We have used Richard Sumner Frames twice. The first time was great, although eye-wateringly expensive. The second time was a horrendous experience. They can frame things beautifully and really elevate prints, paintings, and other artwork. We were really impressed with the matting, the backdrops, etc. for the first batch of frames. This earns them two stars instead of one. The second batch was two frames, roughly 24" x 30", and totaled $2084.00 which is an absurd sum for frames, at least if you ask me. However, we were really excited about these specific pieces and sort of got "suckered" into paying a premium because that's apparently what good framing costs these days . . although we'll soon be finding other sources to see if that's true. Regardless, here is the timeline of events: Oct 4: Art is dropped off, deposit paid Oct 22: Frames are ready. One frame has a visible chip in the wood, with missing material. It's about 3/8" long and 1/8" deep, clearly visible on the front of the frame where the corners meet. I notify the owner that I'm not happy with it and he agrees to fix it. I bring the first piece home. Oct 28: The second frame is ready. I go to pick it up and see that there is wood filler in the chip. The frame is wooden, with wood grain, and the wood filler is a solid color and immediately visible from the front. The wood filler is also soft to the touch. I once again notify the owner that I'm not happy with it. Nov 23: The second frame is ready, again. The wood filler has dried, he assures me. It still looks terrible. I make it clear that for $1,000 apiece, these had better look perfect. Even better would be having a perfect frame the first time! Or the second time! Or even the third time! He agrees to remake this frame, which is what he should have done in the first place. Dec 12: The second frame is ready, completely remade this time. It looks great. He charges me full price and I bite my tongue so that I don't say something I regret. I pay and leave to close this chapter as quickly as possible. I get home and hang the second piece next to the first and (to add insult to injury) I find that the wires are not the same height/tension and the pieces don't sit at the same height. What a joke! Overall, very disappointing customer service and standards - combined with extraordinary prices - means this business is not for me. read more

Richard Sumner Frames - Height mismatch after months of back and forth about a chipped frame. Disappointing. - Framing Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I've entrusted many pieces of art to Mahmut at Richard Sumner Frames, both my own work and pieces I've collected over the years and he consistently brings each one to life in a way that feels truly complete. My artwork can be complex to frame, but Mahmut is an artisan in his own right. He takes great care with each individual piece, ensuring the framing supports and complements the art without ever overpowering it. The result is always classic, always timeless. As if that weren't enough, he's a pleasure to work with, and the only framer I trust. read more

Had our wedding photos framed here and they turned out perfectly! Amazing quality and they made the design process super easy. Everything looks beautiful -- couldn't be happier! read more

Wonderful experience. They have a wide variety of frames and materials, and are really good at helping me pick the right look for the art, and very straightforward about what different frames cost, what should be done with the particular kind of art. read more

I wandered into Richard Sumner Frames because I loved their beautiful window display - they had lots of items that I hadn't seen before in other shops. I ended up purchasing a few embroidered Turkish pillows, and they are absolutely gorgeous. The colors are bright and fun, and they add the perfect pop of warmth and character to my living room. Such a special shop with truly unique pieces - so many treasures to find! read more

I couldn't be happier with my purchase from Richard Sumner Frames. I bought a hand-done, gold-leafed desktop frame for some family photos, and it's absolutely gorgeous. The craftsmanship is exceptional...it is itself a piece of art that elevates the photos inside it. Beautiful work and well worth it. Highly recommended. read more

Such a charming shop with great service! The owner was so attentive working with me. The frame totally transformed the watercolor I brought in read more

This shop is a great find if you're looking for one of a kind artwork (I haven't gotten anything framed yet but now I know where to go!). I was recently on the peninsula and happened to walk by this shop. The owner was so friendly and helpful - he thoughtfully answered my questions and gave me the space to browse without feeling any pressure. I ended up buying a gorgeous ceramic mosaic that he had hand selected in Turkey. I will definitely be recommending this place to others and I'll be coming back whenever I need something framed. read more

I stopped by hoping for some assistance in figuring out a direction I wanted to go with both a piece of artwork and a photo very special to me. I wasn't quite sure what exactly it is I was hoping for, but Mahmut was amazing. He's incredibly personable and clearly knowledgeable and passionate about what he does. Through his artistic eye, he was able to help me make the best selections for my pieces and I appreciate his time! The shop has beautiful items throughout that seem to be indicative of his travels. Highly recommend! read more

**Buyer beware: predatory sales staff** If I could give Richard Sumner Frames a negative review, I would. I brought a Jason Polan drawing to the shop for my newborn's nursery. I had carried the artwork around for years and was excited to finally get a beautiful frame. At the store, I was clear that I wanted something bright and colorful. I was met with resistance, the sales person telling me that my vision would not look good. They then pressured me repeatedly into getting a thin black frame--they were clearly trying to upsell a more expensive frame. I ultimately caved under the pressure and listened to their advice. Needless to say, it was a waste of hundreds of dollars and I was a fool for trusting a "local shop" who ultimately abused their power. read more

