More Than Just a Place for Your Poker!

A fireplace is an important focal point in any room and offers a great opportunity for an inspiring decorative display. But, creating an attractive and engaging mantel can present a challenge. While it's tempting to hang a piece of art over the mantel and call it a day, there are many more options you can incorporate to create visual interest above your fireplace. In addition to flat artwork, consider including wall mounted sculpture, rugs, mirrors and dimensional objects when designing your display.

No Art? No Problem!

In the above example, decorative objects take the place of framed art. The variation of size and  placement of the objects creates visual interest while the colors compliment the furnishings and wall color. The result is a beautiful mantelpiece that gives the room a formal, yet approachable style.

Texture is the Key

 

This rustic stone fireplace is a perfect spot for art and floral arrangements placed side-by-side. Here, texture is the key. Notice that both the artwork and the dried arrangements incorporate the color and texture anchored by the stone fireplace. Instead of being hung, the pictures lean against the wall which gives them a unique perspective and angle. The the combination of stone, wood, floral, and fine art creates a room that is relaxing and comfortable.

Repeating Objects and Color

Perfect for a bedroom, library or den, the botanic art above this mantel captures the beauty of nature year-round. In this example, the theme is color and repetition. Repeating one color helps to integrate the multiple pieces of the display. Although this style has a more formal quality, it is softened by the floral arrangements making it a comfortable spot to read or relax.

Sometimes Simple is Best

The stacked stone work surrounding this fireplace is unusual and beautiful. The frame placed above the mantel is intentionally left empty to highlight the variation of the stone. Balanced placement is crucial in a simple arrangement. The ship and candlesticks give this a relaxing vacation home feel - perhaps on the beach!

If you have questions about designing your mantel, need picture framing or an unusual object to complete your vision, please stop by Masten Fine Framing & Gifts. We would love to help you.

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Thinking "Inside" the Box

Shadow boxes are a great way to display and protect objects that don't fit into conventional frames. Almost any object or collection will work in a shadow box frame. Vacation souvenirs, mementos from a grandparent, a favorite collection, a child's outfit or almost anything you can think of is a possibility. A custom shadowbox can be made to almost any depth to create a dramatic and unusual piece of art for a space in your home or office.

A Wedding To Remember 

Wedding flowers surrounded by a favorite photograph, invitation and other mementos from the special day will be a proudly displayed treasure. A shadow box accommodates the combination of three dimensional objects and photographs in the same frame, capturing the beauty and feeling of the occasion.

Celebrate A New Baby

Welcoming a new baby to the family provides a wonderful opportunity to create a display of items. Consider birth announcements, photographs and other pieces that convey the significance of this happy time. Use your imagination to create a collage celebrating the new arrival. Perfect for a nursery wall now, the shadow box will be a valued keepsake in the years to come.

Showcase An Autographed Collection

Sports memorabilia is often displayed in shadow box frames. In addition to a sports jersey, you can include ticket stubs, team pictures and other items to make an impressive display for a den, game room or office. The combination of several objects will make your display more interesting and help tell a story that will be preserved for years to come.

Souvenirs From An Outdoor Adventure

Almost any collection can be arranged and given a new life in a shadow box. Souvenirs from a hiking trip or an outdoor adventure can be protected and preserved in a shadow box frame. The example above emphasizes the beauty found in nature while helping to preserve the fragile items.

If you have an item or a collection that you would like to incorporate into a shadow box, visit Masten Fine Framing & Gifts. Our 27 years of experience can help guide you toward a creative and beautiful design that will showcase your special items and last a lifetime.

It's Never Too Big!

A very large piece of art can help an ordinary room look and feel extraordinary. A large poster or fine art original makes a statement, creates drama and can become the focal point of a room. Chosen properly, it can bring the decor to life and give your space a unique personality without looking out of place or dwarfing the room.

Oversized art can have a great effect in any room of your home. Any large wall can potentially accommodate a piece of oversized art. Don’t be afraid to use larger pieces in living and dining spaces, bedrooms, or hallways and foyers.

Illusion of More Space

In this relatively small seating area, the art gives the space personality and actually makes the room feel larger. Much like adding another window, it opens up and expands the room. In the evening, the attached picture lights enhance the illusion of space. The picture also accentuates the colors of the furniture and decorative accents, and creates a relaxing, restful environment.

Create a Backdrop

This example illustrates the dramatic effect that large art can have in a larger space. The light colored abstract painting creates a stunning backdrop for the contemporary furnishings and helps to brighten an otherwise dark corner. Like the example above, the art repeats colors that are already present in the room.

Focal Point

A single piece of beautiful art creates more drama than multiple smaller pieces by drawing your eye to one central area. This art was carefully chosen to enhance the tranquil and rejuvenating feel of the bedroom. Restful to the eye, this bedroom is a terrific example of how art can set the tone of the room.

Drama and Mood

 

Finally, this side-by-side example illustrates how a hallway, entryway or foyer can benefit from unique oversized fine art. The pieces shown above seem out of scale for their location, but are completely well-suited to the spaces they occupy. They provide mood and personality while welcoming those who pass through to the main rooms with a lasting visual impression.

Masten Fine Framing & Gifts can give you tips for selecting the right artwork and then help you select a frame that will complement your piece of oversized art beautifully. You can choose from thousands of frame samples to find the look that enhances the art and the space in your home.

