Happy 4th of July from Martin Pierce Hardware

The 4th of July is an interesting American holiday that is bound by countless traditions that include parades, fireworks, family picnics and of course, as many hot dogs as one can eat.  I must admit that I have bowed to the pressure of friends and neighbors and will be hosting this year's neighborhood BBQ complete with hamburgers (even though I will be offering some sauteed mushrooms and stilton cheese for those with a more sophisticated palate) but I do draw the line at hotdogs!

Like most countries, American citizens are very proud of their flag and proudly fly it daily, but especially on the 4th of July.  You probably think you know all there is to know about the flag but here are a few facts that may just surprise you:

• Betsy Ross may not have been the original designer of the American flag as you Americans were taught in grade school.  Say it ain't so!  According to records from the first Congressional Congress, a gentleman named Francis Hopkinson was the original designer.
• Five of the six flags planted on the moon during Apollo expeditions are still standing!
• Americans regulate everything so, of course there are federal regulations (the US Flag Code) governing the use of the flag for advertising, for example.
• The official colors of the flag are white, old glory red and old glory blue and have their own HTML code and Pantone equivalent.
• Speaking of Old Glory, the name was simply a nickname a ship captain gave to a flag he had been gifted with and the name stuck ever since as a nickname for the flag.
• A little TV trivia-- in the pilot episode of "Gilligan's Island" a flag being flown at half-staff can be seen in the background.  The reason it is being flown half-staff is because the show was being filmed on November 22, 1963, the day President Kennedy was assassinated.

Thank you to the National Journal for this information and Happy 4th of July!

New hotels popping up around the world

Vacation time is just around the corner and whether you are visiting a beautiful spot like Lake Shasta seen above or somewhere more exotic,  it seems that some of the world's largest hotels have not received the news that the world's economy is in a slump.  Luxury and boutique hotels are opening up around the world, providing opportunities for large and small design firms and their suppliers to create beautiful homes away from home for travelers.  Here is just a sampling of recent growth (Boutique Design) :

• Capella Hotels & Resorts chose Georgetown, a chic suburb of Washington D.C., as the location for its first U.S. based hotel.  The ultra-exclusive hotel is, according to Capella, "more like arriving home than checking in to a hotel..".   High end materials include custom millwork, reclaimed hardwood floors and cove lighting all complimenting silk window treatments and bespoke artwork and furnishings.
• Never one to be outdone, Trump Hotel Collection is set to open a property in the sophisticated west coast city of Vancouver, British Columbia that will include a hotel and residence tower.  The project is scheduled to be completed in 2016.
• The Ritz-Carlton Co. will be stepping into the ultimate in island getaways with their new Bali location that will feature over 200 rooms as well as a world class spa and sports facility.

Other recognizable names include new properties from Hyatt, Fairfield and Crowne Plaza.  There is certainly something for every taste and budget arriving on the boutique hotel scene.

To view our collection of custom hardware for your next project please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Custom or off the rack?

While we all enjoy a good bargain is it always the best idea?  Are you really getting more bang for your buck when you purchase an item that looks a lot like a more expensive item but is much cheaper? While we understand that custom hardware is expensive, there are many reasons to consider a custom item:

• A well-made item will, in most cases, operate much better than its less expensive cousin.  Is it worth saving some money only to have to tuggle with a door knob or locking mechanism time after time?
• Function is of utmost importance but appearance ranks a close second.  Interesting or unique hardware says something about you--it says you understand the value of small details in your home.  Designers understand this and often choose custom architectural hardware for their projects.
• Many people enjoy owning something that is unique to their home whether it be a piece of artwork, bespoke furniture item or custom hardware designed with their personality, hobbies, interests in mind.
• Add personality to your space or create an unforgettable first impression with custom entry door hardware.  A beautiful set crafted of oil rubbed bronze is nice but how much more impressive would an item from our custom Willow collection be?

You decide----

This standard polished chrome interior door knob off the rack:

Or our high polished, hand cast, stainless steel knob from our Textured collection?

What set says more about you and your personality?  This lovely and certainly sufficient oil rubbed entry set?

Or this amazingly detailed entryway set from our Grapevine collection?

