apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I would suggest a big box store solution like Michaels Arts and Crafts. They always have 40% off coupons for custom framing orders and they have a good selection of frames and mats (considering the price).

Here's a link to their California locations:
http://direct.where2getit.com/cwc/apps/w2gi.php?client=michaels&template=locator&city=&state=CA&postalcode=&country=US

I would highly recommend AmericanFrame.com.

The shipping is extremely reasonable. I framed a picture that was probably 7 foot long by 2 feet down (sort of like yours) and it cost roughly around $100, from what I remember.

You must request that it is shipped to you in parts - ie, the frame is not assembled. Then you assemble it yourself, which is really very easy -> the frame comes with these plastic bowties that wedge into corner slots that are bowtie shaped holes.

After this, go to the frame shop and ask them to cut you the glass.

So yes, a little DIY, but it saved me $500, and probably took me 1 hour. So that's not too bad an hourly wage.

If you're a little more on the "handy" side, you can always look at things like the framing for doorways - and then make your own frame out of that! It was suggested for me when I was searching for an odd-sized frame a few months back (especially because I'm on a budget).

I've bought frames from American Frame - you specific your measurements and I didn't think they were horribly expensive. A friends father is a painter and he uses them for framing his work and referred me to them when I was looking for a frame for a panoramic print.

I would suggest buying a larger, more typically sized frame. Then, add coordinating matting cut to the size of the frame to place stone henge upon. :)

i second the michael's idea. most michael's have a large custom framing department, and every two weeks or so, the framing department has 40% off discounts.

i also recommend americanframe.com. affordable and customizable!

pictureframes.com is a great online source for frames, especially for unusually sized options. They specialize in custom-made frames that are shipped un-assembled, so the shipping costs are pretty minimal.

Be careful framing this because if not done properly, you'll have a Stonehenge that looks like it is in danger of being crushed by dwarves.

Ahhh, thank you, Seaside. ;^)

in the 90s, my parents would go to Michael's and buy what sounds like the same thing as American Frames' custom unassembled frames -- two sets of frame pieces that are screwed together (or maybe they hooked together; my parents favored metal frames). they weren't the poshest frames ever, but if you're after a basic-looking frame, it may be worth checking to see if that sort of thing still exists in brick-and-mortar stores because it was cheaper still than the $100 that was quoted.

I have had a lot of success with documounts.com. They do wood and metal frames in any size--even assembled--and will ship frames up to 20 x 20, plexiglas (but not glass), custom cut mats, and other framing supplies. They have the best prices I've found on the Internet, and their Documounts 101 section is particularly helpful. I am now doing all our framing myself, and we're saving a ton of money--even though I'm getting our conservation glass cut at the local frame shop. Good luck with your project.

Not cheap, but the Barbara Anderson Galley does amazing work.
http://www.barbaraandersongallery.com/

There's also the Framer's Workshop in Brkly. I haven't been, but I've seen it recommended in the comments on this very site in the past.
http://www.framersworkshop.com/

Check out Aaron Brothers... there's one in Sunnyvale on ECR. I've also had good experiences with Michael's custom framing... just make sure you get a 40% coupon from your mail first, it will make the price only a bit expensive instead of outrageously so :)

Make your old. Buy some moulding, have a piece of glass cut, et voila!

Back To The Picture on Valencia will cut the frame pieces to your desired dimensions, then leave you alone at a big table to assemble it yourself for a deep discount over a full framing job.

Our studio uses Jay Bontrager to do all our custom framing stuff. Not sure about his prices compared to other places but his work has been awesome! http://www.bontragerframing.com/

Thanks for reminding me about American Frame. I was in Michaels yesterday to have an 18 x 24 poster framed. At $142 I had to walk out. I just went to AF and got the same configuration for about 1/3 the Michael's price. The interactive frame configuration thingy makes it really easy. One plus about going to Michael's first was that I could see from the matte samples that that the bright white that I had in mind was all wrong.

Mission accomplished.

I've gone the component-frame route many times, from Documounts and ArtCityFrame.com -- really nice Neilsen Bainbridge mouldings -- and from Michaels/ACMoore (I use the black metal and silver metal, but they also have woods now).

It's simple, but let's not oversimplify it: You need 2 pairs for the horizontal and vertical; you need a mat cut (not all that expensive, really); you need foamcore cut to size; you need either glass or acrylic cut to size. It will end up being much less expensive than full-service framers, but you ought to think about what those full-service framers offer that this method doesn't: the benefit of their experience to point you in the right direction in terms of the moulding and the mat (there are probably 1,000 different whites out there, factoring in different materials--rag, silk--and textures).

The advice "Buy some moulding, have a piece of glass cut" leaves out a lot of the in-between steps. Think about the layers: moulding, glass, mat, mounting board for the art, a sturdy backing board for the frame; and then you need the glaziers' points to keep it all together, and that is a bear to do. Professional framers have the tools for that.

If this picture is valuable to you, think about finding a coupon for one of the stores and get it custom-framed. (I like Aaron Brothers best).

If you think you could live quite well with the component route, go for it.

(And once you frame it, you'll obviously want to be careful hanging it--just one or two hooks or nails will likely not be enough to keep the frame straight and un-bowed. Give it enough support.)