Hang It Up

We're suckers for innovative ways to hang artwork. These two ideas from Larson-Juhl are fresh and fantastic!

How to choose the perfect picture frame

Written by Deborah Davis, Author of The Secret Lives of Frames

Photo courtesy of Elle Decor.

A frame can often be as important as the picture it surrounds; yet in the quest to display our art, the frame is frequently overlooked. Give your next framing project the attention it deserves by asking yourself:

1. What is the intent of the frame?
   Space and decor are important concerns if the painting will be hanging in your home.
   
2. Does the frame match the style of the artwork?
   A delicate painting could be overwhelmed by a heavy frame. Conversely, "underframing" means the frame is too weak to support the art.
   
   
3. Does the frame's color/patina complement the painting's colors?
   Paintings can be "warm" or "cool". The dominating tone should be echoed by the frame.
   
   
4. Does the frame strike a balance?
   A frame can harmonize or contrast with the art, but it should never blend into the painting.
   
   
5. Is it practical?
   A frame should protect the art and be stable.
   
   
6. Is it meaningful?
   The frame should bring the art's history to life and pay homage to that time.
   
   
7. Are you afraid to hang a beautiful frame without a painting?
   Get over it! A frame can surround objets d'art, treasured antique books, or fresh flowers. Use your imagination.

This article originally appeared on pointclickhome.com

Seeing Red

We love the idea of this gallery wall. The collection of bright red frames paired with black and white photographs makes such a big impact!

Photo courtesy of Elle Decor

Utterly Unique

From a feature in Southern Living, Leo and Kay Berard came up with this great idea to add a little personalization and pizzazz to their lake house. Framed family photos are backed with thin plywood and hinged to act as cabinet doors....

Photo courtesy of Southern Living.

Delectible Decor

We're firm believers that ANYTHING can be turned into art. We've been known to make a masterpiece out of a Katrina MRE, complete with silverware and an elegant linen napkin. Which brings us to this fun idea: Just use glossy spray paint to add a little modern glam to a few pieces of flatware, bring us your favorite coordinating fabric, and we'll whip up a fantastic one-of-a-kind work of art for your kitchen, dining room, or breakfast room!

Before & After

What a difference framed art can make! It defines and transforms a space, gives it polish. Even rooms that look like they're "done" are taken to the next level when framed art is added to the mix. Here are a few examples that show you what we mean...

6 Framing Tips

Everything in custom framing is by design. That goes for the look as well as the structure, the glass, and even the hanging hardware on the back of your piece. Today we want to talk about the 6 things that go into preserving your art and making it look downright dynamite!

TIP #1 
Maybe we're stating the obvious when we say that custom framing should make your art look good. Part of that responsibility lies with you because beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you're going to have a piece hanging on your wall, you should like the way it looks. But sometimes it takes an experienced eye to help guide decisions. We're here to help ensure the framing draws your eye to the art but doesn't overpower it.

TIP #2 
Framing goes beyond aesthetics and offers the bet protection a piece of art can get. The value of art can come in different forms--it can have sentimental value or it can be an investment. Either way, preservation is important! If you find a piece important enough to frame, you'll want to make sure it's protected. The only way to ensure it's properly protected is to use a professional custom framer.

TIP #3 
Mats are important because separate glass from the art's surface, preventing the glass from fusing to the art. Beyond that, they also offer visual appeal and help draw the eye to the art. Remember that narrow mats are generally more of a distraction than an enhancement. Wide mats offer a more sophisticated effect. Choosing a color depends upon the art itself and your personal preferences, but there is always a way to incorporate your tastes and stay true to the art.

TIP #4
Mounting your art is a way to flatten it and rid the art of those unsightly waves that humidity can cause. Dry mounting is a fine choice for photos and other non-porous paper artworks which don't have significant value. But for more valuable works, we will recommend that you do not mount it, but rather hinge it. You will not be able to do away with the waving effect, but you will preserve the value of your art.

TIP #5

Glass protects your art from dust, fingerprints, and spatters. But your choices go beyond that. All glass is not created equal.

• Clear picture framing glass the least expensive option and works well for many  purposes. 
• Non-glare glass will do away with the reflection of light on your image. However, it will also slightly blur the art when viewed from side angles, and this effect is intensified the more mats you add.
  
• UV glass is available as well and is recommended for any art that's important to you. It filters out more than 95% of harmful UV light, which will cause your artwork to fade over time. (UV rays are in all light, but very strong in sunlight and fluorescent light.)

TIP #6
We always provide complimentary hanging hardware, including a sawtooth or wire on the back of your piece, as well as a hook for your wall. Exactly what we offer depends on your artwork. Sawtooth hangers are appropriate for small frames, but are inadequate for frames larger than 8" x 10". Generally, wire works best for frames up to a weight of 30 lbs.For frames over 30 lbs., we use separate hangers on each side of the frame back, and no wire. If a wire is used on a heavy frame, the sides pull toward the center, and corner joints are strained; also, top and bottom rails of the frame tend to bow.

All in the Family

We frame a lot of family photos, and we love nothing better than to see an inspirational display. We came across these and couldn't help but drool just a little. Notice the difference in width between the different gold frames. And we're suckers for mixing frame finishes - the black and silver are downright striking!

No Art? No Problem!

Ok, so maybe we're a little biased, but we think picture frames are awesome. Even when there's no art in them! See what we mean?

What's the Best Glass for Your Art?

When you visit our retail store, we aim to give you exactly what you want. That's why we offer several choices in all our picture framing materials - right down to the glass that protects your art. We stock regular glass as well as non-glare, plus higher-end options for your more valuable pieces. See the difference...

Conservation Clear 99% UV protection protects your art from fading

Museum Glass 99% UV protection Amazing clarity

Conservation Reflection Control 99% UV protection with glare reduction

Excerpt from The Art of the Picture Frame by Jacob Simon

“The picture frame has existed for as long as pictures have been moveable. Any moveable painting required a frame to protect it. Even a fixed painting set in panelling needed some sort of framework. The idea of a framing device is older than the picture frame, however, and many early wall paintings and frescoes were given a containing painted or architectural framework.

The frame may have started out as a form of protection but its visual and symbolic purposes soon became equally important. Such purposes are not constant but vary with time and place. The frame separates the work of art from its surroundings and may help focus the viewer’s attention. At the same time it can actually unite a work with its surroundings by forming a transition or a link to other works or to the wider setting. The frame can become part of the setting itself when it is designed to fit into an architectural scheme. More obviously, the frame is usually intended to enhance a picture visually and, occasionally, iconographically. Sometimes the frame is used to draw attention to a work as an object of value or reverence; such a frame may not necessarily enhance it in visual terms, but can contribute to its symbolic significance. The frame marks out a picture as a picture, that is as an illusion rather than reality.”