This off the rack cabinet hardware that certainly has an interesting texture and design

Or one of our hand-made daisy, bee or gecko pulls?

To view all of these items and our entire collection of custom hardware, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Summertime and the livin' is easy.....

What is your favorite summertime song?  Perhaps a rockin' Beach Boys tune or something sultry like "Under the Boardwalk"?  Whatever is it, I am sure that when you hear it you are immediately transported to a place that is warm, relaxing and stress-free, and isn't that what summer is all about? The calendar tells us that summer has arrived when the summer solstice occurs.  According to Wikipedia, this is when the earth's axis tilts so that the northern hemisphere is closest to the sun, resulting in the longest day of the year.   For the next several months the days will get shorter but, until then, we can all revel in the wonders of summertime livin'!

No real summer plans here but many people think it is always summertime in Los Angeles.  We do have seasons in California,  they are just not as pronounced as they are in other areas of the country.  But summer is always special.  Longer days to enjoy the beautiful beaches and those amazing sunsets that occur late into the evening.  A chance to experiment with a new summer cocktail, entertain outdoors and close shop early when it is just too beautiful to be indoors.

Fortunately, one of the summer items southern California does not have to suffer through are bugs.  But that did not stop Martin Pierce from creating wonderful and whimsical hardware designed after those pesky critters.  How cute would one of these be on your outdoor cabinetry or indoors at your beach or lakeside retreat?  For those of you working on commercial projects, consider adding this detail to an indoor spa or as guest room hardware in an appropriate location.

While not a bug, frogs are certainly a summertime resident and these frog pulls are so fun!

To view our entire collection of bug inspired bespoke hardware, visit us at www.martinpierce.com

New trends for the commercial design industry from NEOCON

There is certainly no shortage of conferences, conventions and other informative gatherings available to those in the interior design industry.  Some are general and others are very specific and made for those involved in specialized areas of design.  NEOCON is perhaps the premiere industry event designed for professionals who specialize in contract design for hospitality, government, retail and healthcare clients.

A NEOCON event provides an opportunity for designers to view the latest products and resources available including fabrics, wall coverings, hardware, furniture, appliances, lighting and fixtures.  At this year's event there were several stand out trends that we can expect to see in the upcoming year:

• While ultra bright colors were everywhere, one color stood out as color of the year and that was an eye-popping shade of fuchsia.  This mix of red and purple is a high energy color that would be appropriate for many creative venues.
• The very acoustically sound material, felt, is emerging as a popular upholstery and wall cover choice in the expected soft gray, but is also available in other colors as well; making it possible to use this unique fabric in many different applications.
• Can you spell Eames?  Molded plastic is back in vogue.  Conversely, there were many designs that included high backed upholstered sofas and chairs in the office environment.  Perhaps this is a response to the need for more private spaces in open concept areas or simply a design trend.  If it can help reduce the amount of private cell phone conversation overheard then I am all for it!
• Architectural hardware trends are combining the desire for a sleek and minimalist look with warm finishes like bronze and brass as well as celebrating the outdoors with nature inspired fixtures.  We meet both of those needs with our Flora and Animal collections as well as our newest Morphic collection cast in bronze as well as stainless steel.

It is always interesting to follow these trends and see which ones take off, so to speak, and which ones die on the vine.  To view the entire collection of Martin Pierce Custom Hardware visit us at www.martinpierce.com

Bring the garden indoors with floral hardware

I love fresh flowers whether they be in a vase on the table, growing wild in a field or popping up in strange cracks and crevices alongside the Los Angeles freeways.  After all, what is not to enjoy about glorious color and unique shapes that come to life once the sun comes out?  Most people would say they also enjoy the colors, scents and shapes of fresh flowers so why not greet your guests with a bouquet of flowers in your lobby or treat yourself and your family to fresh flowers in your home.   Sadly, when winter hits it can be difficult to find fresh flowers growing naturally in a garden or alongside those ubiquitous freeways  of ours.  No worries, you can enjoy the beauty of flowers with something as simple as hardware cast in the shape of your favorite flowers and vines.  Take a look:

Relive those wonderful island memories or just invite the feel of the tropics into your home or business with our wonderfully realistic orchid stem pull.

