Our holiday adventure in Idyllwild, Part two

As we mentioned in an earlier post, we decided to head to the local mountains of southern California for a quick holiday getaway and, of course, Iris joined us on this adventure.

Idyllwild is a lovely mountain community located just a little over 100 miles east of Los Angeles in the beautiful San Jacinto mountains.  It provides a quiet and peaceful escape from the traffic and noise of the city and offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, rock climbing or simply enjoying the vista from one of the local restaurants or your own cabin.

We stayed in a rather luxurious 3 bedroom house/cabin with a fantastic fireplace.  We had expected others would be joining us, hence the large abode.  We found this rental through Quiet Creek Vacation.  It had a lovely view of Lily Rock one of the amazing “rocks” or mountains that form a focal point to the Idllywild vista.  We were also very close to Humber Park and thus to the very scenic Ernie Maxwell Trail which is a great 2.5 mile trail (one way) that passes through rocky terrain with great open skies and many different types of tree including the beautifully twisted Manzanitas to fresh smelling pines.  Sadly, the drought has made many of the trees susceptible to an invasive bark beetle that requires the trees be destroyed.  However, one of our goals for 2014 is to focus on Martin's art and he is currently developing ideas for a beetle painting so the nesting grounds that are created from the fallen leaves provided inspiration for texture and background for his paintings.  Something good comes from everything!

After a day of long walks we felt we deserved to eat at some of our  favorite spots including pasta at Cafe Aroma, a regular for us.  And, if you are lucky enough to be there on a Monday night you will get to hear local live jazz.  After our long walks we would often splurge and eat sticky buns and lemon mascarpone slices at Honey Bunns, delicious home made cooking at its best!

How did you spend your holiday break?

If you would like to view our entire collection of architectural hardware and bespoke furniture items, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com

Iris enjoys a trip to the local mountains

It has been quite some time since we shared any of our adventures with our beloved rescue dog, Iris.  But she did join us on our winter "escape" to the local mountains during the holidays and really seemed to enjoy the cooler weather and higher altitude of Idyllwild, California.

Iris is a canine of few barks.  In fact, she rarely barks; although on this occasion she would use the wrap around deck to issue the odd bark at a passing hiker.  How dare anyone pass on her trail!

She shows off her hiking skills in this photo of her easily and bravely crossing a log:

and in this photo where she has clearly picked up the scent of some local critter or, more likely, a delicious morsel of food.

Many of you may recall that we adopted Iris from a local rescue organization, The Rescue Train.  They have many dogs like Iris looking for new homes so if you are in or near the Los Angeles area and are looking to add a new member to your family, be sure to check them out.

You can also view our entire collection of custom architectural hardware at www.martinpierce.com.

An exciting year ahead for Martin Pierce Custom Hardware

A new year always offers up the opportunity to sit back and review the past but to also look forward to what the next 12 months might bring.  Just six days into the new year and we already have plenty of things on our calendar guaranteed to keep us busy providing you with the perfect custom architectural hardware pieces for your upcoming projects.  Here is a little peak into our 2014 agenda:

• Let there be light!  We will be hoping to light up our Morphic cylindrical pull with small LED lights placed inside the cylinder, and debuting this amazing piece at the 2014 HD Expo in Las Vegas.  This new advancement will be so useful in nursing homes, hotels, and residences for not only the aging or impaired; but for anyone concerned about safety or for those looking to add something new and different to their project.
• We will also be releasing a new smaller Morphic pull in bronze and debuting this piece at the HD Expo as well.
• We will be very busy at the Expo this year introducing you to all these new products, including a new Ergo inspired lever that will function for a glass door. In  most cases, lever style hardware does not work on glass doors as the latch has to pass through the door but we are in the process of developing a surface mounted latch that will enhance the beauty of your glass doors.
• Martin will be developing more of his art pieces.  His paintings are fantasy pieces that depict imaginary insects with imaginary human figures and will be offered in limited edition prints or possibly giclees.  Martin will also be moving forward with fantasy insect sculptures in bronze that will be released as limited editions.  Very exciting!
• As mentioned above, we will be exhibiting at the 2014 HD Expo during the week of May 14-16th and will provide more information as to our location in the Exhibit Hall etc. in the coming weeks.  This will be our fourth visit to this convention and we are looking forward to seeing old friends and making new friends.

