A frame should do more than surround an artwork.
It should feel like it belongs there.
At Frames and Stretchers, we believe that custom framing is an extension of the artwork itself. It is a process of understanding the piece, exploring possibilities, paying attention to the smallest details, and creating something that feels intentional from every angle.
That is why we don't approach custom framing as simply choosing a molding from a catalog.
We approach it as design and craftsmanship.
No two artworks ask for exactly the same frame.
A contemporary painting may need a clean, architectural profile. A historic print may call for a more traditional frame with depth and character. A photograph may benefit from a minimal presentation that allows the image to take center stage. Another artwork may call for something completely custom, with a distinctive profile, hand-applied finish, or carefully developed combination of materials.
The frame has to respond to the artwork.
Its scale, colors, materials, period, texture, and overall character all become part of the conversation.
Our job is to understand that conversation and translate it into a frame.
One of the most important parts of our process happens before production begins.
We listen.
We want to understand what the client is looking for, what they love about the artwork, what they want the final presentation to feel like, and where the piece will live.
Sometimes a client arrives with a very specific idea.
Sometimes they know what they don't want, but aren't sure what the right solution is.
And sometimes they simply bring us the artwork and trust us to develop the possibilities.
In every case, our role is to guide the process.
We can explore different profiles, woods, finishes, proportions, mats, glazing options, and construction details until the framing feels right.
One of the things that makes custom framing special is that the design can be developed specifically for one piece.
We can work with different wood species, profiles, finishes, and proportions. We can create traditional or contemporary looks, understated presentations or frames that become an important visual element of the artwork.
Our recent work includes custom hardwood frames, sophisticated walnut and cherry finishes, Casetta-style frames, hand-finished gold details, and other bespoke designs.
But the material itself is never the starting point.
The artwork is.
We select and develop the materials based on what will best complement the piece.
Beautiful framing is often about the details you notice without immediately knowing why they make a difference.
The proportions of the frame.
The relationship between the artwork and the frame.
The width of a lip.
The depth of a profile.
The way a corner is joined.
The finish of the wood.
The amount of space around the artwork.
The way light interacts with the surface.
These decisions can be subtle, but together they determine how the finished piece feels.
This is why we take our time with custom work.
We don't want the frame to simply be finished.
We want it to feel resolved.
A major part of our approach is that our custom frames are handcrafted in-house.
That gives us something that standard framing cannot always provide: flexibility.
We can modify designs, adjust proportions, work with different woods and finishes, and develop details specifically for an individual project.
It also means that we are closely involved with the craftsmanship of the final piece.
From the initial design direction to the finished frame, we care about how every part comes together.
The result is a frame that is made specifically for the artwork rather than a standard product adapted to fit it.
There is a difference between making something and making something carefully.
Custom framing requires patience.
It requires precision.
It requires looking at the piece more than once, questioning proportions, considering alternatives, and paying attention to details that may seem small but ultimately change the finished presentation.
That is something we take seriously.
We are passionate about handmade work because it allows us to put that level of attention into every project.
Whether the final frame is quiet and minimal or highly detailed and decorative, our goal is the same: to make it feel intentional, refined, and appropriate for the artwork.
Our process is collaborative.
We begin by understanding the artwork and the project.
Then we develop framing directions and explore what could work best.
From there, we refine the design, select the appropriate materials and finishes, and move into production.
Because the work is handcrafted in-house, the design can remain flexible throughout the process.
That flexibility is important.
Sometimes a small adjustment makes the difference between a frame that looks good and one that looks exceptional.
Custom framing is also about protecting the artwork.
Depending on the piece, we can incorporate museum-quality glazing, archival materials, appropriate backing, spacers, and other conservation-minded components.
This allows us to approach the project from both sides: how the artwork should look and how it should be cared for.
For collectors, galleries, artists, designers, and institutions, that balance is essential.
A beautiful frame should also be an appropriate home for the artwork.
There are many places to buy a frame.
We believe the difference is in the level of attention behind it.
At Frames and Stretchers, we are not interested in making every artwork look the same.
We are interested in understanding what makes each artwork unique and creating a frame that responds to it.
Our team combines design, traditional craftsmanship, custom fabrication, and museum-quality framing to create bespoke framing solutions for individual artworks and entire collections.
We work with artists, collectors, galleries, interior designers, art consultants, and institutions who are looking for something more considered than a standard frame.
And because our work is produced in-house, we can be involved in the details from the beginning through the finished piece.
Frames and Stretchers provides custom framing services for clients in Miami and New York City, working with artwork ranging from intimate works on paper to large-scale paintings and complete collections.
Our Miami showroom and workshop in Wynwood gives clients the opportunity to explore custom framing while our team develops and produces the work.
In New York, we continue to work with artists, galleries, collectors, designers, and art professionals looking for carefully considered custom framing solutions.
Whether you are framing one important piece or developing a framing program for an entire collection, we bring the same level of care to the project.
A great frame should not distract from the artwork.
It should make the artwork feel more complete.
Sometimes that means creating something incredibly subtle.
Sometimes it means developing a frame with character, texture, or history of its own.
But regardless of the style, the principle remains the same:
The frame should be made for the artwork.
That is what custom framing means to us.
It is the combination of design, craftsmanship, precision, and care that turns a frame into part of the artwork's final presentation.
And that is why we love what we do.
Every artwork deserves more than a frame. It deserves the right frame.
Discover custom metal frames in Wynwood, Miami. Unique handcrafted designs, fully customizable sizes and finishes for contemporary art, photography, and prints.
