I have Blonde and my black looks great with it.

Maybe your matting is too much of a bright white. Do you have any pics?

thanks, I'll see if I can take pics today. I think it's the black right next to the drapes. My room is all windows (5). The room is very monotone-the sectional is light camel color, club chair is leather and entertainment center and bookcase are mahogany color and rattan chair is dark honey. Maybe because I have no black in the room?

I also have black frames with my Blonde, but have many other darker accessories, curtains, etc that helps pull it together.

Maybe a chery wood?? What color are you tables/entertainment pieces in that room?

the wood is mahogany color. The black frames I currently have are very thick. Do you think I should try thinner black frames?

I would probably stick with the mahogany tones for your frames if your room is going towards a monochromatic scheme already.... pictures would definitely help though =)

no black? yep, that would be it. a black frames gallery with the warm tones you describe would stick out. Match the mahogany or honey wood tones already in the room - if you are stuck with the frames you have, grab a can of spray paint in whatever metal you have used, like the bronze. The key is repetition of other elements in the room...you want the focus on the pics, not the frame....

terry

Lisac,

Did you have any success with the gallery wall? I am thinking of something similar, but on the Ivoire paint. I have b/w photos, but was thinking either black or dark cherry frames.

When I've had a similar problem I bought a tube of gilding paint in an antique gold and brushed it on my frames with a watercolor brush. I've even just used my fingers at times. I don't usually put the color on solidly but more in a streaky fashion. It lightens up the frames considerably and will help them to blend in with your curtains. Michael's or Aaron Brothers or other art or craft stores have these tubes and it's a lot cheaper than buying new frames. I can't tell you how many plain brown and black frames I've "gilded" with this method. It really works!

Love the idea of gilding -- check out Rub n Buff as well as they have colored tints along with the standard silver/gold/bronze.

Given the windows, light colors etc don't shy away from a colored frame if it works with what's *in* the frames. A deeper sage, midtone olive, or medium greyed green, a slate-y or "spa" blue, or a medium-to-darker grey could help balance out the lightness of the wall and sofa colors with the darker wood pieces.

[I have a close color to Blonde in a hall and my office but I'm not much help as I have a lot of black/dark tones nearby or in the room. Black, dark reddish brown, and orange frames work for me.]

Gee...my DR has similar colored walls and I like the contrast of all black frames in there~

loribee, you have an absolutely gorgeous home. It's elegant and grand and yet warm and in inviting at the same time. Beautiful use of color and love the drapes.

Sorry, I don't mean to hijack but couldn't contain myself.

Ingrid

That was very kind Ingrid, thank you so much. :) Lori