That is our year in a nutshell.  What does 2014 hold for you and your business?

If you would like to view our entire collection of custom architectural hardware and other products please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Scarabs in design

I have recently noticed the appearance of the scarab motif in both interior and fashion designs. This little creature has a fascinating history dating as far back as 2000 BC.  A scarab is actually just a beetle, a dung beetle at that.  It began as a religious symbol in ancient Egyptian culture and was thought to represent the early morning or rising sun.  It is associated with feelings of development and growth, among other things, and is found in hieroglyphics, amulets and other forms of jewelry, both ancient and new.  Large numbers of scarabs were carved from stone or other natural materials and the more valuable ones depict royalty in some form.

Interior designers are able to introduce this ancient symbol in many of their designs through the use of wallpaper, fabric and architectural hardware.  We offer amazingly detailed bespoke knobs and pulls in the form of scarabs that have been cast in bronze and will add that custom touch to any project whether it is a private residence or a commercial or public building.

Beautiful in its own right, this scarab beetle pull from Martin Pierce Hardware is certainly creepy as well.

London textile and wallpaper printer, Ivo, offers a scarab wallpaper in several colorways including the gold shown here.

Scarab motif fabric and wallpaper from Ivo

And for the woman who has everything, this exquisite scarab motif compact is available at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Estee Lauder Beautiful Midnight Scarab Solid Perfume Compact

(clipped to

polyvore.com

)

To view our entire collection of custom architectural hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Custom hardware finds a home in Norway

Many of our architectural hardware pieces have found homes throughout the world but I must say none luckier than the Epic entryway set from our Ergo collection that is now adorning the front door of artist Ann Helen Sperre.  Her home is very modern and the choice of hardware is an excellent one that will enhance the contemporary lines of the house.   As you can see from her photo, she lives in a beautiful spot on the western coast of Norway, Aaleslund, with plenty of snow and aspen trees reflected in the windows.

She is also a talented artist as evidenced by the the hanging glass sculpture she designed that appears in the window of the adjoining room.

Simple elegance in holiday decorations is the name of the game with a beautiful natural wreath on the door and white lights on the outside foliage.

Coincidentally, I have been googling Oslo, Norway recently as I am reading a thriller by Joe Nesbo (a Norweigan writer) titled "Devils Star" when Ann’s email and photos arrived in my inbox.  I wrote back and shared the coincidences with her and she responded with information about Norway and others spots to visit and, amazingly, she is also reading a Joe Nesbo thriller, "Police".  If you are planning a visit to Scandinavia or just enjoy looking at beautiful photos, Ann wrote:

"... you should come and visit Norway, {it} is so beautiful – you will love it! Especially here on the west coast and Aalesund. You should try to google  Geiranger, Trollstigen, Sunnmørsalpene, Hjørundfjorden, Trollveggen."

To view our Ergo collection and the Epic door handle that Ann chose, or to view our entire selection, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Seeking design inspiration

We are often asked what inspires Martin's designs and when we answer “nature” I can almost hear the disappointed sighs at receiving such a cliched and glib answer.  But it is the truth and one of his favorite spots to visit and to seek inspiration is the Huntington Gardens. We typically frequent this California gem at least 3 times a year and every time we visit we see nature in a different light, literally.  Those who visit Los Angeles, or any spot in southern California, don't see the ways that our trees, succulents and cacti bloom and change with the seasons, giving you a different view at different times of the year.

The beauty of the Huntington Gardens is matched only by the immense variety of plants that have been cultivated for over 100 years.  Specimens range from the arid cacti and succulents native to our deserts to the tropical trees and and amazing carnivorous plants housed in the conservatory.

As always, we took lots of photos to study later.  But it is interesting to see how many of our designs have been directly inspired by nature, whether found at the Gardens or in other travels.  Here are a few examples to show how the shape of a plant, root or leaf becomes a piece of custom architectural hardware to use in your home or business.

