Color by Light or Powder - the different types of colored door handles

We have a variety of door handles that are illuminated, and these are often ordered by those in the hospitality industry looking for accent piece for public areas. This was the case when we were commissioned to create custom large door handles based on our Morphic door pull design.
The client chose a very specific shade of blue which was their brand color, and which reflected the watery environment of their resort. Sea creatures were the inspirational basis for the custom Serpentine and Scroll pulls we designed and fabricated for the resort. The blue background of this piece is created by skillfully powder coating just the interior and by careful masking the face.

Our Coral and Fish illuminated pulls are colored by color diodes that are contained inside the LED light strips that are housed behind the face of the design. The advantage of this form of color is that the different color diodes allow the panel to be programmed for a variety of different color cycles. While the LED panels offer a wide range of color the door must be one that has been constructed with a hollow channel so that wire can be passed along the channel and connected to the panels wiring.

The photos below show these two methods for adding color. The Scroll pulls on the left were treated with an adhesive on the inside only, the face of the handle was masked with a releasing agent and the powdered handle was baked at a high temperature. The coral and fish pulls have color changing diodes and can be set for a specific color or programmed to go through color cycles.

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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.