Frames · materials · finishes
The Frame Library gives us thousands of profiles and finishes to compare.
Wood species is only one part of the decision. The profile, finish, sheen, inner edge and the way the surface catches light often matter more than the name on the sample.
Choosing wood
We choose wood for both appearance and construction.
Walnut, maple, oak, cherry, ash and other woods differ in grain, color, strength and the way they take a finish. We choose from those differences rather than treating one species as automatically better.
Walnut and deeper wood tones
Walnut and other darker woods bring visible grain and warmth when we want the wood itself to be part of the design.
Maple, oak, cherry, ash and related woods
Lighter woods can stay quiet or be toned and stained. Stronger grain can become a deliberate part of the frame when the artwork and room support it.
Pine, basswood and engineered construction
When the surface will be painted, gessoed, gilded or wrapped, the underlying wood is chosen for construction and finish performance rather than visible grain.
Finish changes the color, sheen and detail of a simple profile
Wax, stain, lacquer, paint, powder coat, leaf and patina each affect color, sheen and edge definition. We choose the material and finish together so the frame looks the way we want and is built appropriately for the job.
Metal, acrylic and specialty materials
Metal and specialty materials give us different shapes, depths and surfaces.
Thin welded profiles, painted metal, leather and other materials give us options for narrow lines, unusual depths, different textures and custom finishes.
Welded and fabricated metal
Steel and aluminum give us crisp lines, unusual depths and custom shapes that are difficult to achieve in wood.
Clear and colored acrylic
Acrylic can create a highly contemporary frame or support where transparency is part of the design.
Wrapped surfaces
Leather and fabric bring texture and color without carved ornament and can be used on frames, liners and inner details.
Custom-cut mirrors
We cut mirrors to custom shapes, including curved edges, and develop the frame, bevel, finished dimensions and installation around the design.
Frame finishes
The finish can completely change how a frame looks.
Matte, rubbed, polished, painted, gilded and patinated surfaces reflect light differently. The same profile can look softer, sharper, warmer or more formal depending on the finish.
Natural wood finishes
Wax, clear finish, stain and dye: keep the grain visible while changing color, warmth and sheen.
Paint and lacquer
Opaque color: useful when the frame needs a clean, consistent surface or a color tied to the artwork or room.
Gold and metal leaf
Leaf: can be bright, matte, toned, rubbed or distressed depending on how the frame should catch light.
Patina and metal finishes
Patina, glaze and powder coat: change color, depth and sheen on wood or metal and can soften or sharpen the final surface.
Mats, liners and details around the artwork
Mats, liners and inner frames shape the space around the artwork.
They can add open space, a defined edge, a fabric surface or a small line of color between the artwork and the outer frame.
Window and float presentations
Matboard comes in different plys, colors and surfaces. Width, bevel and color all affect the proportion around the artwork.
Thicker and multi-layered mats
Thicker mats create a deeper bevel and more physical separation from the glazing.
Fabric-covered mats and liners
Linen, silk and other wrapped surfaces can soften the transition between artwork and frame. Sensitive artwork is isolated from fabric where needed.
French lines, specialty openings, liners and slips
Small ruled lines, shaped openings and inner frame details can add structure or a restrained accent without taking over the design.
How we use the Frame Library
We narrow the Frame Library to the options that suit the artwork.
We usually bring a few good options to the table first. The size of the Frame Library matters when those first choices are not right—we have somewhere else to go without making you sort through thousands of samples.
Bring room finishes or material samples if they matter to the project.
Paint, fabric, stone, millwork and metal references can all help when the frame needs to sit in a specific interior.