The roots in this photo have amazing movement and power and while they were not the direct basis for the Hedgerow Heroic design they no doubt are buried in Martins sub-conscious.

Similarly while this variegated agave has not been used as a precise model for any specific design,

the fluid movement  lurks somewhere in the recesses of Martin’s mind and I see the results in the swirling forms visible in our Willow series.

By comparison, when it came to creation of our Bamboo cabinet pulls we visited the gardens in November of 2004 and took this shot of a bamboo plant and later used it as an image in our first printed catalogue.  In this case I think the results of the inspiration are pretty obvious!

In some cases Martin has already designed a specific piece but needs further inspiration to satisfy his desire for realism.  In the case of the Lizard collection Martin wanted his large Heroic lizard to be “grounded” and not simply to be placed directly on to the door stile. This raised the question of what would make an artistically appropriate and natural landscape for the Lizard sculpture and Martin chose a stratified stone or boulder as the mounting platform or in hardware terms the back plate.  If you visit the Japanese Gardens at the Huntington Gardens you will often spot a lizard basking in the sun on these rocks but, alas, we did not see any on this visit.

Whatever your excuse for visiting the Huntington gardens, I highly recommend at least 3 visits a year to not only view the changing seasons in this area but also to re-charge your batteries and maybe burn off a few of those Thanksgiving and holiday calories.

To view our entire collection of bespoke hardware and furniture, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Design across the globe

We often focus on products and design trends from the United States, but the world is full of beautifully decorated and designed hotels and office buildings that offer inspiration to all of us. Hotels often celebrate the local culture and natural elements unique to the area in the design of both public spaces and guest rooms.  A fine example of this is the new Hyatt Regency in Danang, Vietnam with its lush landscaping, private beach and spaces designed to take advantage of the incredible views.

Halfway across the world in the Czech Republic, the Fabrika Hotel offers a very unique space that caters to the business traveler but will please the casual traveler as well.  With just 19 guest rooms, this sleek and modern hotel designed by OK Plan Architects offers an on-site restaurant, wellness spa and conference center for their savvy guests.

What do you think about this light-filled residence  located in Bolsover, Ontario Canada? Designed by the architectural firm of UUfie  in nearby Toronto, this home is the epitome of indoor/outdoor living with a design that clearly celebrates the natural surroundings and where rustic and modern elements join together to create an amazing getaway.

We we are also proud of our own global presence and opportunity to provide international designers with custom architectural hardware for their very special projects via our display in the Porta showroom located in Riyadh. To view our entire collection of custom hardware please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Custom vs. ready made or Why should I buy a custom piece of furniture?

Many people question the value of customizing a piece of furniture or hardware when a similar item may be available for immediate purchase.  Take a look at the latest incarnation of our limited edition Ascot Tallboy and you will clearly see the value of a custom piece. This piece was commissioned by architectural designer Jan McHugh of JBM Designs. Jan works in the Chicago and Indianapolis areas and can be reached via email at jbmdesigns@icloud.com.   This tallboy is intended for her clients who are the proud owners of an incredible art collection.  The interior of the tallboy was customized to hold their prized Victrola and store their valuable collection of "78's".  Coincidentally, this is #78 in a limited edition of 100 and it is going to be used to store 78's...clearly meant to be!

In order to properly support the Victrola and still enjoy the beautiful japanning details we adjusted the placement and allowed the pattern to wrap around the sides of the cabinet instead of across the top.  We also wanted to make the pull more of a focal point so chose to use the medium sized scarab pull from our Animal collection of custom architectural hardware.

martin pierce ascot tallboy number 78 of 100 side view

As usual, the tallboy is crafted from English brown oak and darkened chiseled walnut. You may remember that Martin likes English brown oak for the lovely golden amber hue and the "leopard spots", or dark brown markings that are part of the character of this particular wood.  These brown spots are a result of a fungus that the English brown oak tree suffers from or supports, depending on how you look at it.

