Conservation Portfolio Home

Overall view of the foyer. This is the main front entrance into the home. Visitors cross the space and descend stairs behind the balustrade to enter the inner courtyard. This offers a dramatic transition from the twilight atmosphere of the colored-glass windows to the openness and natural lighting of the courtyard. 

Detail of the beautiful geometric and floral designs carved and painted on the ceiling by the Rene Martin studio, 1937. 

Mosaic of about 300 individual photographs to document the ceiling overall in high resolution. Photodocumentation was a crucial part of this project. The ceiling had not been documented overall since its installation; only angled shots from interior views were preserved in the archives. 

Treatment was conducted on a rolling platform (the red structure in this photo). This treatment focused on stabilizing or consolidating paint that was in danger of falling off the ceiling. 

Detail of the delaminating painted decoration. This damage was less apparent from ground level. 

Detail of rosette in raking light before treatment

Detail of rosette before treatment

Detail of rosette after treatment, paint consolidation. 

Here I am applying a consolidating adhesive by brush to the underside of lifting paint. 

Detail after applying adhesive. The adhesive appears opaque when wet, but dries clear. Gentle heat and pressure were applied to relax the paint flakes back into plane. 

Some curled areas were consolidated in place if they were not able to be safely manipulated back into plane. 

Rosette before treatment

The same rosette after applying adhesive. 

Raking view of rosette with adhesive. 

Raking view of rosette after treatment

Same rosette after treatment