Opinions Wanted Display or Corner Sample Wall?

[blackiris]

Ok... so I'm changing the shop again.......

My space is small...... dimensions are 16'x 32'

Originally when I first set everything up....
When you walked in the front door...... the corner sample wall and counter were along the right wall.
(this is looking TOWARD the front of the space OLD WAY!!! )

Now I have a wall built....... and I'm stuck as to make it a corner sample wall..... Or just a FRAMED sample wall....... or half and half.
This wall divides the 16x32 almost exactly in half. So I can keep the BEAST (baby) out of the front area.


Not all the corner samples will fit on this wall. The remaining, whatever I decide will have to go to the right where they have been since I opened. They are all on panels of the veltex which I can hang on this wall.

BTW the wall will be painted TANGERINE....... that's about as far as I got!

Anyone want to post pics of their corner sample walls?? Pretty please?!!
I'm stuck here.......

 

[FrameMakers]

I would put up as many panels on the new wall as will fit and then the others on the existing wall. I would put a single sample piece in the middle of each panel. Make it so that it will fit within 2 rows of samples.

 

[hangupsgallery]

Anyone want to post pics of their corner sample walls?? Pretty please?!!

www.hangupsgallery.com ......look under "custom framing / the frame shop" tab

 

[MaJa]

I will be rearranging when we get back from Vegas. I have one long wall with corner samples and framed samples on it. I will keep the same basic setup. Here's a shot of what it looks like right now. The empty spaces are LJ that seem to be discontinued, so I pulled them.

I like Dave's idea. My only hangup is that I like the customers to feel welcome to touch and hold the samples and I really don;t like them behind my counter, so I have no samples behind my design counter.

 

[cjmst3k]

I considered many velcro colors before I settled on black. The rest of my shop is very softly colored, neutral and bright, but the area where the corner samples are is black, so the color / tone of the frame is so vibrant in comparison.

 

[mbboston]

I considered many velcro colors before I settled on black. The rest of my shop is very softly colored, neutral and bright, but the area where the corner samples are is black, so the color / tone of the frame is so vibrant in comparison.

Chris, it looks fantastic!

 

[Pat Murphey]

I had hardboard panels made up with dark red velcro friendly fabric glued on. They are fastened (using a brad nailer) to various panels around the shop, allowing some background color to show. Different sizes can be arranged/rearranged to accommodate standard chevrons or foot long samples.

(The "windows" simulate the stern windows of HMS Victory, the shops namesake.)

 

[cjmst3k]

I've just got to ask, and I hope you don't mind Nicole. Just looking out for ya...

Anyone else concerned about a tangerine wall?

 

[blackiris]

Have you seen the teal walls? LOL

Th ply wood you see up is paintable......
The wall behind my frame counter is 9'6in....... my panels are 3f x7f....

So ifI put all 3 panels on this wall... you wouldnt see any wall space......

The floor I'm putting down is going to be a light maple color... and we're going to trim everything out in white.

Oh crud buckets...... carpenter is back and I have to move the computer!! Thanks guys for your thoughts and suggestions!!!!
back soon!

 

[FrameMakers]

I've just got to ask, and I hope you don't mind Nicole. Just looking out for ya...

Anyone else concerned about a tangerine wall?

Yep, but I am smart enough to keep my mouth shut

 

[cjmst3k]

Yep, but I am smart enough to keep my mouth shut

No one ever accused me of being smart.

 

[Ylva]

Go with tangerine!!!! Everyone advised me against my red velcro walls but stubborn me went with it anyway. Have never regretted it and my customers love it.

Tangerine and white trim will look fabulous!!!!!!! (our library room in our house has that same combination and it is nice and sunny and bright and fantastic)

 

[framah]

Yep, but I am smart enough to keep my mouth shut

Not me!

I think Tangerine is a REALLY bad choice for a wall behind frame samples.

The idea is to make the samples stand out, not clash. PLEASE, please rethink the idea of using that color.
Even the teal color wasn't that great of an idea. One would think the wall needs to be fairly neutral so the frame colors can show thru.

As nice as the black wall looks with gold frames on it, how would anyone see the black frame samples on it or any dark wood for that matter.
A neutral light to mid grey works the best.

Remember, the VAST majority of your customers will NOT have tangerine walls and as they are looking at the samples all they will see is that color overpowering their senses.
Realize that this is only my opinion but if I walked into a frame store and saw orange colored walls, I definitely would question the ability of the framer to choose the right colors for my stuff.
I'm sure i'm not alone in this thinking.

