Hi there,

Welcome to this special ASID edition of our newsletter.

Like many of you in the design industry, we value our roles in art consulting, which enables us to positively affect the aesthetic experience for many individuals. In this edition, we offer valuable tips from Certified Picture Framer® and H. Marion President & Owner, Jan Marion. Also featured are individuals who share our passion for design and our belief that with integrity, comes quality.

- Pam Rosenberg, ASID, IIDA
Lead Designer, H. Marion Framing Studio

Behind The Scenes: A Designer's Best-Kept Secret

Every designer has a niche. Ours happens to be framing. Whether your clients' design needs require:

• Preservation Framing
• Custom Mirrors
• Fine Art Consulting
• Appraisals
• Art Restoration
• Installation

or any number of other services,
we are here to help you serve them!

Just as all professionals need to stay in-the-know as their fields evolve, "good framers will attend continuing education seminars and stay abreast of not only design trends, but changes in materials and current thinking in the preservation framing arena." says Jan Marion, CPF® & President, H. Marion Framing Studios. We also attend the major art shows and have relationships with artists and publishers locally and from around the world.

Marion and his team of designers have been in the framing business for over thirty five years and can facilitate each step of your client's project, whether it requires an appraisal, in-home consultation, matting for proper storage, framing, repair, installation, restoration, printing, digital enhancement or transfer, or any number of other services. Most design projects will take place in one of our two north shore showrooms, but art and framing selections are often “auditioned” in your client’s own home! We are your one-stop wall-decor shop.

Psst... your secret's safe with us!

Contact us today for your free art consultation

Save the Date...

This April, we invite you to be our guest at an ASID-accredited CEU event at the Merchandise Mart. H. Marion Framing Studios and Artaissance co-host this spectacular networking event. Watch your mailbox for more information about this exciting opportunity!

Custom Mirrors: Reflecting on Your Creative Efforts

Mirrors are intended to be both functional and to serve as decorative wall art. They can be custom-tailored to suit your client's tastes and the décor of the room where they are to be displayed. Do not feel limited by the stock sizes and finishes of standard store-bought framed mirrors. Whether your design vision requires a hand-carved frame, 24-karat leaf finish, hand-wrapped leather, or a funky contemporary, we can fabricate these specialty items in any size or shape. We'll even lend you samples to take to your client's home!

A mirror or grouping of mirrors can enhance any space and make even a dark alcove interesting and bright. The need may not be for a looking glass per se but rather a splash of reflective light and an art object of interest and beauty. Your custom-designed mirror can be beveled, or have an etched or antiqued finish. Let our craftsmen deliver & install your clients' one-of-a-kind mirrors, no matter what the size.

Tips & Trends : Adding Value to Your clients' Priceless Family Heirlooms

Frames should complement both their environment, and the art they adorn. "From a design standpoint, our frames are seen as an interior finish," says Marion, "homes employing finishes like hardwood, granite, real stone, custom millwork and designer furniture should have art and framing of a similar caliber."

Whether the framing project is truly valuable or simply priceless, we are seeing a definite shift in trends regarding what clients are framing. More people are preserving or restoring family heirlooms such as antique photographs, hand-made textiles, and military medals. “We are seeing a nostalgic movement where people are reflecting on their heritages,” says Marion. He maintains this trend seems most prevalent with Baby Boomer clients. “When these clients come into the store, their aim is to surround themselves with framed memories, which tell a visual story, rather than an oral one.”

The right framing treatment not only enhances the presentation of your clients' cherished items, it can also extend the life-span of items that might otherwise fall victim to damage from excessive handling and improper storage. No matter what your project entails, the Art Consultants at H. Marion Framing will ensure that the appropriate materials and preservation framing techniques are implemented to delight your clients and to ensure that their projects will delight future generations as well.

Jan Marion Shares "Secrets of Success" in DECOR Magazine

Jan Marion, CPF®, of H. Marion Framing Studio in Glenview, Ill., makes it a point to design his space in a way that flows well and isn’t overwhelming “Our space makes it clear that we know something about design,” Marion says. “Everything, from the way the mouldings are displayed to the ways in which the carpet and finishes interface with the art, is subtle and blends together. That’s how good design works.”

“We utilize our framing services to act as an interior finish as well as a ‘picture frame’, cementing us more as designers than framers.” says Marion, who knows that applying sound principles of design & merchandising to his Studios' decorating schemes ensures that he and his staff are putting their best design foot forward.

Read the full article from Decor Magazine

A Gift for ASID Members:

We're here to help you serve the design needs of your clients! Call to schedule an appointment at either of our convenient showroom locations for a capabilities presentation & recieve a FREE Roma Photo Frame! 

We can help you serve your clients' design needs. Visit us to learn more!