A good frame makes a painting look more like itself. A poor one competes with it. These are the questions we work through with every original that comes into the studio.
1. Look at the work first
Scale, brushwork, colour and period all suggest a direction. Loose, expressive canvases often suit a simple, confident profile; detailed or classical works can carry more ornament. Choose for the painting, then check it works in the room.
2. Match the weight of the moulding
A large canvas in a thin frame looks under-dressed; a small work in a heavy moulding looks swamped. As a rule, the bigger and bolder the painting, the wider and deeper the profile can be.
3. Pick a finish that belongs to the painting
- Gilded and metallic finishes warm up classical and figurative work and read beautifully under evening light.
- Natural woods suit contemporary and landscape pieces and sit comfortably in modern interiors.
- Black, white and painted finishes give a clean gallery edge to abstract and graphic work.
The strongest choices usually echo a colour or tone already in the painting rather than the sofa.
4. Canvas: traditional frame or floater?
A traditional rebated frame covers the canvas edge and gives a finished, formal look. A floater frame leaves a shadow gap around the canvas so it appears to float — ideal for contemporary work and gallery-wrapped edges.
5. Works on paper need glazing and a mount
Watercolours, drawings and prints should sit behind glazing, separated by a mount or spacer so the surface never touches the glass. Oils and acrylics on canvas are normally left unglazed.
6. Compare in person
Corner samples held against the painting settle most decisions in minutes. Bring the work to our Jumeirah Centre showroom and we will pull a shortlist of profiles to compare side by side.