Custom Heirloom Hardwood Frames

This was a particularly enjoyable project for me. A customer contacted me with specific wood species in mind for custom frames. He supplied one of the woods - Bois de Rose, or Madagascar Rosewood - a particularly rare and pricey wood. The others I supplied as part of the project - Brazilian tulipwood (lightest), cocobolo (brown), and Macassar ebony (black and dark brown). These frames, then, are made with precision and attention to detail. The corners have splines cut in from the same wood for subtly visible joinery with strength to last years.

Please email me if you're interested in a custom frame quote, as there are so many variables. As with this happy customer, we'll work out the details of design together and then I'll give you an estimate and we'll go from there. Thanks!! For your budgeting these frames came to about $100 each, including materials which were pricey!

Custom Oak Mortise-and-Tenon Frames

There's something about old-school woodworking techniques that gives items made with them a special quality and feel. These oak frames are made with hand-cut mortise and tenon joints. They're extremely strong, and there is not a single brad, nail, or screw to be found in the frame anywhere.

The materials are a small fraction of the cost, even for larger frames like these (12"x24" opening), so the price for a single, finished frame is going to start at $125. For frames larger than these, it will go up from there, but not drastically. Email me for an estimate. Other woods are also available.

Size of subject to be framed:

Photo-Decorated Custom Wood Frames

These frames are one of many possible ways of finishing my unfinished pine frames. I also have cork boards, magnetic chalk boards, and magnet boards. For the photo frames, specify the size of opening you need, the color, and provide digital photos and other scrapbook-type items and I'll do the rest. Vinyl lettering also can be applied if you provide it.

Frame cost: $0.25 per inch of perimeter plus $20 for finishing with paint and photos. The pictured frames are for a 12"x16" opening, and come to $41 each, finished as shown.

Custom Framed Cork Boards

Cork Boards come in handy - that's all there is to it. Whether in the office, library, kitchen, or bedroom. This was made for my son, and shows the potential. With 12"x16" of cork, it's perfect to give him a place for his favorite photos and school projects, and Mom added pictures of my kids and stuff around the edges to give it that personal touch.

The cost is $0.25 per inch perimeter around the outside frame plus $0.07 per square inch of cork, unfinished. Add $10 for painted or varnished, $10 more if you want me to modpodge on your pictures like that shown. Like that shown, the total comes to $34.50 unfinished, $44.50 painted, and $54.50 with photos and stuff.

Magnetic Chalkboard - Custom Sized

A step up from a Framed Magnet Board, the Magnetic Chalkboard - Custom Sized can do all the magnet board can and then some - write messages, keep track of the kids' chore chart, draw pictures, stick up photos and artwork - unclutter your fridge and do it with style. The Magnetic Chalkboard shown is from knotty pine, unfinished, with a 12"x12" magnetic chalkboard surface. This would cost $32.28 as shown. Why settle for standard sizes or someone else's style? Any size is good for me, and other woods are available. I can make a Magnetic Chalk Board part of another project like a calendar holder; I can add a tray below for holding magnets or chalk, etc. Finishing is also an option. Unlike unfinished pine stuff from the craft store, my products come puttied and sanded and ready to finish.

Custom Frame - for Tile Mosaic

If you're looking for more traditional picture frames, try my custom frames. This frame was made to order - this is what 'By Design' is all about. A customer called needing a custom frame size, for a school fundraiser, at an affordable cost. They want to do tile mosaics on the frames by the kids. We came up with the idea together of a hardwood lip around the edges so that the tile and grout is all contained. We worked together on the size and detailing to find a price that fit her budget and still made it possible for me to do the job. Then I went to work. A week later the frames were done and ready to ship, in time for the kids to decorate and make the fundraiser schedule.

It's cherry around the edges, birch plywood for the backing. 10"x10", puttied and lightly sanded and ready to ship to the school for the kids to get busy. These came to $10 each because she ordered 25, and that's exactly the yeild I get from one 4x4 piece of birch plywood and one 10'x6" piece of cherry. If you want less the price per frame will have to go up.

Thank you Kade, room mother for the Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Fort Smith, Arkansas! I hope you like your frames and that your fundraiser goes well!

Framed Magnet Board

Framed Magnet Boards have become a popular way to unclutter your fridge and attractively display just your favorite photos and school projects. The magnet board shown is from knotty pine, unfinished, with a 12"x12" magnetic surface. This would cost $23.64 as shown. Why settle for standard sizes or someone else's style? Any size is good for me, and other woods are available. I can make a magnet board part of another project like a calendar holder; I can add a tray below for holding magnets or pens, etc. Finishing is also an option. Unlike unfinished pine stuff from the craft store, my products come puttied and sanded and ready to finish.

Custom Picture Frames

It's hard to find a picture that does picture frames justice. But then, I guess that's because the frames are there to do the pictures justice - ha ha. Lots of friends have asked for frames for their walls - they want to match their decor, fit a funny picture, etc. without having to go through the expense of a framing service at a craft store or something.

Mostly I've made these Custom Picture Frames out of pine, with a rectangle cross section, but that's not all I can do. Other frame-type projects I've done include magnet boards, magnetic chalk boards, shadow boxes, etc. Typically glass and backing is not included. Most photographers recommend a protective coating instead of glass anyway. Unless it's a custom size, you can just buy a frame at the dollar store and use the glass and backing from that.

Ask my wife sometime if you want the full story on our picture wall. Let's just say it involved cutting of my fingernail in the tablesaw, putting off her frames to make some for clients, refiguring what we wanted the frames to look like, etc etc etc. Years in coming before she finally got her frames. I'm sorry to say my clients get much better service.

Price: see list on my home page for standard sizes. Custom Picture Frames of the style shown are $0.25 per inch of perimeter of frame for other sizez. For example, a frame for a 10x10 picture, with 2.5" wide sides, would have a perimeter of 60 inches (10+2.5+2.5)x4 and would cost $15.