Capture the look of the wonderful hanging vines of the trumpet flower with this bronze pull hand cast by Martin Pierce.

Daisies are a perennial favorite.  They are simple and carefree and make you smile each time you look at them.  You can enjoy this little flower every day with our bronze daisy drawer pull.

And for those who enjoy simple greenery from Mother Nature, items like our bamboo pull or various leaf designs will certainly satisfy that need to add a touch of the outside to your indoor spaces.

While all of these hardware pieces have a touch of whimsy attached, the realism and attention to detail is a hallmark of every piece of custom hardware created by Martin Pierce; thereby turning these floral hardware items into a sophisticated detail for your retail boutique, small hotel or spa or for that discerning residential client looking for a touch of the garden in her home.

To view these pieces along with our entire collection of bespoke hardware, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Design for aging: new trends and ideas for our aging population

It's no secret that people are living longer;  just watch the Today Show and take note of the number of over 100 year old birthday greetings Willard Scott shares, and he is no spring chicken!  And while we are living longer, we are also living healthier which means that designing private homes, independent and assisted living facilities and public buildings for the aging is also experiencing change. The stereotypical vision of the elderly as confused and weak people is a generalization that simply is not true.  Today's seniors are active and aware and up-t0-date on current affairs, trends and technology.  Did you know that, according to the American College of Surgeons survey in 2010, 1/3 of all surgeons were over the age of 55?  (with age comes wisdom, something I certainly want my surgeon to possess!) But we, as designers and architects,  cannot ignore the physical and mental changes that take place as we age.  Changes that include:

• short term memory loss or worse (Alzheimer's and dementia)
• diminished mobility
• vision and hearing issues
• diseases that include arthritis or glaucoma, for example, that affect daily lives

Families can, and must, address emotional needs that include companionship, a sense of purpose and developing new interests.  But designers and architects are tasked with addressing security and safety in regards to the above issues and help reduce the day to day stress many seniors experience in their homes.  Technological advances have made it easier to deal with some of these issues.  Simple things like larger buttons on phones, home security systems and keyboards, medical alert bracelets and  single button emergency devices, along with structural items like wider doorways to accommodate walkers and/or wheelchairs and easy to grasp hardware are just a few of the ways that designers can make it easier for seniors to "age in place", the desire of most elderly people.  Other solutions include grab bars in long hallways and baths, no threshold showers and doorways; lower cabinet heights with edges designed to prevent items from dropping to the floor and motion activated lights, window treatments etc.

And we cannot overlook the importance of appropriate color schemes that address anxiety and confusion or including personal mementos and familiar items in the decoration of interior spaces.  As the "boomers" continue to age it will become even more important to keep abreast of both the emotional and physical needs of seniors when it comes time to design hospitals, community centers and medical buildings along with the decoration of interior spaces.

Let's talk about the bathroom

Sometimes function just has to take precedence over everything else and that is certainly true with the bathroom ; but function does not have to mean unattractive or ordinary! Whether it is an ensuite bath in a hotel room, a small powder room off of a home's foyer, private bath compartments in a spa or a large and luxurious master bath, choosing unique hardware can turn this utilitarian room into a true retreat. The bath provides many opportunities to showcase custom hardware--cabinet door and drawer pulls, door knobs and window levers, for example.  In addition, there is a need for towel racks, coat hooks, soap dishes and tissue holders.  Here at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware we offer coordinating accessories in some of our most popular hardware styles:

The unusual design of our Morphic soap dish will add an air of elegance and mystique to any bath area.

The coat hook from our Hedgerow Collection is truly a miniature work of art that functions as a robe or towel hook in the bath and coordinates with all other pieces from this collection.

Bath tissue never looked so good as when stored on the tissue holder from our sculptural Ergo collection.

