A convertible anchor (H) for friable walls (W) comprises a fixture (12) for holding an article to a wall (W, M) and an anchoring mechanism (10) extending from the fixture (12). The anchoring mechanism (10) is adapted when rotated to engagingly extend into a friable wall (W) for securing the fixture (12) to the wail (W). The fixture (12) is selectively separable via frangible connection elements (14, 24) from the anchoring mechanism (10) for allowing the fixture (12) to be used alone with an appropriate fastener (S) suitable for installing the fixture (12) to a rigid structure (M), such as wooden components. The anchoring mechanism (10) can take different forms as long as it is can be mounted to a friable wall (W). Typically, a space (26) is defined between the fixture (12) and a proximal end (34) of the anchoring mechanism (10) with this space (26) being bridged by the frangible connection elements (14, 24). The fixture (12) defines an opening (16) adapted to be engaged by a screwdriver bit (B) for mounting the anchor (H) to the wall (W, M). The method calls for determining the nature of the vertical support to which the anchor (H) is to be mounted and then, for a friable wall (W), installing the anchor (H) thereto using the anchoring mechanism (10); or, for a more solid vertical support (M) such a wood, separating the fixture (12) from the anchoring mechanism (10) and installing the fixture (12) to the solid vertical support (M) via an appropriate fastener (S).