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Framing - cheap not fancy — Brooklynian

Framing - cheap not fancy

emily
emily
edited November -1 in Prospect Heights

I'm looking to get a couple of things framed. Nothing special or valuable, more in the "filling wall space" genre. Looking at old threads, I saw these two places:

http://www.frameitinbrooklyn.com/

http://www.brooklynframeworks.com/

Anyone have any current feedback or info on the relative expense of these places? I'd prefer not to shlep stuff to Gowanus unless it's really cheaper (in which case I'm totally willing to do it).

Comments

  • dailyheights
    dailyheights

    Emily, I had good luck with San Art at 7th and Flatbush http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en&q=7th+and+flatbush,+brooklyn&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Flatbush+Ave+&+7th+Ave,+Brooklyn,+NY+11217&gl=us&ei=NbMsTcqQJYTGlQfWucjCCg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CBQQ8gEwAA

    I'm not very sophisticated in terms of understanding what is good framing, but having framed a few items myself, I really appreciate the quality job and materials they used.

    It was definitely more than I expected to spend, but not terribly expensive - it fell into the "cheap stuff is not quality, quality is not cheap" category.

  • emily
    emily

    Hm, maybe I will try there. I think of them as expensive, but maybe if I choose cheaper materials it wouldn't be. Plus it's not far to walk to check it out.

  • ltjbukem
    ltjbukem

    pratt art store.

  • smokin joe
    smokin joe

    i've found the folks at san art rude and the prices expensive. i've used prints charming a lot and have been very happy with their work. it's a dumb name but darren, the guy who runs it, really knows what he's doing. prices seem about the same as custom framing anywhere, not cheap but worth the money if it's something you care about and it needs a custom frame job. if not, target has a decent selection of premade frames.

    prints charming is on 4th st near 5th ave., (718) 230-8118.

  • opossumqueen
    opossumqueen

    I had some things to be framed and actually decided to just buy the frames myself and stick the prints in and love the frames I got from Frames USA:

    http://www.frameusa.com/woodfram.htm

  • xlizellx
    xlizellx

    by not trek to Gowanus did you mean not go to IKEA? Otherwise, they are way cheaper and have a ton of selection in shapes/sizes/colors/etc.

  • ben
    ben

    Lots of places that build custom frames to your specs online for very reasonable prices. www.pictureframes.com www.framesbymail.com and others are good.

  • theindecisionpigeon
    theindecisionpigeon

    ok obviously the upper west side isn't ideal, but there's a living social deal today for framing and i remembered seeing this thread yesterday. the deal is pay $38 get $100 worth. might be worth the haul:

    http://livingsocial.com/deals/20907-38-for-100-of-custom-framing

  • whyfi
    whyfi

    I tend to look at standard-sized frames (actually found a pretty nice 18" x 24" at BB&B for $25) and then search for pre-cut mats to fit. If I can't find a pre-cut mat, it's pretty reasonable to have one custom cut.

  • emily
    emily

    @xlizellx That Frame It Brooklyn place is in Gowanus...

    I'm not sure either of the things I have is standard size, but worth checking out. I think Ben's online suggestions may be the way to go. I'm pretty good at measuring things and also know how to assemble frames. (There used to be this place in my hometown that built the frames and then you put them together.)

    Thanks for the Living Social idea, but I don't want to get burned buying it and then find out that a tiny frame is $200...

  • nicholas
    nicholas

    Can someone recommend a place that is the opposite i.e. fancy, not cheap? I have a poster worth several thousand dollars that I want framed and don't want to skimp on the quality...

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Nicholas-

    The San Art place place mentioned above (on 7th Ave, almost at Flatbush) did a really nice job with a friend's Ketubah.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketubah

    Needless to say, its a fancy expensive document and got the treatment it deserved.

  • whyfi
    whyfi

    Nicholas wrote: Can someone recommend a place that is the opposite i.e. fancy, not cheap? I have a poster worth several thousand dollars that I want framed and don't want to skimp on the quality...

    I think that the main thing is that you want anything in contact with the piece to be archival-quality - not leak or leach, block light that'll make it fade, etc. These requirements aren't all that high, most framing places (and photography shops) can handle it. Everything else is aesthetic choice.

  • nicholas
    nicholas

    Thanks!

  • emily
    emily

    Damn it! Today's living social is $70 for $150 worth of framing at Brooklyn Frameworks. I just dropped my stuff off someplace else last weekend, though. Hope someone else can use it.

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