You can choose a design from our Hedgerow, Morphic or Ergo collection or we can create a style that echoes and celebrates your brand and is unique to your project.  To view the entire collection please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Don't overlook the importance of architectural hardware and other details

What is it that turns an ordinary square box of a building into something special?  Why do some hotel rooms absolutely delight their guests while others offer simply a place to lay your head at the end of a busy day?  Why is one retail site attracting more customers than another?  The answer could be found in these two simple words--architectural details; those seemingly unimportant design items that turn an ordinary space into an extraordinary space:

• Hardware:  architectural hardware is evident in every single room in the form of door knobs, drawer pulls, towel hooks, window levers and even hinges and backplates.  While certainly functional, in many cases these items are miniature pieces of art that can highlight or compliment a brand logo, celebrate natural surroundings or support an overall design theme.  Case in point--our Hawaiian collection designed for a large project in Hawaii that not only celebrates the tropical surroundings but also honors the history of the islands.  This seemingly small detail will enhance the experience of guests and visitors and isn't that the goal of any business?

  

• Molding, molding and more molding!  Framed panels, crown molding, large and impressive baseboard moldings, corbels, medallions, rosettes..the list goes on and on.  The addition of moldings can provide architectural interest to a room devoid of any enhancements or recreate the character of an historical building.
• Decorative trim: Wainscoting, ceiling beams, arches, cornices and door and window trim will all add dimension and interest to any interior space.

Clients and customers will enjoy the time and attention paid to these architectural details as they relax in your spa, rest in your hotel room or shop in your boutique.

To view our entire collection of bespoke hardware visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Our favorite links!

While we are hard at work getting back to business as usual after our trip to Las Vegas and the HD Expo 2013 we thought it might be a good time to review some of our favorite links from previous posts.  These links represent companies and/or businesses that we feel would be of interest to our own customers and visitors to our blog so here goes:

• Tom Corbin:  Tom is a friend and an amazing artist and sculptor.  A visit to his site is certain to inspire and you will be hard pressed to choose a favorite piece.  Tom also has a fun and interesting relationship with the movie and TV industry that you might find intriguing.
• Egg & Dart Ltd.:  We have had a long and satisfying relationship with Egg & Dart Ltd and are so impressed with their great website and enjoy their facebook page.
• Universal Building Materials (UBM):  Our collaboration with Porta resulted in our products being beautifully displayed in the new Porta showroom in Saudi Arabia.
• Folger & Burt:  Another one of our favorite showrooms, Folger & Burt have created a beautiful display board in their San Francisco showroom that highlights so many of our bespoke door hardware products.
• The Rescue Train:  A wonderful organization in Los Angeles that rescues pit bulls and other dog breeds and finds them new and loving homes.

We hope you have taken the time to visit these links and discover for yourself the wonderful products they offer.  Do you  have favorite links?

To view our entire collection of custom hardware please stop by our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Take a walk on the wild side with our Iguana hardware

You don't have to travel to the Galapagos Islands to enjoy the exotic beauty of these strange creatures.  (keep in mind that beauty is in the eye of the beholder).  Their unique appearance can now be enjoyed when used as door hardware in many different types of projects including day spas, boutique hotels or personal retreats on the island; but mainlanders will also enjoy adding this exotic touch to their interiors.

The Hawaiian collection was originally created for Debbie Zylstra of Zylstra Interior Design on Kauai and includes other pieces like our  elegant orchid pulls or whimsical Laysan Finch pull.  While the iguana is not indigenous to the islands that make up Hawaii we do associate this reptile with the area even if it is in it’s ferile outlaw form.

Whenever possible we enjoy sharing with you the process of designing custom hardware.  Martin begins by drawing an amazingly detailed depiction of how he envisions the piece.  This drawing will act as our guide when it is time to carve the wax mold and ultimately cast the piece.  The drawing below is an indication of how Martin envisioned the double iguana door pull to look on closed double doors.

The iguanas are shown here as an overlapping pair that work perfectly on sliding doors but they can also be used as back to back pieces.   Isn't it time y0u took a walk on the wild side?

To view the entire Hawaiian Collection or other Martin Pierce bespoke hardware, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Mix and match your hardware metals

Well we have returned from Las Vegas with both our pocketbook and our sanity in tact.  While our Morphic door pull did not win the Best New Product contest we do thank all of you who voted for it and also a big thank you to those of you who stopped by the booth to enjoy some of our new products as well as some of our favorites.  You can find out who won the 10 butterfly pulls we were giving away on this post. One of the new products we enjoyed debuting at the HD Expo was our classic Ergo collection now available in a warmer oil rubbed bronze as well as the always popular stainless steel model.  The contemporary and sensuous lines of this collection of door hardware takes on a different personality through the use of different metals.  This use of various mediums allows this style to freely travel between not only commercial and residential projects but in contemporary and more traditional locations as well.

