Blog

A mirror's glass is neutral, so it is the frame that gives a mirror its character. The colour and finish decide whether a mirror sits quietly on the wall or becomes the focal point of the room. In my workshop I make mirror frames from scratch and finish them by hand, from pale 6-carat gilding through to deep 23-carat ducat gold, as well as silver, black and mirrored options. Here is how I choose a finish, and how to match one to your room. more

Framing has shifted from a protective afterthought to a deliberate design decision. In this guide I share the picture framing trends I see most in my workshop in 2026: the materials, finishes and bespoke choices that make a frame part of the artwork, not just its border. more

Choosing a custom framing workshop is not the same as ordering a frame off a shelf. When you work with a small workshop you are commissioning a piece built from raw wood for one specific painting, photograph or mirror. In this guide I explain how working with my workshop actually unfolds: the first conversation, the design decisions we make together, the materials and gilding I use, realistic lead times, and how to order even if you are nowhere near Poland. more

The right frame depends far more on what you are framing than on any single house style. An oil painting, a watercolour, a family photograph and a war medal each ask for something different, in profile, in glazing and in the way the work is held. Here I set out how I choose a frame for each kind of artwork in my workshop, along with the practical decisions that protect the piece for the long term. more

The shape of a glamour mirror changes everything: how it catches light, how it fills a wall and how a room feels. In my workshop I build round, oval, rectangular, arched and irregular glamour mirrors from solid timber and gild them by hand. Here is how I help clients choose the right form. more

A glamour mirror should be the piece a room is arranged around, but not everything sold as glamorous is genuinely luxurious. I make glamour mirrors to measure from solid timber, gilded by hand with real gold leaf, and this is what actually separates an elegant, lasting piece from one that only looks the part. more

The entrance is usually the smallest, darkest space in the house. Here is how I choose a hallway mirror that makes a narrow or dark hall feel larger and brighter, and what to do when no standard size fits. more

Conservation framing is what keeps a valuable painting, print or photograph in good condition for decades rather than years. In my workshop I build frames the way a conservation studio would: UV museum glass, acid-free mounting, fully reversible fixings and solid timber chosen for stability. Below I explain how these specialist techniques work in practice, and how to tell when your own artwork genuinely needs them. more

From a watercolour on paper to a medal, a christening gown or a framed mirror, no two types of artwork should be framed the same way. In my workshop I build and finish every frame by hand, matched to what the piece is made of and how it needs to be protected. Here is how I frame each kind of work. more

Choosing a picture frame means balancing two things at once: how the frame looks and how it is built. In this guide I compare the main decorative styles, from ornate and gilded to minimalist, alongside the constructions I make in my workshop, including deep, spacer and box frames, so you can match the right frame to your painting. more

The style of a frame shapes how a painting reads as strongly as its colour does. In this guide I set out the main picture frame styles and types, classic, modern and eclectic, explain the profiles behind each one, and show how I match a frame to the artwork and the room in my workshop. more

Picture framing materials quietly decide whether a painting survives the next fifty years or slowly fades behind its glass. In my workshop I build every frame from raw moulding, and I choose each component, glazing, mount, backing and finish, to suit one specific piece. This guide explains what each material does and how I select it. more

A made-to-measure picture frame is built to the exact dimensions of your artwork, not approximated to the nearest shop size. In my workshop I cut, join and finish every frame by hand from raw moulding, so the fit, the proportions and the finish all answer to one specific piece. more

Picture framing is far more than picking a moulding off a shelf. In this guide I explain what a frame actually does, the parts it is built from, how to choose between a standard size and a bespoke frame, and when conservation framing matters, all from the perspective of someone who makes frames and gilds them by hand. more

Professional picture framing is far more than a moulding around a painting. In my workshop I build every frame by hand from raw timber, gild it with real gold leaf, and seal it with UV glass and acid-free materials, so your artwork is protected and presented exactly as it should be more

Buying a ready-made picture frame is more than a matter of style — it is a decision that directly affects the presentation, durability, and visual integrity of the artwork. True quality lies not only in the material itself, but in the construction method, precision joinery, and finishing process. A high-end frame is defined by structural stability, seamless surface treatment, and meticulous craftsmanship — details that ensure longevity and elevate the overall perception of the piece. more

Choosing the right picture frame involves more than aesthetics. Proportion, color balance, material durability, and structural stability all play a role in how artwork is presented and preserved. This guide explains how to make an informed framing decision that enhances both the artwork and the surrounding interior. more

Not every artwork fits perfectly into a standard frame. When precision, proportion, and fine details are important, custom framing helps the frame match the artwork's character. It is the ideal solution for non-standard pieces and for situations where the frame becomes an integral part of the composition. more

Frame style is never just decoration: the profile, finish, ornament and colour decide how a painting or photograph reads, and how it sits in the room. As the maker who builds each frame by hand, I set out the main picture frame styles, from hand-gilded classic mouldings to clean modern profiles, and help you choose the right look for your art. more

A mount and a spacer are the two quiet decisions that change how a framed piece reads. In my workshop I cut mounts (passe-partout) and fit spacers by hand, and both do the same two jobs: they hold the artwork off the glass, and they give the picture room to breathe. Here is how I choose between them, and when each one is right for prints, photographs, watercolours and paintings. more

A frame is not a finishing touch added once a painting is done. It is part of how the work is read, and part of how it survives. Here I explain how I choose a frame that protects a piece and lets it be seen properly, drawing on what I have learned building and gilding frames by hand in my workshop. more

An American Box frame holds a canvas slightly away from the moulding, so the painting appears to float inside the frame with its edges fully visible. It is the framing I reach for most often with contemporary canvas work, and below I explain how box framing works, how it differs from floater and shadow box frames, and how I build each one to order in my workshop. more

Classic frames represent timeless elegance and refined taste — a design choice that never goes out of style and gains visual value over time. Whether used in art galleries, museums, or private interiors, they elevate the perception of a piece and emphasize its artistic depth. Discover how classic picture frames can complement traditional and modern spaces alike. more

A gilded picture frame is finished with genuine gold leaf laid over a prepared ground, not gold-coloured paint. Here I explain how gilded frames are made, the difference between gold leaf and metal leaf, water gilding and the carats I use, so you can choose the right gilded frame for your artwork. more