New Standard Frames in Baltimore: Custom Framing for Art and Collectibles
New Standard Frames is a full-service custom framing shop on North Avenue serving collectors, artists, and households across Baltimore who need to preserve and display prints, photographs, textiles, and memorabilia with archival precision.
What New Standard Frames actually is
The shop specializes in conservation-grade framing rather than mass-market quick-turnaround work. The operation handles everything from stretching canvas to mounting vintage textiles, sourcing obscure mat colors, and designing frames for pieces that demand care: family heirlooms, museum-quality prints, local art, and objects with sentimental weight. The space itself is small and workroom-focused, with design consultation happening at the counter and finished pieces held or shipped to customers. New Standard does not offer poster frames or impulse options; it is built for deliberate, often one-of-a-kind commissions.
Services and pricing
Standard framing—a mid-size print in a basic mat and wood frame—runs $120 to $250 depending on frame choice and mat quality. Archival matting and UV-protective glass, essential for pieces meant to last decades, add $40 to $80. Mounting textiles, botanical specimens, or irregular objects runs $150 to $400. Canvas stretching and re-stretching costs $80 to $200 per linear foot of stretcher bar, depending on fabric condition and size. Custom frame molding and designer mat combinations can push jobs into the $400 to $800 range. The shop does not price items by the linear inch; it quotes project-by-project after consultation. Turnaround is typically four to six weeks for standard commissions; rush service is available but not advertised as standard. Customers are advised to call or visit in person to confirm current pricing and availability, as material costs fluctuate.
How New Standard Frames compares to other Baltimore framing options
Baltimore Frame & Art, also on North Avenue, offers faster turnaround and a larger selection of pre-cut frame stock, making it the better choice if you need a framed poster or certificate in two weeks. New Standard is the alternative when standard frame shops cannot source the mat board or glass quality you need or when the object itself is fragile enough to warrant a conservator's approach. Artist & Craftsman Supply on Charles Street stocks framing supplies and offers consultation, but their strength is materials retail rather than finished commissions. For local art from Baltimore painters and photographers, New Standard's relationships with the city's studio communities mean framers there often know regional work and can advise on period-appropriate framing choices that honor a piece's context.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
New Standard is right for anyone framing something irreplaceable: family photographs from the 1940s, inherited quilts, local Baltimore art with resale or heirloom intent, or handmade prints. It suits people willing to wait weeks and pay for quality materials. It is not the shop for budget-conscious quick turnarounds, IKEA-style matching sets, or mass-produced poster frames. It will not rush work to meet a same-week deadline, and it is not the place to go if you need frames for an apartment's bare walls on short notice.
What the first visit involves
Walk in with the object you want framed or a clear photograph of it. A framer will ask about your space, the piece's age and fragility, whether it has financial or sentimental value, and how long you want it to survive. They will discuss mat options, frame styles, and glass types. If archival treatment is appropriate, they will explain why UV glass and acid-free mat board cost more. Expect the conversation to last 20 to 40 minutes. You will not leave with a price quote that day if the piece is complex; the framer will measure, photograph, and confirm pricing by phone within a few days. Payment is due at pickup or upon final assembly for shipped orders.
Hours, parking, and logistics
New Standard Frames operates Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; it is closed Sundays and Mondays. Street parking on North Avenue is available but often full; nearby paid lots are cheaper than meter hunting. The shop is accessible by the #3 and #8 bus lines. Finished work can be picked up in person, shipped via UPS, or held for local delivery. Call ahead to confirm hours on holidays and to discuss shipping timelines if you are sending a piece from outside Baltimore.
New Standard's reputation rests on the detail work and conservation knowledge that distinguishes a museum-quality frame from a hardware-store option. For Baltimoreans with art worth preserving, it earns its place by refusing shortcuts.
