Custom Framing
At Hype Unique Gallery, framing is not a transaction — it is a conversation about your artwork, your space, and what the piece means to you, carried out by a team that has been doing this work with genuine care for over two decades in Kelowna.
Service description
Our framing studio is the heart of Meridian. We carry over 200 moulding profiles — from slim natural wood to wide ornate gesso — and a full range of archival matboards and UV-filtering glazing options. Every frame is hand-joined and fitted in-house by our studio team. We take time to understand the artwork and the room it will live in, so the result feels considered rather than generic. Standard turnaround is 10 business days; rush service in 3 business days is available.
The Heart of the Studio
David and Elaine Hartwell built Meridian around the belief that a well-chosen frame is the last act of respect you give a piece of art. Our framing studio sits at the centre of everything we do, and it has served Kelowna families through heirlooms, wedding portraits, children's first paintings, and significant original works collected over lifetimes.
Because we are a family business, we treat every item that comes through our door the way we would treat something belonging to our own household. That is not a marketing phrase — it is the standard our team holds themselves to every single day, on every single piece.
Materials That Protect What Matters
We carry over 200 moulding profiles, ranging from slim natural wood to wide ornate gesso finishes, so the frame can genuinely suit the work rather than simply surround it. All framing uses archival acid-free matboard and backing as standard, protecting your artwork from the deterioration that cheaper materials cause over time.
For glazing, we offer standard UV-filtering glass and museum glass, which carries a multi-layer anti-reflective coating and blocks over 99% of UV light. For original artwork, photographs, or anything irreplaceable, museum glass makes a meaningful difference. During your consultation, we will show you a side-by-side sample so you can see the distinction for yourself before deciding.
How the Framing Process Works
Every project begins with a no-charge in-person design consultation. Bring your artwork, a photo of the room it will live in, or simply your instincts — our team will guide the conversation. We consider the colours, the subject matter, the wall space, and the way you want the piece to feel before we suggest a single moulding or mat.
Once you approve the design, our studio team hand-joins and fits the frame entirely in-house. Standard turnaround is 10 business days. If you need a piece ready sooner, our rush service delivers in 3 business days for an additional surcharge. Every completed frame leaves with hanging hardware and wall-bumpers already fitted, so it is ready to hang the moment you get home.
What We Frame — More Than You Might Expect
We frame paintings, prints, photographs, and works on paper as a matter of course. We also regularly build shadow boxes for medals, jerseys, dried flowers, memorabilia, and other three-dimensional objects that carry deep personal meaning. These pieces are quoted individually because depth and mounting method vary considerably, but a free estimate is always available — just bring the item in.
If you have a customer-supplied frame you would like us to work with, we are happy to assess it. We can fit artwork into a structurally sound third-party frame, though our 10-year workmanship guarantee applies only to joins we complete using our own moulding. We will always be honest with you about what we can and cannot stand behind.
A Guarantee Built on Two Decades of Craft
Every frame that leaves our studio carries a 10-year workmanship guarantee on all joins. This is not a figure we arrived at lightly — it reflects the confidence our team has in the hand-joining techniques they practise daily and the quality of the materials we choose to stock.
Kelowna families have been bringing us pieces that matter to them for over twenty years. Some clients have returned with the same framed works for re-glazing or remounting after moving house, and they trust us because we have never cut corners on their behalf. That continuity of care is something a chain framing counter simply cannot replicate.
Pricing That Is Clear From the Start
Custom framing starts from CAD 95 for smaller pieces, with pricing scaling by size through to our large format tier. Oversized and panoramic works are quoted individually because the variables involved are too specific for a fixed price to be fair. We will always give you a clear quote before any work begins — no surprises when you come to collect.
The design consultation is free, and we never pressure you toward a more expensive option. Our goal is a frame you will still love in ten years, chosen because it was right for the work and right for your home — not because it was the most expensive thing on the wall of samples.
What the service includes
- In-person design consultation (no charge)
- Archival acid-free matboard and backing
- UV-filtering glazing (standard or museum glass)
- Hand-joined hardwood or metal moulding
- Hanging hardware and wall-bumpers fitted
- 10-year workmanship guarantee on all joins
Price
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Small (up to 28 × 36 cm) | $95 |
| Medium (up to 50 × 70 cm) | $175 |
| Large (up to 80 × 100 cm) | $280 |
| Oversized / panoramic (custom quote) | individual quote |
| Rush surcharge (3-day turnaround) | $45 |
Gross prices are for guidance only. You will receive an exact quote before work begins.
Frequently asked questions
Do you frame needlework, jerseys, and 3D objects?
Yes. We regularly frame shadow boxes containing medals, jerseys, dried flowers, and memorabilia. These are quoted individually because depth and mounting method vary; bring the item in and we will give you a free estimate on the spot.
What is museum glass and is it worth it?
Museum glass has a multi-layer anti-reflective coating and blocks over 99% of UV light, compared to roughly 70% for standard UV glass. For original artwork, photographs, or anything irreplaceable, we consider it worth the additional cost. We will show you a side-by-side sample during your consultation.
Can I supply my own frame and have you fit the artwork?
We can fit artwork into a customer-supplied frame if it is structurally sound, but we cannot guarantee the join or offer our 10-year workmanship warranty on third-party moulding. We are happy to assess your frame before committing.