Décor art: Go beyond frames and glass

By Vince De Franco
 

Vince De Franco

Choosing décor artwork that’s relevant to your property is becoming increasingly important as hoteliers strive to distinguish themselves from competitors and work to enhance their guests’ experience at every opportunity. But once you’ve decided on the art concepts and images that will complete your creative vision, it’s time also to decide on how those photos or images should be framed or finished. Beyond choosing the right colours to complement your furniture, wall colour, and other finishes, take some time to evaluate some of the alternatives to traditional frames with mats and glass, as well as refresh yourself on some of the underlying basics of tried-and-true framing.

Basic framing and matting

The “go-to” method of presenting finished artwork is of course framing prints or original artwork, with or without mats.

Matting, in addition to being a great way to optically centre your image and draw attention to it, also serves an important role in preserving your prints. One of the primary (and lesser known) reasons for incorporating raised mats within frames is to allow for a barrier of air to exist in between the image and the glass, helping to preserve the colours and protect the prints, particularly if they are chromogenic or photographic prints. Anyone who has taken apart an old frame without a mat may recall a dreaded sticking, peeling sound when the photo is literally pulled directly off the glass. Often you’ll see a fair bit of emulsion (or ink/toner) left on the glass and the original of course is destroyed.

You’ll hear mats referred to in terms of “ply.” The thicker the mat, the higher the ply (i.e. 2-ply, 4-ply, 8-ply, etc.). As the name implies, the ply refers to the number of layers that make up the mat. The most common thickness is 4-ply, but the choice to go to a thinner or thicker one is largely cosmetic. A thicker ply obviously has more depth, and is often used on larger frames.

Always make sure the mats are archival quality and acid-free, otherwise you lose all of the protective properties of the mat, and the print will degrade over time. Inexpensive pre-made frames are often very tempting from a price-point perspective, but if the materials inside are not archival nor acid-free, the money you “saved” on framing is literally wasted as you will need to replace the frames within a very short time period, sometimes less than a year.

Even worse, non-archival mats will start to yellow at the edges (i.e. the core), and will take on a dingy, unattractive look, making you quickly regret your budget-driven decision.

If using mats is not part of the aesthetic you are trying to achieve with the artwork, make sure your framers are using spacers behind the actual glass to keep your image from making direct contact with the glass.

There’s also a host of options when it comes to glass, particularly relating to the amount of glare and reflection you’ll see in the final product. Museum quality anti-reflection glass is a premium product with an equally premium price. Determine the location of where the artwork will be viewed, as well as the lighting conditions, and consult your framing supplier for their recommendations.

Print mounting

Many hotels are seeking out more contemporary ways to present decor artwork. In the past few years, there has been a surge in demand for mounted prints on a variety of backer boards and other materials, including aluminum sheets, acrylic, Masonite, and even foam board.

Prints are mounted using hot- or cold-mounting techniques, so that the prints are directly adhered to the front of the backer material. Protective laminates are used to protect the prints from scuffing or scratching, particularly if they are hung in locations where curious fingers might be poking at them, or where over-the-shoulder luggage might come into contact with the artwork.

Aluminum sheets made specifically for this purpose, though pricey, offer superior sturdiness, flatness (essential when it comes to laying down prints), and longevity. Less expensive materials like Masonite and other compressed boards won’t last as long, but are economical alternatives. These materials may show slight warping or curving over the years, particularly if humidity and temperature vary greatly (certainly not recommended for your pool or fitness/spa areas).

Acrylic, or plexi-glass, can be front mounted (or flush mounted) like the other materials, but since it is transparent, it can also be back mounted, or face mounted as it is commonly referred, using a transparent adhesive. When face mounting to acrylic, the material itself serves as a protective barrier so you get a glass-like effect, which is incidentally a very good option for your high-humidity art locations. Furthermore, acrylic can be used instead of picture glass within a frame, either as a measure for extra safety (making it shatter-proof) or to keep the weight of oversized pieces to a minimum. Picture-grade acrylic is also available in various grades, including non-glare.

There are various options for hanging mounted prints, the two most popular being cleating and mounting hardware. Cleats are simply angled pieces of wood or composite material; one piece is affixed to the back of the backer board, and a corresponding angled piece is affixed to the wall, so that it fits snugly into the groove and stays in place. Cleats can be thicker or thinner, depending on how far you want your artwork “floating” off the wall. Security hardware, as is used on guest room and common area frames, can also be used in conjunction with cleats to keep the artwork from being dislodged or stolen.

Stainless steel, chrome, and other metallic wall mounting hardware is available to provide a similar effect of raised or floated artwork, but with a slightly more urban/industrial feel.
 
Wall graphics more popular

Custom printed wall graphics have been even more popular in recent years, as the technology and substrates available to art production companies have really progressed. From vinyl-cut lettering to full-coverage vinyl wallpaper, many hotels are employing these methods to literally adhere the art directly to their walls. From full-blown landscapes or city scapes to more subtle custom designs and graphics, wall graphics are all the rage not only with avant garde designers and boutique hotels, but with an ever-growing list of chains and big brands.

Whatever your design objectives, ensure that you explore all of the presentation options available to you, and that the finishing decision enhances and does justice to your art choices  and design vision.

Vince De Franco is a Toronto based decor art and display graphics specialist. He can be reached at 416-577-1353 or at vdefranco@sympatico.ca.