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Interior designer David Kaihoi’s advice, reported by Veranda, is to choose frames and arrangements in response to the artwork and the room, not a rigid gallery formula. He recommends testing frame samples, mixing styles for collected groupings and matching frames when pieces are intended to hang as a series.
Interior designer David Kaihoi advises homeowners to choose frames and arrange art according to each piece, the room’s architecture and its light, rather than follow a fixed gallery-style formula. In a report by Veranda, Kaihoi draws on his fine-art installation experience to explain when to mix frames, when to match them and how to test a pairing before hanging it.
Kaihoi says a frame should draw attention to and complement the artwork, not compete with it. A black frame may suit some pieces, he says, while another work may call for raw wood or a more decorative gilt frame. His advice is to look closely at the art and consider whether it can carry a more elaborate border or needs a quieter one.
The setting also affects the choice. Kaihoi suggests that natural wood may feel appropriate in a beach setting, while glossy black can suit a city interior. He recommends holding frame samples beside the art in person, because a pairing that sounds right in theory can look distracting once the materials are together. For example, he says a black frame may compete with a black ink drawing; a raw side with a silver-gilt face could instead help the ink stand out.
For arrangements, Kaihoi recommends matching frames when works are meant to read as a set, such as related photographs or prints. For a salon-style wall or pieces placed separately, he favors varied frames that make the collection feel gathered over time rather than overly planned. He also suggests considering secondhand frames and French matting, an ornamental border that can add color or tone around a work.
Frames Shape How Art Reads
The advice offers a practical alternative to treating every art wall as a measured grid. A frame can change how a work is perceived: Kaihoi says a decorative gilt frame can make a piece feel more dressed up, while a simpler frame can keep attention on the art itself. The point is not that one style is universally better, but that the frame and placement affect the relationship between art and room.
That flexibility matters to people combining different kinds of work or decorating around existing furniture and architecture. Kaihoi’s approach gives readers a way to make those decisions: start with the piece, check its surroundings, and test options before committing. His recommendations are design guidance, not a set of technical hanging standards, and the report does not prescribe measurements or a single layout.
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From Installation Work to Interiors
Kaihoi’s perspective comes partly from working as a fine-art installer in New York after college. He recalls installing art for designers who made very different choices: one might hang several pictures together, while another used a single small portrait on a large dining-room wall. Kaihoi says seeing those approaches taught him that art can be displayed in many ways.
He later joined interior designer Miles Redd’s firm and is now a partner in Redd Kaihoi, the design practice identified in Veranda’s report. That work informs his emphasis on responding to the room rather than applying one formula. The supplied report does not give a publication date, so the timing of the article cannot be stated more precisely.
“The gallery hanging approach is meant for a museum, and it has its place, but in the home, I think it can be much more lively, playful, and up for grabs.”
— David Kaihoi, as quoted by Veranda
No Single Hanging Formula
Kaihoi’s recommendations are subjective design advice, and the report does not set out specific hanging heights, spacing measurements, weight limits or wall-fastening methods. It also does not claim that a particular frame style will work for every artwork or interior. The best pairing depends on the individual piece and its setting, which is why Kaihoi recommends comparing samples in person.
Test Frames Before Hanging
For readers applying the advice, the next step is to place the artwork beside possible frame samples and assess them in the room where the work will hang. Consider whether the frame supports the piece, whether neighboring works belong to a deliberate series, and whether a varied grouping feels cohesive without becoming too uniform. The report offers no further scheduled announcement or follow-up; its recommendations leave the final choice to the homeowner and the specific art.
Key Questions
Should every picture on a wall have the same frame?
Not necessarily. Kaihoi recommends matching frames for works intended to hang as a series, such as related photos or prints. For a salon wall or pieces displayed in different places, he favors mixing styles.
How should I choose a frame for a particular artwork?
Start by considering what will complement the artwork without competing with it. Kaihoi suggests testing frame samples beside the piece, since a combination that seems suitable in theory may look different in person.
Are secondhand frames worth considering?
Yes. Kaihoi says he looks for older frames at auctions and flea or antique markets, including frames whose original artwork may not be the reason to buy them. A secondhand frame can offer a decorative option without commissioning a new carved frame.
What is French matting?
In the report, French matting is described as an intricate, decorative border around a piece of art. Kaihoi says it can add a complementary color or tone and may suit both classical and some contemporary works.
Source: rss
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