Framing Palace in Baltimore: Custom and Ready-Made Framing for Art and Memorabilia
Framing Palace is a full-service framing shop in Baltimore that handles custom matting, glass selection, and frame design for art, posters, photographs, and collectibles, along with a stock of ready-made frames for customers who need faster turnaround or simpler jobs.
What Framing Palace actually is
Framing Palace operates as a hybrid: part custom framing studio, part retail frame retailer. The shop takes on jobs ranging from a single poster to multi-piece gallery walls, museum-quality preservation framing for valuable art, and shadow boxes for sports memorabilia or military insignia. The space stocks approximately 200 frame styles in various finishes (wood, metal, painted) and offers in-house cutting of mats in standard and custom colors, UV-protective glass options, and backing materials suited to different preservation needs. This positions it between big-box retailers like Michaels, which offer basic framing without design consultation, and high-end conservation studios that charge premium rates for archival work on fine art.
Services and pricing
Custom framing starts at approximately $60 to $80 for a simple 8x10 piece (basic frame, standard mat, regular glass) and climbs to $300 to $600 for larger pieces with premium materials like museum glass, acid-free mat board, and hand-selected wood frames. Ready-made frames start at $15 and top out around $100 depending on size and finish. The shop charges for design consultation at the point of sale, credited toward the final order if the customer proceeds. Mat cutting is charged per piece and typically runs $20 to $45 depending on complexity and material grade. Glass options include standard, non-glare, UV-protective, and museum-grade; each adds $10 to $30 to the base price. Most custom orders take two to three weeks; rush service is available at a 25 to 35 percent premium. Prices are set in-house and should be confirmed by phone or visit, as material costs fluctuate.
How it compares to other Baltimore framing options
Michaels (multiple Baltimore locations) offers self-service and in-store framing but limits design input and uses lower-grade materials; costs are typically lower ($40 to $150 for custom work) but so is durability and aesthetic refinement. Ben Franklin Crafts, also in the Baltimore area, operates similarly to Michaels with franchise standardization. For high-end conservation work, institutions like the Walters Art Museum can recommend specialists outside retail framing. Framing Palace sits in the middle: more knowledgeable and flexible than craft retail chains, less expensive and less specialized than museum-affiliated conservators. It suits homeowners, small business owners framing office art, and people with moderately valuable pieces (prints, family photography, local artist work). It does not suit customers needing archival-grade conservation for fine art or collectibles worth tens of thousands of dollars, nor those wanting bare-bones budget framing.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
Framing Palace works well for people with a clear vision of what they want and enough time for custom work; for those framing multiple pieces at once (volume often triggers modest discounts); and for Baltimore residents with local art or photography they want presented professionally. It does not suit last-minute framers (three weeks is standard), budget-conscious shoppers willing to sacrifice design input, or collectors of high-value fine art needing conservation-grade materials and documentation.
What the first visit involves
Bring the piece to be framed or a photograph of it. A staff member will discuss frame finish, mat color, glass type, and backing based on the art's value and purpose. The shop will show samples, provide a written estimate (non-binding until approved), and discuss timeline. Most customers approve the estimate same-day and leave the piece for work; payment is due upon pickup unless prior arrangement is made.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Framing Palace operates Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.; closed Mondays. Street parking is available near the storefront with no dedicated lot; the location sits on a block with nearby retail, making public parking typical for the area. Confirm current hours before visiting, as retail hours occasionally shift seasonally. Finished work can be picked up in person or shipped for an additional fee; local delivery is available for large or multiple pieces.
Framing Palace fills the practical gap between mass-market options and expensive conservators, making it the default choice for Baltimore residents who want their art to look intentional without paying specialist prices.