The interior of the cabinet was also customized to house the sleeves of the unique record collection.

martin pierce ascot tallboy number 78 of 100 interior view customized for client record colleciton

As you can see, a ready to purchase cabinet would not have met the unique needs of this client but being able to request specific design and function details will make it possible for them to enjoy not only a beautiful piece of furniture but store and display their prized record collection.

To view other items from our custom furniture collection and our bespoke hardware collection, visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

A quick primer on lighting

light bulb drawing from clickr

It's that time of year again...time to turn the clocks back (or is it ahead?).  This  means dusk and darkness will arrive much earlier so effective interior and also exterior lighting becomes even more important.

Interior lighting

As you are probably aware, there are three major types of interior lighting necessary to properly illuminate interior spaces:  task, accent and ambient.   Task lighting is just as it sounds--lighting designed for a specific task and includes desk lamps, under counter lighting in the kitchen or office, a reading lamp etc.  Ambient lighting illuminates an overall space and includes lamps, spotlights and recessed lighting and accent lighting can brighten a dark corner or add subtle light to a space such as the powder room through the use of small lamps or plug-in night lights.  And in today's energy conscious environment, selecting the correct light bulb is a major decision that requires expert knowledge.  Fortunately, help for this can be found here.

Exterior Lighting

Exterior lighting's primary purpose is to safely illuminate walkways in the form of pathway or flood lights and to provide security in the form of doorway lights and spots that light up dark corners where danger could be lurking.

Your project's lighting requirements will be determined by size and location of the building(s), use of the area (i.e. residential, commercial) and any special accommodations that need to be addressed as in the case of nursing homes, medical centers, regional weather concerns etc.

As with all design decisions, details like custom architectural hardware or unique lighting fixtures can make or break a project.  So take the time to not only select the proper lighting but also to find fixtures that will enhance the overall design and feel of the building.

To view our collection of architectural and custom hardware, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

To market, to market: Spotted trends from High Point Fall 2013 Market

The fall edition of the High Point Furniture Market has just ended and designers, retailers and manufacturers left with a suitcase full of ideas and upcoming trends.  No doubt you will be seeing:

• Lots of shiny gold metal.  Brass could be spotted used in lighting fixtures, furniture frames, hardware and accessories.  While metals like nickel, stainless and oil rubbed bronze are quite beautiful, brass offers a warm alternative.

• Velvet appears to be the upholstery and window treatment fabric for the upcoming year.  Luscious jewel tones included emerald green and dazzling shades of blue (rumored to be the color of the year for 2014).

• A black and white color combination never really goes out of style but it is back in a big way.  Upholstered furniture, case goods and even lighting fixtures are featuring this always chic color combo, as evidenced in this exquisite lamp by Currey & Co.

Exton lamp from Currey & Co.

• The classic design of mid-century furniture has, obviously, been around for a very long time but is enjoying a resurgence of popularity.  See our post on some of the iconic designers of that period who's designs have withstood the test of time. The clean and simple lines designed with function in mind serve the busy lifestyles of today's homeowner.

With so much to choose from this year it will be exciting to see what the furniture, fabric and architectural hardware manufacturers have in mind come Spring 2014!  To view our current collection as well as new products, visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Just for fun......stars who dabble in interior design

When you live and work in Hollywood it quickly becomes apparent that most "stars" are just normal people like you and me.  They have their jobs that keep them in the public eye but they also enjoy personal hobbies and other interests that have nothing to do with the movie and television industry.  In fact, you might be surprised to learn that the Grammy award winning Lenny Kravitz dabbles just a bit in interior design and that may be the understatement of the century!

Lenny is very talented and his designs are well-known in the interior design industry. His firm, Kravitz Design, has completed many hospitality design projects that include hotels, restaurant interiors and furniture design.  His Casino Royale chandelier, designed for Swarovski, is certainly fit for any rock star, real or imaginary!

