TL;DR
Veranda’s report features interior designer David Kaihoi’s advice on selecting frames and arranging artwork at home. He recommends responding to each piece and the room rather than following one rigid hanging formula, with matching frames for coordinated series and more variety for collected groupings.
Interior designer David Kaihoi says framing and hanging art at home should respond to the artwork, architecture, furniture and light rather than follow a single gallery-style formula, according to a Veranda report. His advice offers readers practical ways to choose frames and organize collections while leaving room for a more personal, less uniform display.
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Kaihoi draws on experience as a fine art installer in New York City, where he worked on installations for interior designers with contrasting approaches. He recalls seeing one designer hang several pictures from a single bow and another place a small portrait alone in a large dining room. The contrast, he said, showed how a single work could hold attention through its placement.
For choosing a frame, Kaihoi advises looking at the artwork first. A black frame may compete with some pieces, he said, while raw wood or a frame with a silver-gilt face may better suit a particular drawing. He also suggests considering the setting: natural wood might suit a beach house, while glossy black could work in a city interior. When possible, he recommends holding frame samples beside the art in person.
Kaihoi says matching frames make sense when works are intended to be shown together, such as a series of prints or family portraits. For a salon-style wall or art displayed in different parts of a home, he favors mixing frames so the arrangement feels collected rather than overly planned. He also recommends considering secondhand frames and French matting, an ornamental border that can add color or visual detail.
A More Personal Approach to Art
The advice challenges the idea that home art displays need to follow the uniform spacing and matching frames often associated with galleries. Kaihoi’s approach treats framing and placement as part of how a room works: a frame can support or distract from a piece, while scale and position affect how artwork relates to nearby furniture and architecture.
For readers, the practical takeaway is not a fixed set of measurements but a way to make decisions: start with the art, consider the room, and test options before committing. That can also make it easier to combine inherited, found and newly acquired pieces without requiring every frame to match.
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From Installation Work to Interiors
Kaihoi’s perspective grew from a career that began with art installation and later led to a partnership with designer Miles Redd. The Veranda report describes Kaihoi as a partner in Redd Kaihoi, whose work includes residential interiors in locations such as Dallas and Palm Beach.
His examples from installation work underpin his preference for flexibility. A tightly arranged group can suit a set of related works, while a single small picture can also become a strong focal point when placed deliberately. In the report, Kaihoi presents these as different options, not a universal rule for every home.
“The gallery hanging approach is meant for a museum, and it has its place, but in the home, I think it can be much more lively, playful, and up for grabs.”
— David Kaihoi, as quoted by Veranda
No Universal Hanging Formula
The report offers design guidance, not technical hanging specifications. It does not give standard measurements for spacing, hanging height, wall anchors or weight limits, and Kaihoi’s recommendations are presented as preferences rather than rules that will suit every artwork or room. The source also does not identify a single frame style as best for all pieces.
Readers should check the artwork’s condition, frame weight and wall material before hanging. The article does not provide safety or installation instructions for heavy or valuable works.
Test Frames Before Hanging
Kaihoi’s suggested next step is to compare frame samples with the artwork in person when possible, since a pairing that seems suitable in theory may look different beside the actual piece. Readers can then decide whether the work belongs in a matching series or a more varied arrangement, taking the room and neighboring objects into account.
The report does not announce a follow-up event or a new project. Its guidance leaves the final choices with the homeowner: try alternatives, use secondhand frames where appropriate, and adjust the arrangement to the art and setting.
Key Questions
Should every picture on a wall have the same frame?
Not necessarily. Kaihoi recommends matching frames for works intended to be displayed as a series, such as related prints or family portraits. For a salon-style grouping, he favors mixing frames.
How should I choose a frame for a particular artwork?
Start by looking at the artwork and consider whether a frame will complement it or compete with it. Kaihoi suggests comparing samples in person when possible and taking the room’s style into account.
What is French matting?
French matting is an ornamental border around an artwork. Kaihoi says it can add color or tone and may suit both classical and some contemporary pieces.
Does Kaihoi recommend buying new frames?
He also likes looking for secondhand frames at auctions, flea markets and antique markets. In some cases, he says, the frame itself may be the reason to buy an older piece.
Source: rss
