Custom shop frames works of all shapes, sizes

Despite changing the location of his shop several times since its opening in 1985, Frame Craft owner Peter Lampros continues to frame artwork and memorabilia for Woodlands area residents who want to honor memories and elegantly display works of art in their homes and offices.

A custom frame shop that designs frames of all shapes and sizes, Frame Craft has evolved over the years. Lampros moved to The Woodlands in 1983 and worked as a picture framer for a company in Conroe, which served as his introduction to professional framing. He opened Frame Craft's first store in the Panther Creek Village Center in 1985, where it was located for 15 years.

He then moved the shop along I-45 in 2000 before moving to a now instantly recognizable red building at Oak Ridge Drive in 2004.

"I felt that there was a niche for offering a type of picture framing that wasn't readily available in the area," Lampros said.

Rather than hiring part-time employees Lampros typically only works with professional framers. Although some stores might have flat rates for framing, Lampros does not consider price when initially formulating a frame design.

"I design the best piece that I can with the materials that I know I have available," he said. "Essentially, my goal is to look at a piece, design it the way it should be designed and coordinate those designs with the customer."

Although all the frames are wood based, he said, there are thousands of molds and finishes from which to choose. Lampros purchases the molds and builds and tones the frames. He even performs restoration work on antique frames. He takes a conservation approach, using materials like acid-free mats and mounting techniques to preserve the value and original condition of the objects, Lampros said.

While art makes up about 50-60 percent of what customers bring in, customers request everything from sports jerseys to arrowhead collections to priceless heirlooms to be framed. He said he values being able to perfectly frame people's cherished items and artwork.

"It's why I do it," Lampros said. "Whenever someone brings a piece, whether it be art or memorabilia, into a custom frame shop, it's because it's important to them and they want it done properly and they want it done optimally for the presentation of it."

In the frame

Peter Lampros and Frame Craft can frame a variety of art, heirlooms and memorabilia through an array of frames and framing styles. Among the items he can frame are:

• Paintings
• Photography
• Statuary
• Sports memorabilia
• Antiques and historical artifacts
• Collections
• Posters from movies or musicals
• Family heirlooms
• Toys and action figures
• Other personal, sentimental items

Frame Craft, 26106 Oak Ridge Drive, The Woodlands, 281-367-6526, www.lamprosgallery.com