What do you think--do you have a favorite metal?  To view our complete collection of custom hardware please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com

Butterflies are free to the first ten visitors at the Martin Pierce Custom Hardware Booth!

We are very pleased to announce that we have winners of our custom butterfly pull.  These whimsical pulls were awarded to the first ten visitors to our booth #2153 at the HD Expo 2013.   The lucky butterfly owners are:

Anna Marie Chen, Luis Saenz and Marietta Navarro of Deco Accessories, who traveled all the way from Panama to attend the Expo and will be returning home with three of our desirable pulls.

The next two pulls flew home with Andrea Pileri and Claudia Baker, representing Baker Design Associates.

As word got out, more and more visitors visited the booth and the final five butterfly pulls were awarded to:

Lana Lunsky of Global Traders, David Balunda from the Lone Star state of Texas and representing Dabcon Hospitality, Don Sharp of Sharp Designs in Irvine, California, Diana Kouzouian representing her own custom cabinetry firm, and Herc Alcatraz of Alcatraz Consulting.

We hope all of our winners enjoy their custom pull.  Please be sure and stop by our booth to view other products for your hospitality projects, offered by Martin Pierce Custom Hardware.  We would love to meet you.

Martin Pierce Hardware has entered the building at HD Expo 2013

What would a trip to Las Vegas be without a reference to the King of Vegas, Elvis Presley?! But unlike Elvis, we have not left the building but, rather, entered it with a flourish as we begin to set up booth #2153 for the HD Expo 2013.

The rigors of going to a trade show such as the HD Expo as an exhibitor are more than offset by the helpfulness of the staff at the hotel (this year The Mandalay Bay) who identify with you as a fellow worker bee. Only too pleased to stand in the heat (and it is hot, a toasty 95 degrees as we speak) and hail a cab or keep you informed of new projects, including not one but 2 ferris wheels,  that are being planned for the Strip.  London only has one, The Eye, but Vegas is going to have two; not sure what that tells me but it was nice of the staff to share exciting new information with us.

The worst part of the show is trying to find your allotted booth space in the labyrinth of packing boxes, duct tape and a sea of bubble wrap.  It makes you wonder who can honestly call themselves "green" amidst this mess of non-recyclable items.  In our defense we wrapped our display pieces in remnants of fabric left over from some of our recent furniture orders; certainly green and has the added benefit of being much prettier to look at than normal packing materials. We will keep you posted on our activities this week and please do stop by the Innovation Pavilion and vote for our Morphic Cylindrical Pull as the Best New Product.

Final call for HD Expo 2013

This time next week the HD Expo 2013 will be a fond memory. We will be heading north to Las Vegas, Nevada to participate in the HD Expo 2013, to be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center from May 15-17th.  We are very excited to be debuting several new pieces that can be seen on the Expo Floor in our booth #2153 as well as our entry into the "Best New Product" contest where products can be viewed at the Innovation Pavilion.

When you have completed the wonderful breakout sessions with discussions on important topics that include green design, night club design and the importance of emerging Eastern European markets, please stop by and say hello, cast your vote for our Morphic Cylindrical door pull and, if you are one of the first ten visitors to the booth, pick up your complimentary butterfly pull.  We look forward to sharing all of our wonderful custom hardware products and feel confident that you can find that perfect design for your hospitality projects.  Remember, our products can be customized to meet not only ADA standards but any requirement your client may have.

To view the Morphic collection and our entire line of custom hardware, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com

Take the time to stop and smell the flowers including our new orchid door pull

True artwork for your home, the orchid pulls from our new Hawaiian Series are available as either a long stem of flowing orchids or as individual cabinet knobs featuring a single flower. Like all of the pieces in our collections, the orchid pull began as a drawing by Martin that would ultimately be cast into these luxurious silver plated gems (shown below).  These exquisite door and drawer pulls will delight your spa clients, for example, with their realism, or simply add a touch of aloha to any home or business.  You can see the detail in the larger photo--you can almost smell the scent!

