Michael A Hairston Fine Art & Custom Framing

Best frame shop in the area. Beautiful work at a fair price. I always want their recommendations for matting and framing. They turn your stuff into works of art. Michael Hairston is an engaging, classy gentleman. I really like him. If you’re lucky he may show you his back room studio with walls full of interesting memorabilia. Convenient downtown Silver Spring location. Metered parking right in front. You found your frame shop. Stop looking. Marc Bloom

Michael provided a quality service that I could not have found at a big franchise framing store. I wanted to support a local business and artist and took his suggestions on framing and the colors and style he chose really made my print stand out! I will definitely be bringing my business back soon!

I went into Michael’s shop during a very busy time in my life, I had just returned from my honeymoon and I had a million things to do and very little time to do it. As strapped as I was for time I wound up talking to Michael for almost an hour! First of all his shop is a beautiful display of history and life and he has awesome stories behind them. He has a lot of passion for what he does so when we talked about my project he had all kinds of great ideas. I was very skeptical about who to work with for this particular framing project because it was near and dear to my heart. It was a photo/​article from the Washington Post on me and my husband’s wedding! Not only did he have great vision for the framing and trimming but he explained to me how certain decisions for the framing can help the article survive since newspaper naturally turns a brownish/​yellow color over time. He was also very fair about his pricing, he didn’t throw out an arbitrary number, he showed me how every part of the project is added up and he was willing to work with my budget. In addition to great atmosphere, conversation, and pricing, the location was extremely accessible. I was able to park in the garage of the apt. building and walk through the back of his shop, he gave me $ 2 to exit the garage, he was finished with the project much sooner than expected and above all of this he made a home delivery! He knew me and my husband had been running around so he took it upon himself to leave the work with our concierge! Talk about customer Service! I have been telling everyone about him and I will be back!

I just had my first piece framed by Mr. Hairston and I must say… I am BEYOND pleased!!! He does fantastic work and at even better prices. A+++

I’ve had several pieces framed by Mr. Hairston and I must say that his work is beautiful and the customer service is remarkable. I will definatly come back.

I went back and forth about writing this review. Michael seems like a genuinely nice guy, and I have a soft spot for local business.
I got 4 oddly-​sized paintings stretched for $ 169 plus tax, which seemed to be a good price based on quotes from other local framing shops. (I hadn’t gone to larger businesses yet and was actually on my way to Michael’s when I came across this place.) Although I may not have a point of reference, I think the stretches were done well. They hang evenly and look beautiful in my living room, so no complaints on the quality of the work.
The rating’s due to the business’s lack of professionalism. My job was completed two days shy of a month after I dropped it off, when I’d initially paid with the quote and expectation that it would be ready in a week. The delay was inadvertent and due to a warped stretches delivery by Michael’s vendor. Understandable. But I did mind the lack of communication and acknowledgement of (1) the delay and (2) the inconvenience it caused. I had to visit the shop 2 and a half weeks after I’d dropped off the paintings, convinced that I’d missed Michael’s call — and there, in the store, was the first time I got any update regarding the warped stretches, alongside a promise that the job would be finished by the following Tuesday (4 days from then). Cue 11 days later without a text, phone call, or anything — and I get a nonchalant call from a woman to come pick up the paintings. By that time, the paintings had already ‘missed’ my housewarming party, so what was there to do? When I picked them up the next day, there was no mention of the timing, inconvenience, ANYTHING until I prompt Michael with a «Sooo, there was something wrong with the stretches?» Same explanation. Same distance. No apology or offer (though he did comment on passersby wanting to purchase the paintings).
It’s a shame. I support local businesses because I feel like I’ll be able to communicate with a real person, not because I want to forego the professionalism that comes with larger companies. Still, I wouldn’t fight you if you had time and wanted to visit this place. The work was done well, but freak framing accidents can happen ;-).