For the Love of Framing

I hate love doing art installations for clients. 

No really, I hate love it. 

I find it to be a total pain in the a$# joy. 

When working with clients on art installations, I usually love to get some beautiful art from Etsy and then have it professionally framed.

Of course, when we get to the 'professionally framing' part of the project I warn them that it might cost them their first born and a kidney just a bit to get a good quality frame and sophisticated mats. Insert nervous smile and glare from client as we hear the budget crashing.....

One of the reasons I poke my eyes out with bamboo shoots jump up and down for joy when I get to do an art installation is because it is a bit of a hunt to get a good quality on a budget...if only the ready made frame options were a little more sophisticated.


And then I stumbled upon this post by Emily Henderson: Best Ready Made Picture Frames and How to Frame Them. The girl is brilliant. My clients should hire her....just kidding. I do actually use a lot of the Pottery Barn and West Elm ready-mades but Emily does such a good job of reviewing the whole lot of them so I thought I would share. You have to head over there to check out her list....

Here are some I am digging right now for some projects...love the burlap mat- nice bit of texture on the walls...

Pottery Barn Multi-Mat Frames

I tend to love me some square frames....but those are not that easy to find....especially with standard size mats-at AI Friedman they have 8x8 frames with mats for 5x5 but it is tricky finding art or photos that work in that size.

Here is one Etsy artist of Images of This and That who does work in 12x12 to accommodate the Ikea Ribba Square Frame...brilliant, right? I actually won a contest for one of her photos and have not yet decided...they are all so lovely! Check them out....they'll be easy to frame!

   

Ok, that is enough ranting for today...once I finish taking down the window treatment industry for making 84" panels standard (no one should buy 84" unless your house is built for a gnome!) then I'll tackle the frame industry.......one soapbox at a time!

Someone made a purchase!

Look who made a purchase! I just picked these puppies up for my living room....

The Pottery Barn Bhotah Drapes in natural....they also come in blue...LOVE!

Pottery Barn is having a major sale on drapes and rugs right now so get your shopping on! And if you are my client, give me a holla because you know I get a discount on top of that sale...and if you're not my client then give me a holla so we can change that and hook you up with this...

 The Pottery Barn Beni Ourain Rug......I have lots of Pottery Barn wool rugs and they wear VERY well...mine are going on 9 years old and look brand new....two kids....one dog....husband with big feet.....great quality!

Will show you pics when my curtains come in! If you'd like to place a Pottery Barn order...shoot me an email and I'll hook you up!!

Trend spotting: Spindle Chair

As a self-confessed design junkie, I have my eyes all over the market...constantly....my head in the mags, catalogs, showrooms, blogs- everything design related. Through my obsessive hunting, I have totally fallen for an oldie but a goodie...the spindle chair. It is not a new design style but for some reason, all of a sudden it has my design senses in overdrive digging this chair! I think I am abandoning the wicker chair idea for my living room and going for the spindle!
Here are some inspiration rooms:

Source: housebeautiful.com via Joanne on Pinterest

Source: wisteria.com via Joanne on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Joanne on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Joanne on Pinterest

Source: mrshowardpersonalshopper.com via Joanne on Pinterest

Source: houseofturquoise.com via Joanne on Pinterest

Ok, now that I got your juices flowing...here are some options so get that credit card out!

 Ahhh, to dream. The Ralph Lauren Spindle Chair running from $3825- $4875 depending on the fabric. Not unless I land a very big gig.......who has a summer home and winter home for me to decorate, too....

The Neiman Marcus Massoud Spindle Chair at $2149 is also out of my budget...especially because I need two.

Sorry for the fuzzy pics....there is also this Old Hickory Tannery Suzani Spindle Chair with suzani fabric for $1726..still too high but gorgeous!

Another fuzzy photo but great chair! There is the Old Hickory Spindle Chair from Horchow for about $1599+ depending on the fabric.  Getting lower in price but....I think I can do better.......and voila!

Source: potterybarn.com via Joanne on Pinterest

The Pottery Barn Sabine Spindle Chair is the winner! For $799 and a choice of two fabrics, I think these have made it on my short wish list for the living room. Next step, sell my current stuff on Craigslist!