Commercial Case Study

Commercial Painting Project at DiPaolo’s Ristorante Italiano & Bar

BACKGROUND

DiPaolo’s Ristorante Italiano & Bar is a premier dining destination in New Jersey, known for its elegant atmosphere, dramatic lighting, and attention to detail. As part of a broader interior refresh that also included extensive painting, the design vision called for a highly decorative, specialty wallpaper imported from England—a bold focal element that required absolute precision.

This was not a standard wallpaper installation. The project demanded overnight work, international materials, detailed coordination, and careful environmental control, all within a fully operational restaurant.

CHALLENGES

Several factors made this project uniquely complex –

• Off-Hours Installation:
  All work had to be completed overnight to avoid interrupting restaurant operations.
• Imported Wallpaper from England:
  The wallpaper featured a highly decorative, repeating pattern with minimal tolerance for error. Replacement material was not readily available.
• Environmental Sensitivity:
  Proper adhesion and drying required stable temperature and humidity conditions—difficult to control during overnight commercial work.

Because the wallpaper was imported and highly decorative, accuracy was critical.

Ben, our Production Associate, took ownership of the final measurements, traveling to New Jersey to support Pedro and using laser measuring tools to verify elevations, wall conditions, and layout across the space. This extra layer of verification ensured that once the wallpaper arrived from England, the installation could proceed with confidence.

The Unexpected Complication

Despite careful planning, an unforeseen issue arose during overnight installation.

Although the building’s automated HVAC system had been requested to remain off, it was inadvertently set to run too cold overnight. The sudden temperature drop caused the wallpaper to pull slightly as it dried, revealing a visible ¼-inch seam in certain areas.

This was not an installation error—it was an environmental issue—but it affected the finished appearance and required immediate attention.

SOLUTION

Rather than deflect responsibility, the team addressed the issue head-on.

Pedro contacted the wallpaper manufacturer in England to identify a solution. A custom, specialized chalk compound, designed specifically for this wallpaper, was ordered to fill and blend the seams without compromising the integrity or visual continuity of the pattern.

The corrective work restored the seamless appearance the design demanded.

OUTCOME

The finished space is a dramatic and elegant transformation.

The imported wallpaper now serves as a defining design feature throughout the restaurant, working in harmony with the architectural details, custom lighting, and freshly painted surfaces. Most importantly, the client was thrilled—not only with the final result, but with how the challenges were handled.

This project exemplifies our commitment to:

Precision and preparation
Accountability when conditions change
Craftsmanship at a commercial level
Standing behind our work from start to finish

WHY THIS MATTERS

High-end commercial wallpaper installation—especially with imported materials—requires more than technical skill. It demands planning, communication, adaptability, and integrity.

At CertaPro Painters® of the Main Line, we don’t just execute design visions—we own the outcome, even when conditions are less than ideal.