catch-23 framing

At Catch-23 we do simple – extremely well.

For the past fifteen years we have focused almost exclusively on providing clean, classic, museum-style picture frames for anyone with an eye and a passion for detail. What sets us apart is our honest, friendly, professional service and the fact that with our frames, custom actually means custom. Unlike anywhere else, our frames are handcrafted from the raw materials for each and every individual work that comes through our doors.

With so many options available, deciding on the right frame for a photograph or art object can be a bit overwhelming. At Catch-23 we are passionate about seeing your piece presented in the best possible way. If the type of framing that we do doesn’t suit the work that you bring in to us, we will happily point you in the right direction to have your piece’s needs met. However, if a classic modern look does suit, we will provide you with a frame that, for all of its simplicity, will simply stand out.

Our Framing Philosophy (yes we actually do have one)

As we see it here at Catch-23, a frame serves two functions. The first is to protect the work. The second is to enhance it or ‘set it off’. Seems simple enough.

Too often, however, one or both of these criteria are not met in the many picture frames we’ve come across. As to protecting the works, we use only the highest quality materials available and have extensive knowledge and experience with proper mounting methods for your art work. On the aesthetic level, we feel that a frame should sit well with a piece and should be a beautiful object in its own right, but should never try to either become a part of the work or compete with it. We frame each individual piece with the idea of drawing the eye to the work, while giving it the visual space to stand alone. The woods and stains that we use on our frames are often quite stunning on examination, but our end goal is always to give the work the visual priority.

The Craft

In today’s world of product, the norm is the mass-produced. One does find, however, that anything mass-produced looks and feels, well, mass-produced. With picture framing, it’s no different. For all of the claims of ‘custom’ work out there (and everyone claims it), it is remarkably hard to find work where the frame looks and feels as custom as the piece within it.

Our frames, unlike ‘the norm’, don’t start with an order placed for generic frame moldings cut to length from a framing supply centre. Here, we start by actually hand-selecting the right piece of rough lumber. This individual piece of wood is then ripped, planed, cut, joined, sanded, stained and finished – all by us and all by hand – into a frame that is as individual as the artwork it is made to enhance. Because of this method of creating every frame that we make, everything – width, depth, wood type (and wood-grain – we are big on wood-grain!), colour and finish – can be based totally on the piece that we are treating. We use dozens of types of wood, and have extensive knowledge of the unique qualities and possibilities of each. And, because of the fact that we are doing the work all by hand, despite our obsessive perfectionism, our frames have those immeasurable inconsistencies which you don’t necessarily see, but definitely feel. In the end, we just believe that with things like apple pie or picture framing, you just can’t beat something that’s made by hand.

In regard to the materials within the frame – the mat, glass and mounting boards – it goes without saying that, like any framing store worth its salt, we only use high-end product and, when called for, can provide the very newest and best.

Basically in all areas, we just really really care about the quality of our work.