Stephenson's Profile

More architects today are building without downspouts.

I've used FramesByMail, AmericanFrames and PictureFrames.com quite a bit and they really are far cheaper than going to a regular frame shop and I've been very happy with the results. If you already have a frame, you can order just a mat from PictureFrames.com which is pretty convenient.

Tara, I've had problems with certain frame types from FramesByMail, particularly the cheaper black plain ones. In general, the wood ones are much more dependable, but they often aren't perfectly aligned. For the price, this is usually something that doesn't bother me too much. For nicks and scratches and damaged plexi, I've emailed them photos and they've always sent me replacements without a charge.

For nicer pieces of art and for photography, I hate the plexi these online places offe. None of the major websites sell glass because it so often cracks in shipping. What I've learned to do is to try to find antique frames, buy the glass locally and order the mat online. Or sometimes I order the frame and mat online, and buy the glass myself.

Whatever combo you do, it's always much less expensive than a local frame shop. Particularly if you're framing something that didn't cost you much in the first place. And I have tried to cut mats myself. I'll never make that mistake again!

The arch outline resembles a circus tent.