Of course, if everyone in your area is painting their rooms in tangerine, then by all means, go for it.

 

[Couture's Gallery]

Tangarine would be good if you were in a south pacific island shop, of coutrse you'd have to have aquamarine trim and yellow doors.

 

[cjmst3k]

As nice as the black wall looks with gold frames on it, how would anyone see the black frame samples on it or any dark wood for that matter.
A neutral light to mid grey works the best.

My last store had it 95% carpeted with a soft neutral berber carpet (yes, actual carpet). I did that because its similar to how my father had his shop. It's not bad, but it was just "there". But the longer I had it, the more I noticed that it actually was a little hard on the eyes for frames in gold and silver. Once I switched to black, it's like night and day. The frames now completely pop. Inlaid woods look almost magical. If you have frames of any color, or gold, "POP!". They leap off the wall in vibrancy. The same frames that looked "good" on a light neutral, look insanely great on black. I was on the fence before I got it and almost went with a softer neutral, but now I am so glad I got away from the soft background. The rest of my gallery area is a variety of neutrals, soft buttery tones, or very soft greens, and various off-whites, so I'm not averse to brighter, but just not where the samples are.

Correct, the only downside to a black velcro is that black frames are slightly harder to see between, but I'd rather have black frames harder to see than golds and silvers. Customers are easily able to see and point to the black frame they want which is a good 12' away, so I'd say the black frames don't suffer that much at all.

Going back to a tangerine conversation, it would be kinda funky to have trim painted a vibrant color like that, but as a whole wall color, to me personally, it would just be overwhelming to the eye - kinda like staring at the sun.

in my humble opinion.

 

[framah]

I just might try some black material behind some samples to see how it looks in my store. Thanks.

 

[cjmst3k]

I just might try some black material behind some samples to see how it looks in my store. Thanks.

Totally! Use a true black though, like a black suede. Or, even just get a small sheet of plywood and put some black velcro (lowes or home depot have a version of it) and make a small board to try out.

I was surprised at how it looked because, like you, I originally thought "lighter and neutral" because I had used it so long, but after seeing black, I mean the texture of olive woods seem more, bright red frames seem brighter.

Think of frames like jewelry. Jewelry placed on soft neutral backgrounds don't have "pop". Jewelry placed on black, huge pop.

 

[Barb Pelton]

Not really. Tangarine Tango (Pantone's color of the year for 2012 #17-1463, for those with Pantone charts in your stores) was visible everywhere at the recent Atlanta Gift Market. It has been trending forward for a few years. I'm not sure if I personally would put it directly behind corner samples, but rather on an accent wall. Certainly it is smart to have fashion forward colors in our stores. We repaint part of our store every year and are getting ready to do so again.....

I love mixing samples with framed samples in orderly, but creative ways. A long wall of nothing but corner samples looks stale and uncreative to me. Just my opinion.

(And I agree; our velcro fabric has been switched out to black, with the exception of one wall which still has carpeted panels on it in a med neutral. surrounding walls chocolate brown...)

 

[John Ranes II CPF GCF]

Location or Do you want to display more samples...

Nicole,

Are you trying to increase corner sample presentation or just wondering if these should shift from your side wall to this new "dividing" wall in your shop.

My thinking is that I would prefer folks walking into your shop to see the samples and design table, straight ahead...
With the side wall perhaps for framed samples.

Have you looked at Space Savers from Evald Moulding? Gemini Mldg in Palatine also makes a similar product. These turnstiles will triple your moulding offering with only about 12 inches of depth. They look smart, and come normally covered in a neutral gray linen. You can customize this and wrap these columns with your own Velcro (Veltex) fabric of color choice. (This is what I have done below)...

John

 

[blackiris]

Thanks for all the comments...... the tangerine isn't up for debate.... I'm not affraid of Color. I love the teal. There are a lot of frame shops that have done the same. It works for me!!

For those that didn't see in my previous posts..... the samples will stay on the black panels I already have made. Mounted with z bars so they can be moved.
I didn't get a chance to play too much today....... but I'm thinking of mounting one panel to the left.,.. and one next to the door..... then leave the center open for framed samples.

I go shopping Monday to get the flooring. Blonde maple....... and I'm tiling the top of the frame counter too..... then maybe the front of the counter painted or covered with paneling..... we'll see!!
Cant wait to get the lighting done too!!!!

 

[blackiris]

Not me!

I think Tangerine is a REALLY bad choice for a wall behind frame samples.

