Very often the 'before and after's' that we have shown here are renovations of entire churches. But an impactful 'before and after' needn't always be so grandiose. Sometimes a positive impact can simply be found in some of the most basic of details. This might seem counterintuitive in some ways, but ornamental details are a critically important, but all too often neglected component, especially in modern times.
In modern times we tend to take very utilitarian and functionalist views of things. We need a window, we need to paint bare walls, we need rafters to support a roof and so on. Previous generations found ways to include ornamental details around and into these things which made the difference between a fully ornamented and integrated church and one which had the "bones" but somehow found itself lacking when it came to visual impact and interest.
Recently, Canning Liturgical Arts undertook a simple design scheme in a church which involved the creation of ornamental border designs around a church's windows and chair rails. While they were at it, they also added a bit of colour to the walls which, while still neutral in tone, were nonetheless warmer than the previous white walls and complimented the new border designs.
Do take a look at the effect that these simple additions made.
BEFORE
AFTER