Talent as a designer seems to run in the rock music world as Vanilla Ice joins Lenny Kravitz in the category of stars who design.  Rapper Vanilla Ice, aka Rob Van Winkle, is a well-known house flipper with his very own DIY show on HGTV's DIY Network titled, The Vanilla Ice Project.  When you see some of his projects you may arrive at the conclusion that, perhaps his biggest talent lies in knowing what real estate to purchase.

Ellen DeGeneres has also joined the ranks of successful real estate flippers.  She has made a very lucrative "hobby" of purchasing estates and homes in the surrounding areas of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles (certainly not your average "flipper" area) and is involved in the remodeling and redecorating process all the way down to selecting the furniture and even the plants that dot the landscape.  When completed she then sells it for a nice little profit, no doubt.  I am certain her relaxed and eclectic style, along with her name, add to the value of the property.

If you are interested in viewing our entire collection of rock star worthy custom architectural hardware and bespoke furniture, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Dissecting door hardware

Door knob from the Ergo Collection of custom hardware from Martin Pierce Custom Hardware

When is a door knob just a door knob?  Never!  There are several components that come together with the end result being the door knob you or your customers take for granted several times every single day.

If you were to dissect a door knob you would find:

• Door Lever – you depress the door lever or turn the knob to activate the locking mechanism. There are springs inside the lever and knob that return it to its resting position

• Back plate - also known as an escutcheon plate. This is the decorative metal cover that usually conceals the mechanism that allows allows the door lever to function. Each manufacturer has their own way of making the lever functional but there is a lot of commonality.  For example, the “stem” end of our door levers is cast and machined so that it is a square hole that accommodates an 8 mm square spindle. This “8mm on the square” spindle has its roots in Europe but most of the really top notch American lock companies, the premier being Accurate lock, use this configuration in their mortise locks so we have too. Alternatively the spindle can be diamond shaped and is often 7mm. One end of the spindle fits snugly into the end of the lever or knob and it is held in place by various springs, screws and clips. The other end passes through a hole in the back plate and then goes through the door into the lock regardless of whether it is a mortise or tubular lock, and then passes through to the end of the lever on the other side of the door. 

• Rose - typically used for door knobs it is the equivalent of the back plate but, as its name suggests it is round in shape.  Many of our custom decorative roses are organic and tend to be irregular in shape.  The rose is also used to house the cylinder lock, again serving the purpose of concealing the moving parts.

• As with many items we encounter in our daily lives, you can see that an ordinary door knob is anything but ordinary and involves a great deal of creativity to make them work properly and in an attractive way.

• If you would like to see some of the pieces shown above or view our entire collection of architectural  hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Who let the dogs out? Dogs in design

Dogs have been a big part of interior design for centuries.  It is not uncommon to visit one of the beautiful castles that dot the landscape of England, Germany and other European countries and find exquisitely detailed oil paintings of man's best friend hanging on the wall alongside other "relatives".

Modern wallpaper and fabric manufacturers are also aware of the appeal of dogs in interior design settings.  Nursing homes and hospitals value the positive effect dogs have on their patients and often invite the "real thing" to visit.  Hospitality and contract designers can address this issue by using some of today's beautiful wallpapers hung in public spaces.  Residential designers can satisfy their client's love for their four-legged friends through the use of whimsical fabrics applied to upholstered items, window treatments and accessories.

For a more formal look, consider Tyler Hall's "Best in Show" wallpaper that mimics a gallery wall of photos of  furry subjects.

I wonder if our beloved Iris could sit long enough to have a formal portrait finished?

Martin Pierce has always appreciated the beauty of animals, insects and other living creatures in our custom architectural hardware designs.  To view those designs please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

A haunting we will go with custom hardware

Believe it or not we are actually beginning to see Christmas holiday decorations in the stores and it is only September!  Before the red and green of Christmas arrives there is that other very important holiday just around the corner--All Hallow's Eve, better known as Halloween. Halloween is a very fun holiday for kids and adults alike and provides a great opportunity for businesses to incorporate some of the iconic symbols of this day into their hardware choices.  For example, our bat pulls feature amazingly lifelike detailing that turn them into miniature works of art for interior doors, cabinetry and furniture.  Use them in residences as well as businesses.  While fun for Halloween, these custom hardware pieces can be incorporated into the design of many different projects including Zoos, science labs, schools, pet boutiques or any business where one of these images would befit their brand.