The idea is to make the samples stand out, not clash. PLEASE, please rethink the idea of using that color.
Even the teal color wasn't that great of an idea. One would think the wall needs to be fairly neutral so the frame colors can show thru.

As nice as the black wall looks with gold frames on it, how would anyone see the black frame samples on it or any dark wood for that matter.
A neutral light to mid grey works the best.
I
Realize that this is only my opinion but if I walked into a frame store and saw orange colored walls, I definitely would question the ability of the framer to choose the right colors for my stuff.
I'm sure i'm not alone in this thinking.

Of course, if everyone in your area is painting their rooms in tangerine, then by all means, go for it.

Neutral is boring... so is grey.People come to me for design and paint ideas. I do murals and design babies rooms.... and I teach art. I don't do things because other people do it!!!! I'm the least sheeplike person.

The IDEA is....... to give people inspiration and not the same ole Dr office setting that everyone else has. Boring and old are NOT in my vocabulary.

I've never had ANYONE question my framing abilities based on wall Color..... to even suggest that is INSULTING.

 

[framah]

"I've never had ANYONE question my framing abilities based on wall Color..... to even suggest that is INSULTING."

First.. you would probably never know that as they wouldn't come right out and say it.

Second..
Will you lighten up for once and stop taking EVERYTHING someone posts as a personal insult!
I'm getting tired of it.
Seriously, knock it off.

 

[blackiris]

Hard to not take it as an insult. Since I'm sure your fingers were just ITCHING to get in a jab at me. Like usual.

Hey whatever du de.......... I'm not the kind chick that's shy and will roll over and just take it.
I'll call you out on it..... like I did.

 

[framah]

Whatever.

I'm sure Tangerine is the one thing that is missing in your business plan.

I mean.. come on.. you just moved in there a short time ago and did all of that hard work getting it looking the way it is and NOW you are throwing all of that hard to come by money into redoing the whole thing in the hopes that, what? ...that it'll somehow transform your business into one that is a busy, bustling business compared to what you keep whining to us about how bad it is now?

Obviously you can do whatever you want as it is your business, but lately, you have been so quick to accuse anyone of insulting you for nothing more than expressing an opinion on something you posted wanting an opinion on.
So whenever anyone differs with what you say, then THEY are the idiot or THEY are insulting YOU.
See how that can get old after a while?

When you are in a good mood or for whatever other reason, you are a great person to connect with on here or over the phone, but lately, not so much.

I miss the other you.

 

[RParrish]

but lately, you have been so quick to accuse anyone of insulting you for nothing more than expressing an opinion on something you posted wanting an opinion on.
So whenever anyone differs with what you say, then THEY are the idiot or THEY are insulting YOU.
See how that can get old after a while?

And your on deck SLUGGER

 

[blackiris]

Well thanks soooooo much for posting this on a PUBLIC forum....

Funny how the people that pisssssss you off are always the first one to tell you to chill out.

I'm trying something new and fresh ....... why squash anyones creative ideas?

PLEASEEEEEE step into my shoes for one second...... maybe you would understand. Maybe not.

I do more for EVERYONE else before you even wake up in the morning. And if a change of space and something to get excited about makes it SOMETHING I can do for me and MY BUSINESS...... then I'm going to do it. Friends are the ones that are HAPPY for you no matter if they disagree.

Thanks so much for your wonderful comments on my personalitly.... I appreciate it.

 

[Mikbaja]

My burnt copper wall has been the most complimented wall in my shop! A customer may not have the umpf to do it in their house but they love the use of color in a frame shop I have found. Just purchased Cayanne paint for my game room at home yesterday. With your style and personality you can pull off anything other people find to outrageous. Takes courage to be a leader! Not that I need to tell you that!

 

[John Ranes II CPF GCF]

Bold use of color...

OK... take the personal issues off line - that's what PM's are for. Play nice!

My burnt copper wall has been the most complimented wall in my shop! ...With your style and personality you can pull off anything other people find to outrageous. Takes courage to be a leader! Not that I need to tell you that!

I concur Nicole... go for the tangerine! Barb Pelton confirmed this as "hot" from the America's Mart in Atlanta - I agree.

John

 

[framah]

See?? You're still doing it!

I'm happy for you no matter what you do but you posted on here seeming to want us to offer opinions on what you are planning to do. I offered my opinion and right away you got them all bunched up and went on the offensive and accused me of insulting you when I wasn't.
Lately, it seems that everyone pissssses you off. I seem to be the only one on here that is telling you to chill out
Take a breath and pull it down a notch. No one on here is trying to insult you or anything else.
I'm sure that there are other people on here who miss the other you as well and are tiring of your constant screaming and attacking for the least little thing.

