Modern Memory Design vs Framebridge
Comparing a real New Jersey frame shop with hands-on craftsmanship against the best-known mail-in framing service. Here is an honest look at where each one wins.
Framebridge deserves credit — they made custom framing feel approachable for people who had never walked into a frame shop. But mail-in framing and local custom framing are genuinely different services. Modern Memory Design is a working framing studio in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, serving Bergen County and the NYC metro area, and we also ship custom frames nationwide from our online store. Here is how the two compare.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| What Matters | Modern Memory Design | Framebridge |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Walk into our Hasbrouck Heights studio, or order online with nationwide shipping. Bring anything — art, jerseys, canvas, heirlooms. | Primarily mail-in or app upload; retail studios in select metro areas. You ship your art to them. |
| Moulding selection | Hundreds of mouldings from suppliers like Larson-Juhl, Decor, and Omega — wood, metal, ornate, floater, modern. | A curated, limited collection of house styles (typically under 100). |
| Size limits | True custom — we regularly build oversized frames (40x60 and beyond) in-house. | Published size limits apply; very large pieces may not be accepted. Check their current size chart. |
| Specialty framing | Jerseys, shadowboxes, sports memorabilia, diplomas, needlework, canvas stretching, mirror framing, mat cutting. | Focused mainly on flat art and photos; limited object framing options. |
| Who handles your art | The same local framers, start to finish. Your original never gets shipped or leaves our hands. | Your original artwork travels through shipping carriers both directions (for mail-in orders). |
| Design consultation | Free, in person, unlimited — see real corner samples against your actual art. | Digital previews; in-person help only at their retail locations. |
| Turnaround | Local jobs often ready in days; rush available. No shipping legs added for local customers. | Production plus two shipping legs — typically 1–2+ weeks door to door for mail-in. |
| Pricing approach | Direct-from-workshop pricing. Ready-made standard sizes start around $31; full custom quoted transparently by size and materials. | Flat-rate tiers by size; oversized tiers run into the hundreds. See their site for current rates. |
Where Framebridge Genuinely Wins
Honesty matters in a comparison page, so: Framebridge is a polished choice if you live nowhere near a good frame shop, you are framing a simple flat print in a common size, and you like their curated aesthetic. Their gift cards and "send a photo, get a frame" gifting flow are genuinely convenient. If that is all you need, they do it well.
Where Modern Memory Design Wins
Everything beyond the simple case: original art you do not want riding in a delivery truck, oversized pieces, canvas floater framing, jerseys and memorabilia, conservation-grade matting and glazing decisions made with your actual piece on the counter, and the ability to talk to the person who is physically building your frame. Because we run our own workshop, comparable sizes usually come in at or below mail-in pricing — without the wait of two shipping legs.
Shop Our Frames Online
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Modern Memory Design cheaper than Framebridge?
For comparable sizes, our workshop-direct pricing is usually at or below mail-in flat rates — especially on medium and large pieces where mail-in tiers climb quickly. Ready-made standard sizes start around $31, and custom work is quoted transparently by exact size and materials. Bring us a quote and we will price it side by side.
Do I have to be in New Jersey to order from Modern Memory Design?
No. Our Hasbrouck Heights studio serves Bergen County and the NYC metro in person, and we ship custom and ready-made frames nationwide from ModernMemoryDesign.com.
Can you frame things Framebridge cannot?
Generally yes. We handle oversized pieces (40x60 and beyond), jerseys, shadowboxes, memorabilia, canvas stretching, mirrors, and custom mat cutting in-house — categories mail-in services typically limit or exclude.
How fast is turnaround compared to mail-in framing?
Local jobs are often ready within days because there are no shipping legs. Mail-in services add transit time in both directions on top of production. Rush service is available for time-sensitive pieces.
Is it safe to mail original artwork?
Carriers handle packages roughly, and original art is irreplaceable. With a local frame shop your piece never leaves the workshop. If you do order framing online from us, your art ships one direction only — or not at all if we print it for you.
Get a Free Framing Quote
Visit us at 213 Boulevard, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604 · Tue–Fri 11am–6pm, Sat 10am–3pm · (201) 421-4060
Start Custom Framing OnlineComparison based on publicly available information as of June 2026. Framebridge is a trademark of its respective owner; Modern Memory Design is not affiliated with Framebridge. Verify current pricing, size limits, and services on each company's website.