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Interior designer David Kaihoi says framing and hanging art at home should respond to the artwork and the room, rather than follow a fixed gallery formula. His advice includes testing frames in person, mixing styles for salon walls and matching frames when displaying a series.
Interior designer David Kaihoi says choosing frames and arranging art at home should depend on the artwork, architecture, furniture and light, rather than a fixed gallery rule. In advice published by Veranda, the Redd Kaihoi partner recommends a more flexible approach that can help homeowners make art feel connected to its surroundings.
Kaihoi draws on early work as a fine art installer in New York, where he helped interior designers hang work in different ways. He recalls one designer arranging several pictures from a single bow, while another placed a small portrait in a large dining room. The contrasting installations showed him how varied approaches could work in a home.
For frames, Kaihoi advises starting with the art itself. A frame should draw attention to and complement the piece, he says, without competing with it. A black frame may suit an ink drawing, for example, while raw wood, gilt or silver gilt can offer other effects. He also suggests considering the room’s setting: natural wood may fit a beach house, while glossy black can suit a city interior.
When possible, Kaihoi recommends holding frame samples beside the artwork in person. He says combinations that seem right in theory can compete when viewed together. He also looks for secondhand frames at auctions and antique or flea markets, and says French matting can add a decorative border to classical or some contemporary works.
A Room Shapes the Art Display
Kaihoi’s guidance presents art placement as part of a room’s overall design. The same piece may read differently depending on its frame, scale and position, as well as nearby furniture and the light. His examples suggest that a single small portrait can hold attention on a large wall, while a group of works can create a more layered display.
For readers arranging art at home, the advice offers a way to make choices without treating one hanging style as universal. Kaihoi recommends matching frames for works intended as a series, such as family portraits or related prints, but mixing frames for a salon wall or for pieces displayed in separate places. He says the mix should feel collected rather than overly planned.
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From Installation Work to Interiors
Kaihoi’s perspective developed through installation jobs for interior designers after college. He describes the work as a practical introduction to the range of ways art can be displayed in interiors. Those experiences later informed his approach as a partner at Redd Kaihoi, the design firm he joined after building a rapport with designer Miles Redd.
The Veranda report focuses on Kaihoi’s framing and hanging advice. It also records his preference for frames that combine contrasts, such as a gilt or silver gilt face with a raw wood side, and for showing the edges of a canvas when a floating frame allows it. The article does not present these preferences as rules for every artwork or room.
““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 Single Formula for Every Wall
Kaihoi’s recommendations are design guidance based on his experience, not a set of measurements or technical hanging instructions. The report does not specify standard spacing, hanging heights, hardware or wall types, and it does not claim that a particular frame finish suits every piece in a given setting. Homeowners still need to judge each artwork and room individually.
Test the Pairing Before Hanging
Kaihoi’s practical next step is to compare the artwork with possible frames before committing. Lay the work beside samples and check whether the finish supports the piece or competes with it. For a group, decide first whether the pieces belong together as a series or should have a more varied, collected look. Then consider how the arrangement relates to the room’s architecture, furniture and light.
Key Questions
Should art at home be hung like it is in a gallery?
Kaihoi says a formal gallery arrangement has its place, but he sees home displays as more flexible. He recommends responding to the room and the artwork instead of following a fixed formula.
How should I choose a frame for a piece of art?
Start by considering what will complement the work without competing with it. Kaihoi suggests comparing frame samples with the art in person when possible, since a pairing can look different once seen together.
Should frames in a group match?
Kaihoi recommends identical frames when works are intended to be installed together as a series. For a salon wall or pieces displayed in separate places, he favors mixing frames to create a collected appearance.
Can I use a secondhand frame?
Yes. Kaihoi says he looks for old frames at auctions, flea markets and antique markets, and sometimes buys a piece for its frame rather than for the art inside it.
Source: rss
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