Framing

Floater Frames — the float gap, and the four finishes

Four finishes. One profile.

Four floater frames stacked, showing the Natural, Matt black, Antique gold and Walnut finishes and the depth of each moulding
The same moulding in four finishes.
Face
10 mm
Gap
6–8 mm
Depth
35 mm
Stretcher
Solid pine, 25 mm

What is a floater frame?

A floater frame holds the canvas from behind. The picture sits inside the frame rather than under it, so an open gap runs right round the edge and the canvas appears to float in the opening. Nothing overlaps the image, and no glass sits in front of it.

Those four numbers are identical on every floater finish. Choosing between them is a decision about colour and nothing else — the frame profile, the gap and the depth do not change.

The four finishes

The finishes up close

Photographed from the moulding itself, not printed swatches.

Hover or tab a swatch to see the frame from the side.

Natural

10 mm face · 6–8 mm gap · 35 mm depth

Natural floater frame turned to show the depth of the moulding

Pale, close-grained and almost neutral. It reads as a border rather than a frame, which is what you want when the picture is already doing the talking — busy florals, dense pichwai, anything with a lot of its own colour.

Close-up of the natural finish Pale, close-grained, almost neutral
Corner detail of the Natural floater frame, with the 10 mm moulding face and the 6–8 mm float gap marked

Antique gold

10 mm face · 6–8 mm gap · 35 mm depth

Antique gold floater frame turned to show the depth of the moulding

Warm and slightly broken, not a bright gilt. It picks up ochres, terracottas and reds without tipping the piece into pastiche, and it is the one finish that reads as formal from across a room.

Close-up of the antique gold finish Warm, slightly broken gilt
Corner detail of the Antique gold floater frame, with the 10 mm moulding face and the 6–8 mm float gap marked

Walnut

10 mm face · 6–8 mm gap · 35 mm depth

Walnut floater frame turned to show the depth of the moulding

A deep brown with visible figure. It grounds a light or washed-out image and sits naturally against teak, rosewood and most Indian furniture without matching it exactly.

Close-up of the walnut finish Deep brown with visible figure
Corner detail of the Walnut floater frame, with the 10 mm moulding face and the 6–8 mm float gap marked

Matt black

10 mm face · 6–8 mm gap · 35 mm depth

Matt black floater frame turned to show the depth of the moulding

Flat, not glossy, so it absorbs light instead of throwing it back. The most recessive of the four: it draws a hard edge around the picture and then disappears.

Close-up of the matt black finish Flat black, absorbs light
Corner detail of the Matt black floater frame, with the 10 mm moulding face and the 6–8 mm float gap marked

What the back looks like

Sawtooth hanger already screwed to the pine stretcher bar at the back of the canvas
The sawtooth hanger is fitted before the piece is packed. One screw or picture hook in the wall and it is up — nothing to buy, nothing to attach.
Mitred corner of the stretcher bar seen from behind
Corners are mitred and the canvas is stapled under tension behind the bar, so the tension is even and the face stays flat.

Not this one? See the classic frame, where the face laps over the canvas edge, or wrapped canvas, which has no outer frame at all. Sizing is covered in the size & scale guide.