Art Accents offeres a full service

Home and Office Decor Consultation

Rudy will come to your location, consult with you on something as simple as how to rearrange your wall art to be fit into your surroundings.

Maybe you've moved and can't quite make it all fit together. Rudy can help you decide where they need to go for the best look. Sometimes they just need a new top mat (if it's a paper image) to make it blend better.

Rudy is an expert in hanging artwork and mirrors. He will ensure they are level and up to stay until you are ready to remove them.

We also offer home and office pick up and delivery for those of you who are too busy to come to us. We have art catalogs if you need to browse through them.

Whatever you art or framing needs, we are here to help. Contact us with your request(s) here.

Decorating Trends for 2008

Home décor expresses personal style while enriching leisure time by surrounding yourself with things you enjoy.  

The dark brown and light blue of the last few years is still popular, but the browns are now lighter, more golden with richness in their tone. Lines are straight, with simple hardware.

Use of white and off-white with pale neutrals and a splash of hot yellow green, salmon or soft peach or even orange or red will be the decorating trend this year. Neutral gray tones will also be evident, with small splashes of color being popular.

With neutral palettes, artwork will become the focal point in your room. We can help you select the subject and colors to enhance your décor.  Remember, time spend on decorating needs to be continued when choosing artwork so it all works together to create the look and feel that helps you feel cozy and comfortable in your surroundings.

Upcoming trends in artwork:

• Monochromatic matting color schemes
• Lighter woods, more grain
• Wider mouldings
• Richer color & metallic finishes
• Orange & Red image colors still prevail
• Single Flowers
• Bright earthy brown based images
• Red, black & white trend growing

How to fit Old Artwork into New Surroundings

When relocating, whether to a new area or just moving to another section of town, there is always the task of fitting your existing artwork into the new surroundings. Well-framed artwork can brighten the theme and add just the right colors to any room in a house.  There are several options available and the first one you will need to consider is the artwork itself.  Will it fit into the new décor?  If so, then existing colors in the art, mats and frame versus your specific tastes and the colors in the new surroundings need to be assessed.

One option is to either re-mat and or reframe a favorite piece so it better fits into its new surroundings for several more years of viewing pleasure.  A second option would be to find a new piece of art to fit into your existing frame.  At this point you might need to select new mats so they can be cut to properly fit the new artwork.  Occasionally, you can find a piece of art that will simply fit right into the existing mats and slip into the frame. 

If these options don’t appeal to you or simply won’t work in this situation, your third option would be to select a new piece of artwork and work with a custom framer to tailor the needs of the art, your specific taste and you décor.  Each situation is unique and so are the decisions required to blend these three elements so your art is perfect for its surroundings.  There are times when you want to make a statement and it will cost accordingly, but many times this can all be done for a reasonable cost.  This makes your initial investment of time and money well worth the effort.

Ten Choices to Consider When Framing Art

1. Find the right framer.

A good framer can help you with all the decisions that go into properly framing your art work. Quality framers have years of experience with framing and design, using a variety of materials and methods. We know when to recommend archival methods to preserve your artwork. Our designers and framers have a combined total of over 75 years of experience to help serve you better.

2. What and why to custom frame.

Whether you are framing a poster, your child’s hand prints or a fine work of art, custom framing will reflect your personnel taste and protect your piece for years to come.

3. Consider the surroundings.

While you should certainly consider the room’s decor, you shouldn’t match the framing to the room at the expense of what looks good with the picture. Keep in mind that the room decor may change in the future.

4. Choose matting to enhance your artwork.

Matting is the term used to describe the “window-cut” material placed around the image within a frame.  They can be made of a variety of materials such as paper, cotton and fabric in a wide range of colors. Matting was developed as a “shelf” to give space between the art work and the glazing. Mats serve as a spacer allowing the artwork to expand and contract with changes in humidity. Matting makes the overall size of the finished piece larger and provides a space for the eyes to rest between the art and the frame.

5. An ounce of prevention.

When possible, store your art work flat. Many times cherished art is damaged prior to arriving at the frame shop because it is improperly stored or transported. If it’s a rolled piece such as a poster, serious damage can be caused by rubber bands, tape, paper clips and even a gentle squeeze.  Make sure that the artwork is placed in a folder, protective covering, or a tube.

6. Consider the details

Fillets, beveled mat treatments, creative window embellishment cuts, openings, specialty paper, or fabric mats can add a distinctive flair to your artwork. We can help you decide what works best with your item. Sometimes it’s the smallest element in framing your artwork that makes it stand out.

7. Choose the right frame for your art.

There are thousands of frame styles and sizes in a variety of stains, glazes and finishes.  Let us help you select the frame that best suits your artwork and have it made to your exact specifications to fit into your personal décor.

8. Choose archival materials

Some common framing materials such as paper mats and cardboard contain chemicals that will gradually destroy your art. These materials are not recommended for us in framing. Using archival mats and backing boards will help protect art from the damaging effects of time and from common pollutants that cause yellowing, fading and deterioration.

9. Mount your artwork properly.

The dry mounting processes bond artwork to a board to prevent artwork from bubbling or waving and are appropriate for posters and photographs.
Pieces of any value are generally not dry or wet mounted since these processes are usually irreversible and can greatly affect any resale value.  Museum mounting, commonly known as hinging, attaches the art with paper hinges to the board. The art hangs freely, allowing it to expand or contract with changes in humidity.  Hinging or archival photo corners are recommended for original artwork, delicate photographs and other irreplaceable items.

10. Choose glazing to protect your artwork.

Glazing refers to the glass or acrylic material covering the artwork as a means of protection. There are many variations including regular clear glass, anti-reflective (chemically coated), non-glare (acid etched) and conservation glass (specially formulated to help filter UV light) There are also acrylic glazing products that come in the non-glare and UV filtering varieties. Acrylic is lighter in weight and is safer that glass but requires a soft cloth and a non abrasive cleaner as it scratches easily. It is ideal for over-sized pieces, frames hanging in children’s rooms or on items to be shipped.