Framebridge – Your Framing BFF

This post is in partnership with Framebridge.

Few things elevate a space like thoughtfully framed art. Whether it’s a family photograph, a flea-market treasure, or a child’s first painting, a well-chosen frame protects the piece and gives it the presence it deserves. Over the years I’ve used Framebridge for everything from client's keepsakes to heirloom maps, and the experience has been consistently seamless. Last week I dropped my brother at the airport then popped over to Framebridge's Boston store to pick mats and frames for a few pieces that I've been meaning to frame for our own home, and remembered how delightful and easy they make framing your favorite memories. Below is a quick primer on how their service works—both online and in-store—followed by spotlights on two of my all-time favorite mouldings: waverly and Chelsea.

Framebridge lets you choose between two equally straightforward ordering paths. If you go the online route, start by browsing Framebridge.com and picking the frame style and size you like. For physical pieces, they’ll email you a prepaid shipping label and send a crush‑proof mailer or tube; for photos, simply upload the digital file and they’ll print it on archival paper for you. Once your art arrives at their workshop, the team completes the build and ships it back ready to hang—hardware, nail, and mini‑level included—usually within 14 days.

If you prefer a hands‑on experience, stop by one of Framebridge’s design studios in cities like Washington DC, New York, Boston, Chicago, and Atlanta. You can lay your artwork next to real mat corners, compare moulding samples in natural light, and get quick design advice before handing the piece over for production. Turnaround time mirrors the online service, and you can choose to pick up your finished frame in the studio or have it delivered to your door at no extra cost.

I worked with Emily at their Boston store and Emily's recommendations were spot on. She studied graphic design and printmaking at BU and had such a good eye.

If you gravitate toward pieces with history—sepia maps, botanical engravings, faded blueprints—Waverly is a dream. This thin moulding’s softly aged gold leaf hints at old-world gilt without feeling ostentatious. On my 19th-century navigational chart, Waverly picks up the warm ochre tones in the coloring and I added a 2.5" premium line mat in cream. The result feels elegant, collected, and museum-worthy—all without the museum markup. (I almost had this map framed at a local framer, but the cost was 4x what Framebridge charges - yikes!) Waverly also looked gorgeous with a set of antique botanicals I found at Brimfield Market, with a 1.5" cream linen mat. Since there are nine botanical prints that will be hung together I wanted a simple frame so the grouping wouldn't feel like too much.

For smaller works—think oil studies, block prints, or vintage postcards—Chelsea's chunky gold-leaf frame adds gravitas to petite pieces. For Mother's Day this year, David gave me a 5' x 9" oil painting of a shell by Abigail Matheson (one of my favorite artists!) and the Chelsea frame's thick gold profile amplified the painting’s delicate highlights without overwhelming it. It also doubled the size of the painting, ensuring it doesn't get lost on the wall.

Whether you’re uploading photographs of special summer memories or framing an oil painting at their Boston studio, Framebridge makes custom framing delightfully low-stress and affordable. Their flat-rate pricing, free shipping, and design guidance let you focus on the fun part: choosing a frame that tells your artwork’s story. If you’re on the fence, start with a small piece—maybe even a photograph from your phone—and experiment. Once you see the transformation, you’ll be hunting for more pieces to frame. I'll share the results when the finished pieces arrive in a couple of weeks!

I rounded up a few other frames that I loved below. I can't wait to frame more pieces!

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