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Creating the Illusion of More Space in Your Home

Today, the concept of small-space-living is increasingly popular. Not only are small spaces more affordable, but they are readily available in urban areas. Living in a small space doesn’t have to feel cramped or tight. There are several innovative ways to make a small living space appear larger and well-proportioned.

One way to make a room appear larger is the strategic use of mirrors. They can mimic the look of windows, brighten a room by reflecting light, and make a room appear larger. A mirror can also be a beautiful accent; a piece of art in its own right. 

Illusion of Additional Windows

The above photograph illustrates how mirrors can be used to create the illusion of windows. Using multiple mirrors makes the dining room appear much larger by reflecting other areas of the room while also reflecting light and making it brighter.

Make a Bold Statement

 

 

A ‘statement mirror’ is a gorgeous addition to a space of any size. In a smaller room, it creates an illusion of additional space and also serves as a piece of fine art. In this example, the mirror is the primary focus of the room. It is so large, that it is leaning rather then hanging. The frame can be ornate or simple, and provides contrast while complimenting the furnishings and other elements of the decor.

Welcoming Mirror

A beautifully framed mirror in an entryway or foyer enhances the space while offering guests a spot to touch-up before entering or leaving a residence. A mirror in the entryway is warm and welcoming and provides a much-appreciated touch of hospitality.

Accentuating a Piece of Furniture

Mirrors enrich the beauty of a room and its furnishings by reflecting a combination of decorative elements. A mirror's reflection of the surrounding furniture and decor can add a sense of depth. A mirror also creates a warm, open environment by reflecting color and light to the best advantage. 

If you are considering an accent mirror for your home, but don't know how to start, measure the space and take a photo with your phone. Bring the measurements and photo to Masten Fine Framing & Gifts. We can help you select the perfect ready-to-hang mirror or make a custom mirror for less than the furniture stores charge. 

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How To Create A Framed Grouping

Grouping frames or creating a collage of images can be a wonderful way to create an impressive accent display while highlighting pieces that have a common theme. No space is off limits. You can use a space over a couch or other large piece of furniture, a bare wall over a staircase, or the wall space running the length of a hallway. There are several ways to create an eye-catching, interesting collage that will enhance a space in your home or office.

Using a Frame Border

The example above illustrates how you can use one or two larger pieces placed in the center surrounded by smaller ones to create a border. This technique is especially good for a flat space that will be used as a visual accent above a piece of furniture. This grouping is easy to master by following a few simple guidelines: a) Use complimentary color or black and white images to achieve continuity. b) Select frames in the same color or two complimentary colors and arrange them to showcase the images to their best advantage. c) Experiment with a contrasting wall color to really make the frames and images ‘pop’ against the background.

Working With a Center Line

Establishing a common center line separating two rows of images creates the continuity needed to generate visual interest by varying heights and shapes at the top and bottom of the collage. This technique is especially good for long continuous spaces like hallways because it gives the viewer a chance to see each image as part of the group and individually. The same guidelines suggested above apply, although there is a bit more room for variation if the collage is especially large. You can also employ this technique at an angle to work your way up a staircase wall.

 Linear Hanging Images

Selecting frames of approximately the same size and color in different shapes, and using images that are either color or black and white enables you to hang them from a cord, ribbon or wire vertically. Although the frames appear to be hanging from the ribbon, the ribbon is placed first and then the frames are hung from picture hooks. This is especially attractive when using wedding photographs or pictures of children. Often seen in a child’s nursery, this is a fun way to display pictures with special sentimental value.

So…What’s Wrong With This Grouping?

Now that you’ve learned about some different methods used to group images, look at the example above and try to figure out what’s missing. Something makes it incomplete. How would you fix it? 

Now It's Complete...

By making the suggested correction, a better balance is achieved and the entire collage is more attractive and interesting.

Don’t be afraid to experiment. Use craft paper or cardboard sized to duplicate your frames and find the arrangement you like best by moving them around on the wall. Once you settle on an arrangement, start hanging the frames. Before you know it, you’ll have created a fantastic photograph or art collage.

Masten Fine Framing and Gifts can help you with ideas, materials and framing to assure your project will look great! 

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The Masten Story

27 years ago, Reed Masten worked as a graphic artist for a government agency in the Denver area. Driven by a desire to make and sell things from an early age, Reed recalls selling handmade acorn pipes door-to-door at age eight. Years later, that same entrepreneurial spirit drove him to change his life and open his own business.

With a degree in Fine Art, Reed focused on picture framing which was a natural fit for his artistic skill and talent. He opened Masten Fine Framing & Gifts in the historic Uptown Denver neighborhood in July 1986. Specializing in hand-gilded custom picture frames for fine artists and galleries, the business grew to include full-service custom framing for everything from posters to fine art originals.

Before long, Reed expanded the space at Masten to include a fine art gallery. Five years later, the gallery once again transitioned to include antiques. As business continued to grow and change, Masten phased out antiques to make room for unique home accents, gifts, jewelry and greeting cards.

In 2008, Masten found itself in need of additional space. Again, the shop expanded to accommodate a dedicated framing area with thousands of frame samples for customers to choose from.

Today, in addition to the best custom framing in town, the store is packed with unique and one-of-a-kind gifts for any occasion. Greeting cards and gift bags make it a one-stop-shop for Denver’s discerning customers. 

The merchandise is always fresh and rotates frequently, so shopping at Masten is a fun and new experience anytime. Drop in to say hello to Reed and his staff and, of course, Oscar the shop dog!