Q. Our collaboration has been years in the making. You felt strongly we had gaps in our collection and you had a vision to fill them. What frame styles are you most excited to see come to life?
A. For me, I wanted to create a collection that felt unique, playful and heavily leaned into being inspired by vintage and antique frames, which I have collected throughout my home and studio. The past has always been an important reference point for me creatively. Savona, Corso Como, and Castello are the three I am most excited about! Corso Como was inspired by vintage letters I found from the 1920s that had this simple black outline and it translated beautifully into this end product.
Q. As a designer and an artist, frames are a consistent part of your everyday work. What does the right frame bring to a room or a piece of art?
A. I think it truly helps substantiate an item or piece of art or a photograph. The marriage between what you are framing and how you are framing it is so important. The right frame not only finishes a piece visually but also showcases its importance.
Q. We shot these frames in your gorgeous townhome in DC, so you were able to picture where you would hang them (gallery wall under the stairs, space beside your dining room mantel, landing at the top of the stairs, etc.) as you designed them. In what spaces do you see our customers using these frames in their own homes?
A. The thing I love about this collection, and the pieces, is that they are transitional from one space to another, whether it be a bedroom, a hallway or somewhere more unexpected. As you may note in the photos, I like to be playful with where I hang or lean frames—looking to unexpected places, which brings more attention to the piece or frame itself. Whether it’s on the knob of a china cabinet, leaning on a dresser layered with other pieces, or on the face of a bookcase, play around with where you place pieces from the collection.
Q. Our gold bamboo frame, Mandalay, has been a best seller for ten years. What inspired you to design Sempione, a new neutral bamboo?
A. For me, in addition to creating new pieces for the collection, I wanted to take one of your best performers and give my own spin to it. I have always loved Swedish Gustavian style, the qualities of which are usually very raw with simplistic forms and finishes. Stripping down the gilded finish allows it to feel more organic, while still maintaining a very elegant form.
Q. You had the clearest vision for Corso Como, the white and black frame. We had to work with our team through many rounds to get it to look free-form hand painted (it kept coming out too perfect!) What inspired this style?
A. I collect vintage documents and one I have always loved is a letter from the 1920s that has a simple black outlined border. I wanted to create a piece to mimic this, that at first glance looks hand painted. This leans into the playfulness of the collection and feels a bit more unexpected and unique than typical frames.
