Framers’ Workshop

This place is awesome. I came in wanting to frame my artwork. I’ve had estimates before and I was looking at around $ 150 each and I’m not about that life– I am a grad student and money isn’t raining down.
I found this place via Unilocal and they have a workshop where you can do it yourself. The guys help you pick out what you want and bring it out to you in the workshop. They explain how to do it and let you to it. Let me tell you — it was relaxing and pretty fun. The guys were super chill, very helpful, and they gave a nice vibe to the place. I came out of it happy with the results and with the price– it ended up being half of the previous estimates. It took me around 3 hours to frame 5 pieces.
Want a fantastic artistic DIY framing? Come here!

5-​star review for framer’s workshop!
I needed to frame my hand-​papercut ketubah (a jewish marriage contract). I’d taken it to a different location in Brookline and was quoted that it would cost me between $ 320-​$ 380. After multiple recommendations from my friends, I went to Framer’s Workshop, and after the 15% discount, it only cost me $ 72. Deal!
They cut the frame pieces for you, and they cut the glass, so mostly it’s just fun with detail work and assembly — it’s a very zen process, hard to screw up, and easy to feel great about when you finish.
HUGE shoutout to Chris, who gave great advice on materials to use, didn’t try to up-​sell me on anything, just actually cared about what my priorities were with my piece. He didn’t mind my questions, my hyper-​sensitivity to the delicate nature of the art, or my silliness in the workroom. He made everything super easy, and I will definitely go back any time I need anything else framed.
Pro-​tips:
1) You need to show up *at least* 1 ½ hours before they close, so if you can’t get there by 7/7:15 I would hold off, unless you don’t mind doing one visit just putting in the order, and the second visit for assembly (which is what I wound up doing since we got there around 7:40).
2) Fun to go with a friend (I went with a pal), but it will definitely make the process take longer.
3) Go on a weeknight. I went on 2 Tuesdays and there was no wait at all.
4) Make sure you show them the 15% off coupon on their website when they ring you up! They won’t just take your word for it, you actually have to show it, but the savings definitely adds up so it’s worth hanging on to the image.

This place is awesome! The staff is super helpful and made sure I saw all the possible options before I made a decision. The DIY framing was super fun and the staff made sure that my frame came out perfectly! I will definitely be back!

What a fantastic place! Had a great afternoon here learning how to frame prints. The staff is so kind and helpful, and they were really generous with fixing a huge botch I made on one of my frames. They really care about you walking out with beautiful frames even when DIY-​ing and it was so fun learning a new craft. Would be a cool date activity. :)
They also have mirrors so you can create a custom framed mirror here, very handy and very cost effective.

Excellent and friendly service! Gorgeous selection of frames even ones with animal fur print.

A super friendly bunch — it was my first time framing and they helped me with every step along the way. They have a large selection of frames, plenty of the tools and workstations available. It was a fun experience and I’m very happy with the result. Would definitely come back.

I came into the shop not knowing what to expect. I am not a person who is good with construction /​small projects. The team at FW was very patient and I successfully framed my picture as good as the professional can do. This place is my new best friend.

As you know, framing can be ridiculously expensive.
This place is catered to both artists and all those whom have never painted or framed anything. The friendly framers are artists yet they do not judge you for incompetency. In fact, they help with kindness and care. Both Julian and Ashley were at my service. With a smile. With a joke thrown in. Framing simply takes time, patience and precision. Or at least that is how I felt when I left an hour later with two framed pieces, both wired and wrapped in thick brown paper. I even felt accomplished and a bit artsy as if I just paid for a $ 3 summer workshop.
If you need to save $, they can also help you find simpler materials. Don’t forget to sign up for Belly at the counter for further discounts. Who doesn’t like to save?
Thank you, Ashley and Julian.

When it comes to pricing and doing it yourself they rock. This was my second time doing it myself and no matter how hard you try to screw the job up the folks there won’t let. Want to use the wrong nails on a wood frame, nope someone will explain how and why that isn’t a good idea. Want to pull your corner out of the vice before the glue is ready, not gonna happen. And when it comes to Instant gratification taking home your print the same day is pretty darn cool.
Everyone from Ashley at the counter who helped me pick out my mat and frames to the guys out back who helped me do the work are great. And you can not talk about this place without bringing up the music. It had to be karoke day at the workshop and my GF loved all the tunes which also helped to past the time.
To all my fellow comic book geeks this is the place to get your stuff framed. They understand we don’t’ want our books ruined when being framed and the end product is of a gallery quality.

This place is the best! I’ve gone there twice to do do-​it-​yourself framing and they are so helpful and knowledgeable, anytime I need something framed, I’m going here. They’ve got a great selection of frames and Julian is always there to lend a hand while at the same time being incredibly informative so I actually left feeling like I knew what I was doing!
You save way more coming here and doing it yourself, plus the satisfaction of walking out the same day with your frame ready to hang up is the BEST.

This is the only place around to get framing done! Very reasonable pricing!
Not only is every employee very nice, they are all extremely professional-​I received exceptional service from DAN!

I have always had great experiences at Framers Workshop. The prices are significantly better than other framing stores in the area IF you are willing to do the labor yourself in their workshop. They will provide all the necessary equipment and instruction for assembling metal and wood frames with or without mats, floating frames for paintings, and dry mounting of photographs. The quality of materials is usually good. The only warped stock I received was quickly replaced for me. The selection is great as well.
This place is old-​school and no-​nonsense. Four stars because in all the time I’ve spent there, I’ve always felt like the staff was doing me a favor helping me out. Not the friendliest of people, but their advice and instruction has always been spot on.
They frequently do substantial promotions through GROUPON so make sure you check the web ahead of time.

