The dog days of summer at Martin Pierce Hardware

The dog days of summer have certainly arrived at Martin Pierce Hardware. The work days are a bit more relaxed and Iris is enjoying her morning walks and cooling off with naps in the grass.  Do you ever wonder what the phrase "dog days of summer" actually means?  As with many rituals and phrases, it began in ancient times when the hot and uncomfortable days of July and August were blamed on the brightest star in the sky, Sirius or the dog star.  Now you know.

August for us means more time to spend in the garden, throwing open the french doors and enjoying the fresh air and the occasional cocktail on the front porch.  And, since we are English, sharing afternoon tea with friends.

To keep Iris excited we often head down to Beachwood Canyon and spend time with neighbors, especially those with dogs.  How do you enjoy spending your dog days of summer?

To view our complete line of hardware and get the latest news on what is happening at Martin Pierce, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com

Going for the gold...or bronze metal at Martin Pierce Hardware

"Going for the gold" is the ultimate goal during these summer Olympics, but here at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware we prefer "going for the bronze" metal.   We offer a beautiful hand-rubbed bronze finish as well as a hot patina bronze finish.  Both of these finishes will develop a patina over time depending on use, environment and the natural nature of the metal.  Many of our products are available in both bronze finishes, making it possible for you to find the perfect metal knobs, levers and pulls for your home or business.

To view our complete line of hardware and get the latest news on what is happening at Martin Pierce, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com

Turning art into functional hardware at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware

As you browse the local hardware store or the internet have you ever wondered how those beautiful and sculptural door levers and knobs are created?  We thought we would share the basic process of turning art into hardware with you so you can see what goes into the making of what appears to be a "simple" door knob. Martin is inspired by everything around him from a row of lovely bushes to one of nature's critters to the characters in a science fiction movie!  At Martin Pierce Custom Hardware the process of creating a new piece begins with an idea that soon becomes a lovely sketch of Martin's.  I have always believed these sketches were worth framing!

Once Martin is satisfied with the design he begins to carve it into a piece of wax to create a wax mold.  At Martin Pierce we use the lost wax method that basically means the wax mold is created and covered with a shell.  Molten steel is pured into the wax mold, which then melts away or is "lost", leaving a steel mold.  This method allows the amazing detail of Martin's designs to show through.

The end result is a one of a kind yet functional piece of hardware that is actually artwork for your home  and can be enjoyed for years to come.

What's new at Martin Pierce Hardware

We have been working hard on several different projects here at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware and thought it would be a good idea to offer frequent and brief updates on these products for those clients looking for specific information.  We have added a "Latest News" column to the site that appears on our home page.  Simply click the icon for the latest update.  Here is a sample of what you will see: July 20, 2012

Today we are announcing our first limited edition with the introduction of a new Grapevine Heroic Door Pull. We will be adding more details and photos of this piece over the next few weeks. We can tell you that the edition will be limited to 100 pieces and that each piece will be signed and numbered.

June 28, 2012

We have spent some time re-thinking the design and have concluded that we do not need to use a thrust bearing and have re-designed the hinge as can been seen below in this drawing of a 4 x 4 leaf design.

As you can see, these announcements are brief and to the point....no fancy words or pretty pictures (although I do think Martin's drawings are quite impressive).  For regular updates delivered to your inbox or reader, we hope you will subscribe to the blog and share any comments, questions or suggestions you may have.

To view our complete line of hardware and get the latest news on what is happening at Martin Pierce, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com

Martin Pierce Hardware says "Let the games begin"

Martin and I are both thrilled that this year's 2012 Summer Olympic Games are being held in London, England.  Along with the excitement of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee we are hoping it brings some much needed relief to the gloom that has sat over Europe for a few years now.  And, just maybe, it might bring some sunshine to rainy old London.  In fact, we have family members that are planning to vacation in Italy for fear that they will never see the sun again!  Isn't it sadly ironic that while we suffer one of the worst droughts in history England is being drenched with one of the wettest summers in history!?  While we agree with the London Times that "Enough is enough" rain, we also hope that the public transporation system, the infamous underground "Tube", is up to the challenge. Like many Americans, we plan on watching the games in between working on new custom hardware pieces, walking Iris and enjoying the ubiquitous southern California sunshine.

To view our complete line of hardware and get the latest news on what is happening at Martin Pierce, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Take your dog to work day at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware

Every day is "Take your dog to work day" here at Martin Pierce hardware.  We are fortunate enough to be able to bring Iris to the workshop every single day and she really enjoys it.

Have you ever noticed how smart dogs are?  Sometimes it is downright eerie!  As we get closer to the office each morning she gets very excited as she knows she gets to go on a second walk.  I believe it is the dog equivalent of us having our first cup of coffee of the day.  The routine is for me to go into the office and turn on the computer and, before answering emails or phone calls, off we go on our walk.  In fact, Iris will not even come into the office, waiting for me to take care of the computer before we set off for her favorite activity of the day.

Oh to live the life of a dog!

