Early one from me this morning have to be up and out the door pretty pronto. This morning I thought I might yabber about frames seeing as they are one of those finishing touches that transform walls, mantles, shelves in a nano second. So you’ve got the art, could be something super expensive or not, maybe its a print, a tear sheet, a flea market/auction find but you don’t have any cool frames. Frames are hard to find I’m not talking simple black and white things here I am talking frames with personality – I love the combo of partnering quite a modernish piece of art in an ornate frame, its causes friction and the more visual friction you create the more interesting a space becomes.
Whenever I trawl auction houses/flea markets I’m always on the hunt and have actually found some cool frames housing mirrors that I’ve subsequently ditched and then plonked my art in. This big guy below is still a mirror but used to have a horrible green surround until I sprayed it to give it a slightly more rock n roll edge. Talking of mirrors D& J Simons in East London have the coolest collection of mirror surrounds, ornate and gilded as well as rooms and rooms of frames (well worth a visit).
Photography Rebecca Reid
Below a mantle in my bedroom and the art a flea market find. By chance the art actually came with the frame (very rare indeed) but I see heaps and heaps of these gilded frames at action houses that no one ever seems to want as the art inside is rough.
Photography Rebecca Reid
Finally this is one of my favourite frames, a gift from my friend Lisa Whatmough who owns Squint
That’s me done, happy Monday everyone – rainy, a bit cold but you know nothing is going to dampen my spirits today feel in a surprisingly good mood considering the hour and the weather. x
Hi Abigail, My sister and I are looking forward to your master class in NYC-very excited! I have been watching your blog to see if you might be posting a promo code to stay at the Ace Hotel (you had mentioned that there was going to be a uber good deal for those of us interested). I was thinking I might just call them, but not sure if you had worked out the details with them yet. Thank you for coming to the US, we are so pleased you are sharing your insight and ideas with us.
Regards,
Sherry
If you can stand to wait another day we are just in the final throws of working out a deal, am staying there also so hoping to get it all sorted in the next day or two latest.
Love your red mirror, great idea to repaint the mirror a rock n’ rol colour!
Hi Abagail, am in NYC at a different time, but in the course of my research thought you may like this look of this hotel – looks FAB: http://www.thenomadhotel.com/#/dining/library
Cool thank you x
love a good flea market frame myself, today i bought a really bad oil painting of a sunset for a quid and have taken it and wrote in lipstick all over it xxx
Perfect x
Sounds cool, I am on the hunt for one too after Abi’s masterclass!
Hi, I’d love a mantlepiece but have been told that i cannot knock a hole in my wall due to being in a first floor flat. Do you have any suggestions for a mantle without the fireplace…. without looking odd?
I built a few fireplaces (all fake) for the C4 show get your house in order, so it doesn’t really matter. The thing to do though is to build out a firebreast (I did this with MDF) with a hole for the mantle to sit on as if it just goes on a flat wall it will look silly. Hope that helps
Yes! You’ve been a great help (again) And i now remember how you did it on the show, but will be re-viewing on 4od before winging my way to your shop for the desired mantle. Thanks again
These frames are great – such an easy way to liven up a room! I love the idea of choosing a nice shaped one and then spraying it a different colour. It’s always so hard to find exactly what you want, especially from thrift stores.
Hi Abigail,great article.I have found lots of old frames in the street and i love using them in my art.I also use lots of old glass cooker lids which are ideal for mosaic objects and furniture.Recycling rocks!