Along with the silver plated option, these custom pulls are also available in oil rubbed bronze or nickel plated.

To view these pulls or survey our entire collection of custom hardware, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.  Aloha!

Best new product: Vote for us at the HD Expo 2013

While the "real" elections are just a distant memory we at Martin Pierce Hardware still need your vote! The HD Expo is holding a "Best new product" contest.  All those attending have the opportunity to view these products in the Innovation Pavilion and cast their vote for the product they feel is the best new product being unveiled at the Expo.  We will be debuting our new Morphic Cylindrical Handle and we would appreciate your vote.

This unique piece is equally at home in commercial and hospitality environments as it is in contemporary and traditional residences and is certain to add that all important design detail to your projects.

Please stop by our booth #2153 and view this piece for yourself.  And don't forget that the first ten visitors to the booth will receive one of our beautiful butterfly pulls to use as you like.  We look forward to meeting you.

First in a series: Add a touch of aloha to your home or business with custom hardware

When Debbie Zylstra of Zylstra Interior Design Inc. in Kona, Hawaii approached us about designing custom hardware for a project in Hawaii we jumped at the chance to celebrate and honor the culture of Hawaii and other Polynesian Islands.  As a result of this collaboration our Hawaiian Series of bespoke door and drawer hardware was born; all reflecting our keen respect for these native inhabitants. Pieces in this new collection range from very grand stylized iguana pulls to beautiful and elegant orchid pulls as well as a very unique stylized representation of the Laysan Finch, named for its home habitat, the northern Hawaiian island, Laysan Island.  Yes, there is more to Hawaii than the four popular vacation destinations we are all familiar with.

This Hawaiian bird pull, along with a two-headed companion piece, are cast in solid bronze using the lost wax method.  As we have mentioned before on this blog, the lost wax method allows us to capture great detail in the casting process.

You can view all of the pieces from our new Hawaiian Collection as well as the rest of our custom hardware collection at www.martinpierce.com.

We are ready for Las Vegas and HD Expo 2013

Just three weeks away and we are ready to go.  Ready to set up our booth, ready to share new products as well as some of our customer favorites and ready to see old friends and meet new friends. As we have mentioned in previous posts, we will be giving away one of our delightful butterfly drawer pulls to the first 10 friendly visitors to our booth #2153.  This bronze pull combines a touch of whimsy with a hint of realism that will add beauty to any spot in your home or business.

For those of us in the hospitality design business, the HD Expo is truly an opportunity to view the latest products available to make the lives of our clients more efficient, functional and more beautiful.  Again, we look forward to seeing all of you there so please stop by booth #2153 while you are visiting the Exhibitor Resource Center.

Earth Day Tidbits

Like many "holidays" here in the U.S.A., what was originally a single day event, Earth Day, has become a week long discussion and celebration of how we can all support and save the natural environments of this big planet we call home.

Earth Day was born in April of 1970 through the efforts of Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. senator from Wisconsin.  The initial goal was to make people aware of the dangers of environmental issues such as hazardous waste, toxic automobile emissions, off-shore drilling etc.  One of the more successful "movements",  over the decades we have all become more aware of the importance of paying attention to the impact modern life has on our natural environment.  Whether you realize it or not,  as a result of this movement we all participate in some way.  Who among us does not recycle water bottles, smog our vehicles or enjoy an occasional visit to the zoo or aquarium and marvel at the species that have been saved from extinction due to human efforts?

You can go to the extreme with your concern for the environment and only use a bicycle for transporation, for example, and more power to you.  However, this is not practical for most of us so we have to choose other ways to support and protect the earth.  Here at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware we do our best to recycle scrap metal and utilize and employ lost wax in the lost wax method of casting.  More about the lost wax method can be learned by reading our post here.  We make every effort to use local suppliers and distributors, thereby reducing the amount of toxins released and fuel used in transporting supplies.

For the past forty years we have all learned so much about this earth and the natural treasures that are certainly worth saving and protecting.  In so doing we also reap the benefits of a healthier environment for ourselves and for future generations.  So Happy Birthday Earth Day!