While not really scary, lizards and frogs have enough of a "creep" factor to be used for Halloween.  But our lizard and gecko hardware collection is more fitting as architectural hardware for a luxurious tropical hotel, spa or residence.  See for yourself:

Lizard multi point door lever from Lizard collection of Martin Pierce Hardware

We offer plenty of bugs and creepy crawlies in our Animal collection,  ranging from scarab beetles to moths to bees and wasps, all hand cast and beautifully detailed.

To view our entire collection of architectural hardware please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.  Happy Haunting!

Fun projects at Martin Pierce Hardware

We always enjoy working with designers and showrooms on their custom requests.  They often take our furniture pieces and tweak them just a bit to meet their client's needs. Currently we are working on "tweaking" five of our Hedgerow bar chairs that will ultimately reside in Hawaii--lucky bar chairs!  Through the wonderful showroom of Gaul Searson, designer Jacques St.Dizier of St. Dizier Design has also ordered two of our Seicho beds for the same project;  but we will be replacing the tamo normally used in the design with fabric.  One of the beds will be upholstered with Kalahari, an animal print by Peter Fasano, and the other bed will receive a Manual Canovas animal print appropriately named Safari.

The very talented showroom is Gaul Searson, whom we have written about before.  They are masters at coordinating furniture and fabric.  And we have worked with Jacques on several projects spanning a period of over ten years.  He is a marvelous designer to work with and truly understands how to customize  our different styles to give the client something special.

 The light colored and yellowish wood seen on the headboard and footboard of our Seicho Bed is a Japanese wood called Tamo, and is being replaced with fabric for these custom bed orders.

 One of our most popular furniture styles, the Hedgerow barstool has a swivel seat for comfort and versatility.

To discuss your custom furniture request and to view our entire collection of bespoke architectural hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Custom bird motif architectural hardware from Martin Pierce

Do any of you remember the tongue in cheek Youtube video from a few years ago titled "Put a bird on it"?  It was in response to the trend at the time of putting bird motifs on everything from wallpaper, fabrics, pillows, home accessories and even personal items like jewelry and handbags.  Well, when it comes to design we cannot leave out hardware!

Throughout the years Martin has carved many different birds for custom orders.  We have spoken often about the bird designs we offer in our collection of architectural hardware and recently we shared the swallow pull that was inspired by the migrating birds of San Juan Capistrano.  But we also offer other bird designs as seen below.

This beautifully detailed woodpecker door knocker provides an elegant way for your guests to announce their presence.

Bird motif hardware would be right at home in many different retail and hospitality establishments or perhaps your client's logo includes a bird.  We designed this stylized Hawaiian bird knob for a hospitality project in Hawaii.

If you are looking for custom hardware designed in the form of your favorite feathered friend, or to view our entire collection of bespoke hardware please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com

Find design inspiration from these iconic contemporary designers

 

As every residential and contract designer knows, the world of interior design is a world that is constantly changing.  Several times a year furniture and fabric manufacturers release new collections; Pantone annually releases a new color for the upcoming year and current events dictate the latest trends in style, accessories and the "must have" of the season.  Isn't it nice to know that there are some iconic designers who's styles remain just as pertinent today as the first day they were debuted?

Ray and Charles Eames

The very mention of the name Eames conjures up visions of exquisitely designed mid-century furniture.  Their goal to create functional and affordable furniture resulted in designs that are still desirable today.  This is due, in part, to the vision of the couple.  According to Ray “What works is better than what looks good.”The looks good can change, but what works, works.”  And that still holds true today, some sixty years later.

George Nelson

We can thank George Nelson for the still incredibly popular idea of built-in storage walls e.g. bookcases.  Once he realized that the space in between walls was empty there was no stopping the creativity and the storage wall was born.  He also developed the idea of a large room in the home where the family could gather for meals and recreational activities and, as a result, coined the phrase "family room".