To preface, I have never written a bad review before. However, my experience was so poor that I felt the needed to share.
I went to Framers Workshop to get a photo framed as a Christmas gift and I will never go back. The staff was incredibly rude, and made me feel as if I was an inconvenience. The gentleman who assisted me on the floor was considerably nicer than the person who sold the mat/​frame, but he was very slow to respond to my questions and all the staff acted they they had better things to do than help their customers.
They were out of stock of almost all the mats that I liked (even just plain black!), and the only one available was over double the price. When I inquired about a discount because they were out of stock he said they couldn’t do that because I had a discount coupon. I tried to work with him to figure out a workable solution for the dilemma, but he just scoffed at me and said he couldn’t do anything about it.
While the final product looked incredible, I would NEVER return here. I got an antique map framed at another shop a few days later and it not only looked just as great, but was also HALF the price (and she did everything for me!). Overall, you are overpaying for the product on top of extremely sub-​par customer service.

What a find! The selection of moldings is terrific and the staff on the floor are numerous and ready to assist you. I thought the advice I received was excellent. The prices were amazing — I have had many pieces of art framed over the years and their prices cannot be matched, nor their quality. Thanks, Framer’s Workshop — I will be back!
Nancy
Hopkinton, MA

After hearing others rave about Framers’ Workshop and their great services and low prices, I finally went myself with two items, and was equally impressed! First, I was surprised by how much they actually do for you to ensure that you get a professional-​quality result. You select the frame, mat, and glass type you want, and they do all the measuring and cut all the pieces for you. I was picturing having to cut the middle out of the mat with a razor blade and having to carefully cut the frame corners at a perfect 45-​degree angle, but they do all that for you. Then, you go to a work station where a VERY helpful man teaches you how to do everything from screwing the corners of the frame together to mounting the item to be framed onto foam backing to inserting spacers and screwing on the hanging wire.
Given how much of the framing job they still do for you and how much assistance is available for the parts you do yourself, the prices were very low. I was skeptical that the price would be lower than going to a big-​box craft store with a 40% coupon (which is what I had always done before), but it was WAY lower. And fun. And now I know how to do framing so the next time I go the process will be much quicker.

Read all reviews before I went.
True, lots of hipsters with ironic tshirts. And they’re not in any particular hurry.
But.they were all smart and accommodating. And their work is excellent. Advice thoughtful. Table side helpful. Smiles from time to time.
And my project came out better than I imagined, not overpriced, and done in an hour.

I love framing my stuff here! Years ago, I worked in a frame shop, so I know the basics, but the people who work here are experts, and creative to boot. They can help you find that perfect mat for a frame, and they have helped me display photographs, posters and the like for years. Then, they can help you put it all together easily. With a groupon, I recently framed three pieces for my place and they all look awesome! Yay!

The hubby surprised me by framing some maps of my favorite cities here. (He claimed he framed them himself, but I now realize that he had a lot of help along the way!) The folks are very friendly and we ended up coming back here again to frame a third print.
We went during a popular hour (4pm?) so there was a bit of a wait, but nevertheless, it was worth it. When we found the perfect scaled textured frame that was the perfect shade of swampy green to go with our vintage San Francisco map, it was so worth it.

I’ve been there three times now, twice with multiple projects and everyone was lovely. Frankly most of the people trying to frame their own stuff are klutzes (me included) and the staff have to patiently explain things three or four times to the same person sometimes …
There was a snafu in cutting the mats wrong on 3 of my pictures the last time I went and they just apologized and recut them for me right away. That was nice.
I need to go back soon because I have two more frames to do. It’s so much cheaper than having a frame store do it and it’s fun and crafty. Seriously, give it a try.
L–

Things I love:
1) the idea of this place. It is awesome to make your own frame especially if the art you are putting in it means a lot to you. It is a wonderful feeling of accomplishment when you hang it on the wall
2) the 15% off coupon — get it. it’s on their website. print it out.
3) the work space and music. I could literally spend all day in here and not realize it. it is also really fun to see everyone’s artwork around you.
4) location. it’s pretty easy to get to.
5) despite the 15% coupon situation (read on for more on that) they do seem environmentally conscious.
Things that could use some improvement:
1) OK, so here’s the verdict on the staff. they aren’t mean but they aren’t super nice either. they are kind of indifferent helpers but they do want you to be happy with the product. they do help but sometimes only when summoned by awkward glances. they never seem to give me as much advice as i would prefer when figuring out framing/​mating options.
2) the 15% coupon. turns out you have to print it out which is not that environmentally friendly. electronic phone versions are not acceptable. if you forget it, tell them you’ll be right back and head over to the Brookline Public Library to print it out (ugh, i know).
3) the wait. I understand the wait because they are providing such a unique service but if there are a lot of people waiting why not hand out a number so us hangry folk can grab some grub or tour the store and don’t feel forced to wait in a quasi-​line?
Bottom line:
I love/​like it. I would recommend it to a friend. However, I would tell that friend to PRINT out the coupon, to not feel shy when asking for help… keep giving those awkward glances and someone is bound to come to you, and to go during the afternoon on a weekday when there might not be such a long wait!