covered in 1943 with an acoustical tile product called Zenitherm that mimicked the appearance of ashlar masonry. Decades later, a layer of mustard yellow paint and the decay of plaster ornaments in the choir loft due to exterior moisture penetration made the interior drab and potentially dangerous, necessitating a comprehensive strategy for repair and redecoration.

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Following the completion of the roofing replacement and exterior stucco repair projects, a local restoration studio was hired in 2010 to carry out the interior repair and redecoration work on a very modest budget with Daniel serving as the parish design consultant. Overseeing the complete removal of the Zenitherm tiles and the subsequent restoration of plaster wall and ceiling surfaces, Daniel collaborated with the pastor to plan the theologically infused decorative painting program, select the interior finish colors, design numerous stencils for simple tone-on-tone subtlety, and generate sketches for new artistically painted wall medallions in the sanctuary that feature inscriptions and symbols. Abandoned and concealed altar server passages in the sanctuary were transformed into new credence niches while ceiling ornaments in the choir loft that had been removed were redesigned and replaced.

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