Mies van der Rohe

While an architect by trade, Mies van der Rohe certainly left his mark on interior design as well, particularly in the area of furniture design.  His hallmark was fine craftsmanship, luxurious yet practical fabrics and chrome frames, exemplified by his classic Barcelona chair.

This is obviously a very brief introduction to these iconic designers and their ideas that have endured for decades and illustrates that good design is lasting design.  To view our collection of well-designed architectural hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com

The beauty of textured hardware

We often talk about the shapes and forms our custom hardware pieces take.  Inspiration is derived from flowers, greenery and nature's critters, resulting in beautifully detailed and amazingly lifelike pieces.  But often, all a business or residence needs in their hardware is a wonderful texture and dimension.  The custom hardware pieces in our Textured collection meet that need in a sophisticated and stylish manner.

In order to achieve this look the shape (rectangle, square) is cut into a block of dark blue wax and the pitted or dented texture is accomplished by chiseling out a series of small scoops in the wax to create the mold.  Once cast we use either steel or wire wool over the entire surface to soften the edges and acute angles.

The combination of simple design and beautiful detailing make this collection perfect for use in either a rustic or contemporary setting.  The round pull is available in large and small and is comfortable on the hand and easy to grasp.

To view the entire Textured collection along with our other architectural hardware products, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Hospitality design trend: View beautiful collections in hotel lobbies

Thousand of visitors enter hotels each year via the lobby and spend time meeting and greeting friends and business associates, sharing a cocktail or simply enjoying the ambience of a beautifully decorated lobby. As any professional hospitality designer will tell you, when decorating the lobby, or any   space in a hotel both public and private, it is important to find the perfect blend of comfort and function while still celebrating the specific hotel's brand.  This is often accomplished through the use of space planning, fabrics and colors and the addition of something unique that will hopefully make their guest's experience memorable.  Some hotels are doing this with the introduction and display of wonderful collections throughout the lobbies and on-site restaurants.

A true history lesson can be found at the Hotel Auberge Saint Antoine in Quebec City Quebec Canada where literally hundreds of found artifacts are on display throughout the public spaces.

Japanese sushi restaurant, Pabu, in Baltimore Maryland features a magnificent collection of raku pottery that lines the walls and acts as both a room divider and an art display. While it is a large collection the subtle coloring of the pottery allows for a relaxed dining experience.

Some hotels choose to change their collections to celebrate the seasons, acknowledge an anniversary or honor the history of the hotel.  The famous Willard Intercontinental Hotel, located right next door to the White House in Washington D.C. has found a way to celebrate their famous neighbor by offering a beautiful display of historic Christmas ornaments that have been used throughout the years on the White House tree.  You can view the informative video and see these beautiful ornaments by clicking this link.

Never one to do things on a normal scale, the world's tallest hotel located in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates has a lobby atrium that features an amazing collection of water displays that are sure to delight all who enter the lobby.  And while in the United Arab Emirates, take a little side trip to visit our hardware, proudly on display at the Porta Showroom in Riyadh City Saudi Arabia.

To view our entire collection of custom architectural hardware, visit our site at www.martinpierce.com

And the winner of our bronze drawer pull is......

In celebration of our 100th blog post we offered the first person who "liked" our new business Facebook page one of our beautiful swallow drawer pulls.  We have a lucky winner and her bird pull is flying her way now via the U.S. mail. Cast in bronze, this pull is a beautiful representation of the little birds that appear at the same time every year in San Juan Capistrano California to build their unique mud nests in the tile roofs of the local mission.  Once their job is complete they leave the area just as quickly as they arrived. Mother Nature really does create amazing creatures!

Martin is always inspired by nature and enjoys creating these beautiful pieces of miniature art that can double as functional hardware.  Our custom entryway sets modeled after some of those critters will create a memorable first impression while our unique door and drawer pulls, hinges and other architectural hardware pieces cast in the form of many familiar bugs, reptiles and things with wings found in our Animal collection will add that all important final detail that sets any home or business apart from its neighbors and competitors.

To see our entire collection of custom hardware or to discuss your special hospitality or residential project, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.