Wildflowers offer inspiration for custom hardware designs

We have always been intrigued by the beauty and the variety of California wildflowers and other indigenous plants, as evidenced by many of the designs in our Flora custom hardware collection.

Like many areas of the country, southern California has a wildflower season that begins sometime in the early spring.  The first blooms and the duration of the wildflower viewing season are determined by the weather, specifically the amount of rainfall the area receives during the year.  The drought continues to be in effect, even with the recent rains we have enjoyed, but we are looking forward to some cooler days and more precipitation to enhance the blooming season.  This photo, taken in May 2014 shows just how beautiful the hillsides are when the poppies take over in all their citrus colored glory!

The succulents that grow in the desert also flower and require very little water in order to survive the soaring temperatures and arid conditions.  We are equally intrigued by these hardy plants and often take photos of the various species we discover on our hikes and visits to local botanical gardens.

Flowers are a great source of inspiration for your hospitality design projects, as evidenced by this gorgeous orchid pull designed for our client in Hawaii.

If you get a chance, a trip to the local desert to see these wildflowers in bloom is definitely in order.

To view our Flora designs or our entire collection of architectural hardware, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com

Southern California rains bring desert wildflowers to life

It is no secret that, along with other west coast states, California has been suffering from a serious drought for quite some time and the unusually warm winter certainly did not help matters.  But we woke up this morning to the sound of rain on the roof and wet sidewalks-- with the promise of more to come this weekend! While this rain was so necessary for all the obvious reasons, it will also result in some pretty amazing changes in the local mountains and deserts and provide much inspiration for artists such as ourselves.  Residents and visitors alike look forward to the transformation of the desert from dull brown hills and plains to a rainbow of wildflowers in full bloom.  You can follow this transformation and plan a day trip via the information provided by DesertUSA.com.

Our state flower, the California poppy, covers the hills in spectacular shades of orange, yellow and red.

Yellow blooms merge with purple that merge with blue and red to create a carpet of color in the early spring months.  It will not be long before these desert areas are brown and arid once again but, for a brief moment, this harsh landscape becomes a candy coated dream.

If your home or hospitality project would benefit from the beauty of custom floral knobs, pulls and levers, or if you would like to view our entire collection of architectural hardware, please visit our site 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.