Built to Last: The True Value of Custom Framing

Frame Your Art to Stand the Test of Time

When you choose custom framing, you’re not just buying a frame—you’re investing in protection, craftsmanship, and timeless design. At Island Expressions, we use the highest-quality materials, like Tru-Vue Museum Glass and acid-free mats, to ensure your art, memories, and keepsakes are beautifully preserved for decades. Our expert craftsmanship means your frame will stand the test of time. It’s quality you can see—and longevity you can trust. This value recently struck me as I looked around the walls of our own home.  In the fall of 1996, I was taking a graduate course on Contemporary Art in New York City.  As part of the program, I was interning at the Bernice Steinbaum Gallery in Soho a couple days a week.  At that time, Soho had quite the exciting art scene. I would explore the other galleries and came across the work of a French impressionist artist, André Bourrié in the Axelle Fine Art Gallery. I loved the French landscapes all made with very small brushstrokes depicting light and reflections.  I was in no position to purchase artwork at this time, but I loved going to look at his artwork.  Just a couple of years later, as the owners of our first frame shop and art gallery, my husband Pete and I had the opportunity to go to an opening at that same gallery in Soho featuring Bourrié's work and we purchased our first limited edition lithograph.  We framed it with a timeless champagne silver frame, a suede mat and museum glass. Over the next couple of years, we acquired a few more Bourrié prints and framed them each with our conservation framing standards. Two states and five homes later, I realized that each of these prints still look as good as the day we framed them nearly 30 years ago!  Our last dishwasher didn't even last 7 years and it cost more than these custom frames!  When you are choosing how to frame your artwork, please realize that the quality of the materials used really does matter if you want longevity.  We use all conservation materials, meaning that nothing acidic will touch your artwork.   Even the tape we use is acid-free! (I could show you a lot of artwork that has been permanently damaged by masking tape.)When you have something that you want to hang on your wall, just remember that by choosing conservation custom framing you are not only enhancing the appearance of the piece with your frame selections, but also making an investment to protect it for years to come.  Book a framing consultation at Island Expressions today to learn more about how we can elevate your artwork.