Renovation & Renewal

Minor Renovation brings Major Renewal
Designed with Client Consultation
Location: The Catholic Community of Hopewell Valley

This goal of this renovation project was a refresh of the altar at St. James Catholic Church in Pennington, New Jersey. The original design used eye-level wood mouldings that gave strong linear contrast around the walls of the nave. We selected a new crucifix, removed the wood and gave the entire space fresh paint features.

About the Altar Renovation at St. James, Pennington

This project was in partnership with Rev. Fr. Stephen Sansevere, Pastor

New Crucifix by Autom Church Supplies.

Design concept by Mel Ahlborn, 2022

Scale and color play a major part in the project's success.

Colour Palette

Illumination.Studio has a library of historic pigments as well as newly discovered colours, such as YInMn Blue, a nearly perfect blue accidentally discovered by chemists at Oregon State University. From these, the finest are selected for each project's colour palette.

Grey Blue - Dark

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Medium Blue Green

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Blue Grey - Dark

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Burnished Gold

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Maple

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Deep Nut Brown

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Liturgical renovation must respect the original space while listening to the concerns and needs of its stewards - for yesterday, today and tomorrow.

At Illumination.Studio, Mel Ahlborn oversees all design projects personally. We begin with a site visit, reference photographs, and listening sessions.

Listening sessions are followed up with digital renderings filled with design concepts. We continue designing and discussing until our clients feell comfortable that they are choosing the right step forward.