INTERIORS : Bestsellers: Unusual Frames
Last year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Americans took more than 4 billion snapshots, or more than 1,000 every second.
Most personal photos wind up in the hands of appreciative relatives, in albums and wallets or in the back of bureau drawers. But with the accuracy of point-and-shoot cameras and improved film processing, many of the candids are being framed and incorporated in home decor.
In a recent survey by Think Research of Western Springs, Ill., for Exposures, a mail-order firm, two-thirds of the respondents said they have framed photos in their homes, including ancestral portraits.
Most of the framed photos can be found in bedrooms. The next most popular place is the family room or study, followed by hallway, living room and playroom.
It’s hard to say which came first, the interest in framing photographs or interesting frames. In any case, there are a lot of styles to choose from, starting with the traditional sterling silver frame.
David Howell, a frame designer in Bedford Hills, N.Y., gets ideas for new frames from art objects in museums.
“It can be anything from a Peruvian textile to a William Morris wallpaper,” Howell says.
He says the most unusual frames are the bestsellers, such as a nickel silver frame shaped like a grape leaf, or the current leader, a nickel silver frame with cutouts of musical instruments taken from a 17th-Century musical manuscript.
The cluttered look of many family photographs on tabletops, mantelpieces and bookshelves is not as popular as it once was. More common today is choosing one or two unusual special frames.
The collage frame--one frame matted for several photos--is increasingly popular. Another idea is to treat a photo as if it were a valuable piece of art by matting it in a large frame. Example: Put a 3 1/2-by-5-inch photo in an 11-by-14-inch frame.
If you want to display photos but don’t know where to begin, walk through the house looking for suitable walls and tabletops. Consider a group of photos instead of, or in addition to, other artwork on the wall.
In a hallway or along an empty wall in any room, mount at eye-level a molding 2 1/2-inches deep with a lip at the edge. Stand framed photos against the lip. Or hang a shelf on a smaller wall and combine photos and knickknacks on it.
For a truly personal focal point in a room, consider mixing children’s artwork, decorative plates, prints, maps, menus or other meaningful images. Work out the arrangement on the floor before hanging it.
Also, consider unusual mats for photos, such as lace or other fabric in solid, bold colors or prints. Embellish plain mats by pasting comic book cutouts on them for a child’s room or family room.