Discover the birds and the bees from Martin Pierce Hardware

If you are a fan of Martin Pierce Custom Hardware then you are already familiar with the birds and the bees.....not those birds and bees...rather our wonderful collection of unique hardware that celebrates nature's critters.  Take a look:

While the birds and the bees hardware pieces are fun and versatile, don't forget the other creatures we offer like our lizard door lever, fun bat hardware or beautiful flora and fauna options that will enhance any decor.

To view our complete line of hardware and get the latest news on what is happening at Martin Pierce, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

The beauty is in the details of this mahogany nightstand

Our Rickshaw nightstand is carved from solid walnut and normally features a beautiful hand-woven reed shelf, asian inspired legs and a hand-crafted chiseled pull to complete the look.  It is a beautiful and versatile piece of furniture that can be placed by the side of the bed or used as an end table in  the living or family room.  That being said, one of our favorite stores, Egg & Dart Ltd out of Denver Colorado added our dragonfly pull to the drawer, adding a bit of whimsy and changing the look completely.  The same effect could be achieved with our lizard pulls or any of our floral designs.

What is your favorite look?

To view our complete line of hardware and get the latest news on what is happening at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Martin Pierce Hardware wishes you a Happy 4th of July

Enjoy the traditions this holiday brings---picnics, long days spent at the beach, family gatherings, food that is not particularly good for you but delicious nevertheless, patriotic music, hokey decorations, ice cream, hometown parades, a prideful feeling when the flag marches by, and a big thanks to all the service men and women who dedicate their careers to serving this country and to their enduring families.  And let's not forget the best part of this holiday----------FIREWORKS! Want to know the history of the American Flag?  The Smithsonian Institute has a great interactive website that provides an overview of the flag as well as the conservation project on the very first American Flag that is housed at the museum.   Check it out here...it is really very interesting and a lot of fun.

Martin Pierce Custom Hardware is now in the Far East!

With great pride we can now say that Martin Pierce Custom Hardware can be seen at the beautiful W Hotel in Sentosa Cove, Singapore, expected to open in September of 2012.  Entry door sets to the guest rooms were designed by Martin with the Ergo collection in mind.  The original design had to be adapted and re-tooled to suite a European style Vingcard entry lock but the cool and sleek look of the Ergo lever remains intact. 

Martin is currently finishing up an adapted version of our Morphic collection to be used in the Presidential Suite.  This is the first time our Morphic handles have been used in a hotel setting and I think the Presidential Suite is a great way to begin, don't you?

To view our complete line of hardware and get the latest news on what is happening at Martin Pierce, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Celebrate summer with whimsical Martin Pierce custom hardware

Today is the first day of summer.  Time to slow down a bit and enjoy the lazy days of summer.  Take a late afternoon walk on the beach, watch the sunset with your favorite person or simply find the time to read a book in the middle of the day! Summer is also a time of great inspiration for Martin.  He has always enjoyed capturing the look and feel of all the creatures that can be found in nature.  Need a lizard for your son's bedroom doors?  How about a wonderful bunny for that newborn nursery or a selection of beetles for a sunroom.  We have them all in our Netsuke, Lizard, Flora and Animal collections.  Check them out:

martin pierce bunny knob

martin pierce bee knob

martin pierce lizard lever

Martin Pierce Custom Hardware had fun at the 2012 HD Expo

As we mentioned, we attended the HD Expo 2012 in Las Vegas for the second year in a row.  We made arrangements for Iris to stay home with a wonderful sitter that didn't quite work out as planned but all was well in the end.  We packed up the car and off we went. We were pleased to receive a very enthusiastic response to the new Ergo pull in a warmer bronze as well as the Morphic series in steel.  We met vendors and visitors from as far away as Japan and Indonesia.  The Indonesian contingency represented a company that offers a beautiful collection for both commercial and hospitality use.  Check out their products at http://www.native.co.id/ and see if you don't agree with me.  We were also excited to meet a group of imagineers from Walt Disney Imagineering who came from the local Glendale office as well as from Japan.

Please let us know what you think of the new bronze finish?

Twitter, Pinterest and Houzz, oh my!

We seem to be popping up all over the web latesly.  Luxe magazine shared some information on their Twitter account as well as in their online magazine.  Designers on Houzz have shared their rooms, featuring Martin Pierce products, and Pinterest is full of Martin Pierce pins on designers and homeowner's accounts.

Speaking of Pinterest, we have created several new boards that we think you might find interesting:

• The whimsical world of Antoni Gaudi.  We have posted several photos of our own trip to Barcelona Spain in 2014 as well as re-pinned photos from other users who enjoy his unique stule of architecture.
• Wood sculptures.  As many of you are already aware, each of our custom hardware pieces begins with a wax sculpture/mold.  Martin uses this talent to create beautiful and one of a kind wood sculptures as well.
• Drought resistant gardening.  The current water shortage in California forced us to re-think our own backyard landscaping.  We share photos of our yard's transformation from a water guzzling, yet green, yard to a drought resistant oasis full of unusual plants.

check out what pops up when you click on decorative and functional artwork

http://www.sandiegohardware.com/decorative.htm

folger and burt

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