As an Interior Designer, I can't say enough good things about Sumner Frames and their knowledgeable and friendly staff. It's my go-to shop for all of my clients' and my own personal framing needs, custom mirrors, art restoration, etc. It's also a fantastic gallery for finding one-of-a-kind artwork, ceramics, textiles, and other decorative objects meticulously sourced from around the world. Mahmut, the owner, has excellent taste and a discerning eye, which makes it incredibly easy and seamless to design the perfect, bespoke frame and the workmanship is always excellent. I highly recommend Sumner Frames. read more

Holy cow. I just had the worst retail experience of my life here. Let me be clear that I've actually used this place before, with good results. The gentleman (who I think is the owner) that runs the place is a gem. He's super friendly. So today, when I needed a large photo mounted, I immediately went there, expecting to have this good-natured fellow help me out. He wasn't there, but in his place was the World's Crankiest Woman. I told her I needed this photo mounted, and I needed it "while you wait", and she looked at me like I just asked her to do a handstand on the roof. She was truly incredulous. She then went on to inform me that they were basically "closed" (it was 2:47 in the afternoon when I went there) and that she had shut all the machines down and would need to start them up again. I asked very politely if she could do it, since I needed it soon, and she INCREDIBLY reluctantly trudged over to do the job. I was the only person in the store, and I waited quietly while did performed this apparently Herculean task. When she finally finished, she trudged back with a badly-warped mount job and silently handed it over. At this point, she had been so rude and cold that I didn't want to debate the poor job she had done (which cost me $50!!!!!!!) so I said politely, "I appreciate your making an exception for me. Have a good weekend. Good night" She just leered at me and didn't say a word, so I quietly left. So, in exchange for $50, I got a photo mounted, a huge amount of attitude and negativity, and a very bad experience. I will NOT be coming back here again. EVER. read more

Amazing service! The owner is super knowledgeable and you can tell that he's very passionate about art. I recently brought in a large piece to be framed and was a little worried because the artwork had been previously damaged. Not only did the owner recommend an amazing restorer in Oakland but he offered to bring the art to the restorer for me! I never expected that level of service. The final product (restoration + framing) was very professionally done and I am so happy with the quality of workmanship. read more

Great shop with beautiful antiques and art. Have had numerous pieces of art framed here (in fact I still send my art to him even though I've moved out of state!) and have been beyond happy with each job. Mahmut is an absolute expert in his craft. He's also super friendly and great to work with. read more

Simply the best picture framer! We've been customers for years, and wouldn't think of having our framing done anywhere else. Mahmut has a great eye and he knows how to make a piece of art shine. I cannot recommend this place enough! read more

I had exactly 1 copy of an Italian newspaper that I was unable to find any other copies of with my engagement article and the team at Richard Sumner took great care of it and framed it for our wedding. It is beautiful and perfect! I've taken a ton of things for a client of mine and they always come out perfect! read more

We have relied on Richard Sumner Frames and the owner Mahmut for years for all of our framing needs, in addition to acquiring unique art pieces from around the world that we don't see in other galleries. Most recently, Mahmut helped us pick out a frame for a large oil painting from India and his depth of knowledge, personalized assistance in helping us make the choice, attention to detail and quality of finished work all brilliantly complemented and showcased a very traditional painting. The treatment he recommended - a relatively modern frame choice and floating the canvas within the frame for a more contemporary look - perfectly fit what we had in mind. read more

This shop is an absolute gem! Mahmut has an incredible design aesthetic and is thoughtful and collaborative in his design process. I've had him frame dozens of family photos and art from our travels--they've all turned out beautifully. Additionally, the shop has so many unique items for the home that you would never see anywhere else. read more

This is the place you'll want to go to. Beautiful job on foam mounting a poster for me. The owner is the nicest person you could possibly ask for. He offered me several options, starting with the cheapest. Offered a 1-day turnaround, and reopened the shop for me on a Saturday after I arrived just after closing time. Proceeded to go out of his way to provide improvised bike-safe packaging after he noticed I'd come by bike. I'm blown away, have not seen service of this kind in Palo Alto, especially not for a $28 gig. Thank you so much! read more

My husband and I were fortunate enough to find Richard Sumner Frames. First of all, the shop has an amazing selection for high end and affordable frames. We had a beautiful piece that had a broken frame. We worked with Richard and found a frame that not only fit the style of the painting, but actually looked better than the original one the painting had. The price was very affordable and the result was simply beautiful. Add this to the fact that Richard is just the nicest person and made the whole experience great! I strongly recommend visiting his store when you are in the market for a frame for a painting, mirror, photo or poster. He does beautiful work and gave us tremendous customer service. read more

I am so happy to have found Sumner Frames. Their quality of work is excellent and the customer service is top notch. Mahmut has never steered me wrong when it comes to choosing the best way to frame my favorite pieces. I highly recommend this shop. read more

Best ever framing. Artistic eye with functional and aesthetic results that enhance the image.

