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 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 so that your project will be around to delight future generations.

Local picture framer follows Andy Warhol’s prediction and gets 3 minutes closer to his 15 minutes of fame! Jan Marion of H. Marion Framing Studio recently participated in a promotional video for Tru Vue’s Museum Glass® Feeds America program, through which H. Marion Framing will help generate up to $25,000 in donations for Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief charity. Customers will have a chance to win up to $500 in-store, or $150 in Discount Certificates toward future art & framing purchases at H. Marion Framing Studio.

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What do Michael Jordan, Abraham Lincoln, Jane Addams, Frank Lloyd Wright, Ray Kroc, Cammi Granato and Joseph Cardinal Bernardin have in common? All seven famous personalities are featured in an educational installation at Loyola University Medical Center’s Ronald McDonald Children’s Hospital and were recently given a “facelift” by local framer/art consultant Jan Marion of H. Marion Framing Studio.
The installation employs life-sized images of the personalities, along with name plaques that detail information about their lives and accomplishments. While the display is an important educational tool for the RMCH ward, it also provides stimulating relief from the barrage of tests and procedures that young patients endure during their stays at the facility. (more…)

by Peter Gianopulos

Sometimes the difference between a stressful and acceptable hospital stay is the simple matter of the right art being on the walls.

There was a time, not too long ago in fact, when every hospital waiting room in the land seemed to be painted in mint-green hues. Pistachio and lime as far as the eye could see.

The prevailing wisdom said that cool greens had a soothing effect on patients, but Jan Marion, the current owner of H. Marion Framing stores in Glenview and Wilmette, knew better. He spent many years visiting hospitals with his ailing father, Harold, and saw the spaces for what they were: “scary,” “cold” and “institutional-looking.”

It’s one of the reasons Marion has devoted so much of his time and resources to the “healing art” movement, which seeks to comfort health-care patients (and their families) via soothing design schemes and inspirational art. (more…)

by Alyssa Taylor

The choice of frames on artwork makes a strong impact in the design of your home.

Jan Marion of H. Marion Framing and his team of designers have been in the framing business for over thirty years and has acquired a lot of useful knowledge on the subject.

Lead Design staff of H. Marion Framing at the grand opening of their new frame studio in Wilmette's Edens Plaza.

“There are certain techniques and materials that need to be used so that your art will last,” he says. “Both from a preservation standpoint but also from a quality of raw materials, we need to make sure that your piece will look as good in 5, 10, 50 years as it does the day you pick it up in the frame shop.”

When framing a collection of prints, drawings, or photographs, it’s wise to frame all of the pieces in similar profiles, giving the collection more impact, drawing attention to the work itself.

Many designers select simple black, ebonized frame profiles or a soft nickel or gold-leaf finish.

Marion explains that frames should complement their environment, as well as the art they hold. “From a design standpoint, our frames are seen as an interior finish,” he said. “A home that has exquisite finishes like hardwood, granite, real stone, custom millwork and designer furniture should have art and framing of a consistent quality.”

In their new Wilmette showroom Marion and his head designer, Pam Rosenberg offer numerous options for frame moldings and pictures. (more…)