AboutSara Tro Expertise I am a professional custom picture framer and designer. I have experience in all areas of
picture framing, and own my own custom framing shop. I can answer questions relating
to the design of a piece, the preservation of the artwork, color theory, photograph
restoration, decor, art placement, room balancing and installation questions.
Experience I have owned my own retail custom frame shop for 5 years, and managed a high-end shop before that for 5.5 years. I worked for a professional restorer and archivist for 8 months prior to the management position. I am also a fine artist myself, with a BFA in Photography and Printmaking, and have been framing my own work for years and years.
Education/Credentials BFA Fine Arts, NYSCC at Alfred University, NY
Expert: Sara Tro Date: 1/2/2008 Subject: Stairway gallery framing
Question My question is can I mix types of frames in the same color family. For instance, I sticking to black, but some are the shiny gallery frames like in pottery barn and others are distressed. The wall is painted rainwashed from Sherwin Williams - sort of an aqua blue. I trying to get a modern look and not so symmetrical. Any tips would be appreciated.
K McCabe
Answer Hi K,
Thanks for the question! Installation dilemas are tough, but the struggle is really worthwhile once you get through it!
So, I think you're on a great track, in terms of mixing the styles and finishes of your frames. It does depend on what you're framing, and how many pieces you have to hang, but for the most part I advise people to mix it up a bit to add texture and interest.
The exception to that theory would be if you had a few larger pieces.
If you have a series of pieces, in any medium and theme, maybe 5 or 6 pieces, let's say, and the pieces are clearly a series, (by the same artist, etc.), then I may say that's an exception and the frames should be the same. Only because if the images all share the same tones and subtleties, it'll look forced to frame them in 6 different ways, especially if the pieces would all look best in one specific frame.
A great collection to hang in the "less symetrical and slightly modern" look is a collection of vintage photographs of family. You can also work with modern photographs, but make sure all the tones are similar, and stick with black and white or sepia toned prints.. (You can easily take your favorite color prints and turn them into vintage looking black and whites). (I recommend this because color photographs can look too pedestrian for a wall arrangement.. not always, but usually). If you have many pieces (like 20 or more), you can frame them all in very different frames that share a color or finish, and add personality to each one with some subtle matting techniques. A cluster of many small pieces is kept from becoming a giant "block" on the wall by differences in texture and variation in size of the frames and matts.
In this (cluster) installation situation, I usually advise clients to mix frame styles, frame widths, matt widths and frame finishes (in the same color palette, like all silvers, or all blacks and browns), while keeping unity with the items framed. If you mix the subject matter, color palette and frames, it can look disconnected. You want the final result to look "planned but unplanned", and if it's well installed, it'll look very elegantly casual. With the cluster, you want the framed pieces to not line up too much. I usually start by laying the pieces out on the floor to get the best color and frame balance, and then begin hanging in the center and work my way down and up from there, using a horozontal diamond as a basic guide.. (meaning the whole cluster would taper to fewer pieces at the ends, and has a larger amount in the center. Being that the collection will travel up a diagonal makes this harder, but still an overall good base).
With the larger framed series of fewer pieces, you want them to be hung at regular intervals, and the same distance from the step below.. you want to create a very classy, simple look, and in this case the pieces actually act as "punctuation", drawing the eye from one floor to the next. (It can be very strong, so make sure there's something up above on the second floor to draw the eye to, even if it's just an accent wall color, or a simple textile or tapestry.)
So, that's the long answer to your short question!
The basic answer is you can mix finishes of frames, as long as you have a large enough number of pieces, and they're fairly small. The fewer pieces you have, the less wiggle room you have with that. (Sometimes a little variation can look good, just make sure that the frames are really similar looking from a distance).
if you have any more info, or more specific questions, please don't hestitate to write again..