Please, try to reflect on what is happening here and possibly accept that you are as responsible as I am for how off track it has gotten.


"I do more for EVERYONE else before you even wake up in the morning."

Wow!! Who knew we had such a humble humanitarian on here. My apologies for sullying your reputation as a savior of the downtrodden in the world.
I hear the poor in India would love to have their shanty painted tangerine.

Now THAT is an insult and you may take it a such, ok?

 

[cjmst3k]

My burnt copper wall has been the most complimented wall in my shop! A customer may not have the umpf to do it in their house but they love the use of color in a frame shop I have found. Just purchased Cayanne paint for my game room at home yesterday. With your style and personality you can pull off anything other people find to outrageous. Takes courage to be a leader! Not that I need to tell you that!

I love using color myself. Though where it's chosen to go, and where it's not chosen to go, can make gigantic impacts (or not) depending on placement in relation to other elements.


Just as an example, my shop uses about 9 different colors in the gallery area, mostly very soft versions of colors, and smaller areas with deeper color (including tangerine in the second photo):

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-...yI/AAAAAAAAAcM/q9saATKmSls/s1024/IMAG0479.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...tI/AAAAAAAAAdY/-Z3GtSoL6kQ/s1024/IMAG0500.jpg


Plus a cayenne colored wall, which features just one picture (strange angle from the camera placement):

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-...ZI/AAAAAAAAAcA/r4uSU8GC07E/s1024/IMAG0476.jpg


Then I used black as the velcro walls because I wanted people's eyes to easily see the variations in the frames, and allow their color to be seen easily.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-...pI/AAAAAAAAAhk/LT6iEqMNduM/s1024/IMAG0780.jpg

 

[Ylva]

Chris; your space is so absolutely gorgeous; it is my absolute favorite inside frame shop ever.

I remember you said those walls were mobile, right? Care to share how you did that??? I think it might work for my shop as well. I don't have a big retail space; but can certainly play around a little with what I have and mobile walls might just be the thing.
So...I would like to know how you built them and steal your idea!!! I love the little cozy corners you created (beautiful chair) and the use of different colors without overdoing it.

I am very much a color person as well and also find that customers like it. Even if they don't do the same in their own home. My red walls work because I added a lot of blank wood colors too (floor, tables). My accent walls are creamy yellow (almost butter color) to balance the red walls.

 

[cjmst3k]

Chris; your space is so absolutely gorgeous; it is my absolute favorite inside frame shop ever.

I remember you said those walls were mobile, right? Care to share how you did that??? I think it might work for my shop as well. I don't have a big retail space; but can certainly play around a little with what I have and mobile walls might just be the thing.
So...I would like to know how you built them and steal your idea!!! I love the little cozy corners you created (beautiful chair) and the use of different colors without overdoing it.

I am very much a color person as well and also find that customers like it. Even if they don't do the same in their own home. My red walls work because I added a lot of blank wood colors too (floor, tables). My accent walls are creamy yellow (almost butter color) to balance the red walls.

Hey Ylva, that is very very kind of you to say.

As not to derail this thread topic, send me an email, and I'll do my best to describe.

email(at)westendframing.com

 

[Ylva]

Chris...your mailbox is full.....

 

[blackiris]

See?? You're still doing it!

I'm happy for you no matter what you do but you posted on here seeming to want us to offer opinions on what you are planning to do. I offered my opinion and right away you got them all bunched up and went on the offensive and accused me of insulting you when I wasn't.

I asked opinions on weather the wall should be all frame corner samples.... or with FRAMED SAMPLES....... NOT COMMENTS ON MY COLOR CHOICE.

Lately, it seems that everyone pissssses you off. I seem to be the only one on here that is telling you to chill out
Take a breath and pull it down a notch. No one on here is trying to insult you or anything else.
I'm sure that there are other people on here who miss the other you as well and are tiring of your constant screaming and attacking for the least little thing.

Please, try to reflect on what is happening here and possibly accept that you are as responsible as I am for how off track it has gotten.

And again........... Are you my father ?? Seriously? PLEASE by all means..... block me. I'm sure I'll cry about it sometime.

"I do more for EVERYONE else before you even wake up in the morning."