The owner collected, framed, and returned my new artwork, all from a safe social distance. The framing quality is absolutely spectacular. Mere prints become elevated to glossy, heavy works of art. And the owner is a truly kind soul, working so hard (and safely!!) to protect his business during these hard times for everybody. If you have a painting or photograph or art piece sitting around now is the perfect time to frame it--they do pick up and drop off safely! Now that I'm home more than ever it's really special and wonderful to have these gorgeous framed pieces decorating my house. read more

I had a variety of items to frame, ranging from a family heirloom to a favorite poster bought during travels. Mahmut was incredibly careful in noting the condition of each piece and what treatment they would need, and had a wonderful eye in pointing out what molding would work best depending on the colors involved. The store is lovely, and Mahmut is kind, attentive, friendly, and frank. I am so happy with the frames I have received and can't wait to see the others. read more

Colorful place to get decorative items for home and beautiful Chinese later tables , Credenzas and cabinets. We have enjoyed our unique red cabinet fir many years. Timeless designs ! read more

Mahmut is an amazing person. Extremely experienced and has a keen eye for what would look best for your art. He values your artwork as much as you do and will do his best to make it look amazing. His prices are very reasonable and the quality is impeccable. I will never go anywhere else! read more

Just had a strange yet highly positive experience here today. I walked in with a dusty picture and frame, looking for some help to put it all together. I'd been quoted $35 for this kind of service before so I expected to pay somewhere in that ballpark. Framing I hear is a complicated and expensive thing to do. I asked the gentleman how much the fitting service would cost and he completely ignores my question. Instead, looking incredulously at the picture (a painting my wife made for me), he asks me why my frame had glass covering the acrylic painted canvas. I shrug - I thought all paintings had some kind of protection. Before I have the chance to ask the price again, he takes the picture from my hands, mutters something under his breath, removes the glass (and a bunch of tape I used to put it together), then disappears into the back room. I'm standing around stunned wondering what just happened and how much he's gonna charge me. A few minutes pass and the man returns with my framed picture - all dust cleaned off as well, a wire installed to hang it, some protective bumpers behind the frame, and a plastic bag with the nails and attachments needed to hang this bad boy up on my wall. I asked the man how much it would cost me and he pats me on the shoulder and tells me with his charming foreign accent not to worry about it. I was stunned! The guy seemed like a pretty big art aficionado and it was awesome to get this kind of treatment as someone who clearly doesn't know or understand much about the industry - I walked in to the fancy establishment looking very engineer-y with scrappy shorts on and a free t-shirt. He didn't have to be this kind to me (especially because I already had my wallet in hand), but he was. And for that I give this place five stars. Also, there was a gorgeous $3,000 painting there of a fork in the brush that I hope I can afford one day. read more

I came here months ago for two custom framing pieces. While pricier than I would have liked (in my perfect world it would have been $20 - ha!) - you get what you pay for. We framed a custom art piece and our wedding Ketubah and the work was impeccable. The help and service was also amazing. That alone deserved 5 stars. Then today I called because I got custom artwork made for our wedding anniversary. I had asked the artist for the pieces to be 20x30 inches but for some reason they were slightly larger. I asked if they could help cut down the edges of the pieces to fit the frames I already bought. He told me they would be happy to help and to come in whenever. When I arrived he consulted with me about how to best shave off the extra centimeters. Then he fixed my problem and just smiled and told me to have a good day. I was 100% not expecting this to be free. They've got a customer for life! read more

They are so fun and pleasant to work with. I take all my art here -- my kids' elementary art work, professional photos, concert posters -- and they always do a fantastic job is advising and then doing the work. read more

This is a long overdue note of thanks for impeccable framing of some of our favorite pieces! Framing is an art form in itself and Mahmut and his staff have it mastered! read more

Simply the best! Mahmut is a wonderfully creative craftsman. Not cheap, but worth every cent!!

After some adequate framing done elsewhere on the peninsula I found Richard Sumner's and have come back again and again. In fact, I never consider going anywhere else despite coupons and groupons offered regularly. Why? Because Mahmut and his staff do top-notch work and I'm always thrilled with the results. I receive one-on-one consultation, a written cost breakdown and the piece is ready when stated. Even the artist of one piece commented that the framing was the best he'd seen. This is not the place where you'll get the lowest price, but if you want your piece, be it a postcard memento to an original, to look better than you could have dreamed, Richard Sumner is the place to go. read more