Wow!! Who knew we had such a humble humanitarian on here. My apologies for sullying your reputation as a savior of the downtrodden in the world.
I hear the poor in India would love to have their shanty painted tangerine.

Now THAT is an insult and you may take it a such, ok?

And there ya go............. people wonder why good framers are not even on this forum anymore. Well guess what.......... BITE ME....... I now will join them and bounce my ideas off of THEM.

Do what I do one day......... ONE EFFING DAY......
I'm not a saviour.... I'm just trying to make a little business run the best way I can with everything else going on in my life. Can you do everything normally.... with a baby and other kids and family? YYAH...... I didnt think so.

I'm sorry you are a lonely old man..... I really am. Maybe you should find a new hobby instead of insulting people.


Thanks for all the REAL POSTS' for weather to make it a framed sample wall or NOT. I'm finishing it up this week. For those of you on FB , you guys will see the final project !! Thanks!

 

[Pat Murphey]

...For those of you on FB , you guys will see the final project !! Thanks!

HEY! Some of us on the Grumble love ya, but wouldn't be caught dead on Facebook.

 

[framah]

Again... whatever.

I'm sorry that I misjudged you thinking you were a nice person who also had a bit of an attitude (and I was fine with that).
The reality as you have shown here is the polar opposite.

Sorry your life is such that you have to take it out on everyone else.
Good luck with that.
I'm done.

 

[John Ranes II CPF GCF]

OK... take the personal issues off line - that's what PM's are for. Play nice!

Really... Do neither of you two listen? This isn't WARPED.

Had you both been in the back seat, I would have stopped this car a long time ago.

John

 

[johnny]

I would put up as many panels on the new wall as will fit and then the others on the existing wall. I would put a single sample piece in the middle of each panel. Make it so that it will fit within 2 rows of samples.

I'm late to the party but I think your first response here was a really good one.

 

[RParrish]

Can I get a BITE ME here!

 

[Barb Pelton]

Chris- Love your interior. If those walls are indeed mobile, I too would like to know how-to. We are getting ready to do a minor face-lift here and I am wanting to install a couple of mobile walls but I'd rather not have them look too "temporary".

Nicole- I pinned a couple of tangerine things on Pinterest last eveningthat reminded me of you and this thread... I agree that "keeping things new and fresh" are necessary for highly creative souls. Wall color is a pretty fast and easy change to make. I love the excitement you are showing on the switchup.

I think Pantone has done an excellent job of marketing directly to consumers in the past year or two. I've been surprised at how many people have actually known that "Tangerine Tango" is the color of the year. Certainly no one would have been aware 10 years ago, unless they were a designer. I think it is positive news for us that people are in tune and excited about changing up their spaces.

John-wish we could have spent some time critiquing America'sMart showrooms. Retail design may possibly be my favorite topic in the world. Not enough time to get everything done, or even to see it all....loved all of the vintage and urban mixes.

ALL: I ADORE seeing visual changes made in retail spaces and love to hear ideas. It keeps me from being bored at work to come in and redo, AND it keeps my best customers, who are intersted in design themselves, returning regularly to "get ideas".

We are gearing up to renew some of the neutral walls (chocolate-needs a new coat and we're extending it around to an additional wall), a new teal wall, a tangerine accent wall (we have existing "orange sherbet" walls in one area, which we are keeping) and a "chalkboard" wall. I'm toying with ripping out all of the carpet and staining the concrete....not looking forward to the task but would LOVE the look. We're also painting a lot of masonite scraps to go into small frames for signage around the store. I'm in the process of sewing up new tableclothes for all of the tables....burlap with organza sheer overlays on the skirts.

I cannot wait to hear what gets everyone's juices flowing from the WCAF show....

 

[i-m-chickie]

Wow, I too LOVE the pics of the shops. All are SO different and a reflection of each owner.

That is after all, what we do. We put ourselves, our styles and personalities on display and sell from them. And that is often how we frame.

So I really don't think there is a wrong display if it works. I personally love the colors you chose Nic. But they aren't me. They are so you though and I love them.

As for the display idea with the samples and the chevrons mixed. I LOVE that idea. Makes me want to redo my wall...AGAIN.

Chris...you lighting is spectacular. My next space will have a lighting budget because of you.

I went into a yarn shop in Winter Haven, run by a young gal and it is ZIPPY. Reminded me of your shop Nic. Bright bold colors and it worked for her.
www.fourpurls.com fab fun and NOT stuffy. But I think her age has a LOT to do with it.

There is no wrong answer for our choices, IF they work. Work it Nic, bold as you are.