Hotel and travel expectations of today's millennials

Millennials, also known as Generation Y, are defined as "a person reaching young adulthood around the year 2000."  They have taken over, in numbers, the Baby Boomers, making them a generation to be reckoned with!

Tech savvy and hooked on social media, the number of young adults in this group is estimated to be around 80 million!  That is an awful lot of travellers with very specific expectations when they do travel.  According to a survey conducted last year by Chase Card Services, whether for business or pleasure, this group of sophisticated young adults search for specific amenities when looking to book a hotel.  By familiarizing themselves with these expectations, hospitality designers can create spaces that they will, hopefully, return to time and again and share positive experiences with their fellow millennials via social media.

• Access to spas, massages, gyms and other luxury amenities
• A pet-friendly hotel
• Personal services such as dry cleaning
• Easy access to public transportation.  At the very least, shuttles that will pick up and drop off
• Reward programs are important to this group of travelers, especially those that offer elite status
• A tech friendly environment.  This group is not shy about posting about their experience as well as seeking the opinion of others before making hotel selection
• Well-designed lobbies that allow guests to meet and interact.  New and bold designs and ideas will attract their attention.

To view our entire collection of architectural hardware that will add that all important detail and touch of elegance to your hospitality projects, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Designers can visit the showroom located at:

5433 W. Washington Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA  90016

323 939 5929

2015 HD Expo, here we come!

 

Like the Jaybird that inspired our latest bronze sculpture, the first month of the new year simply flew by!  But that just puts us one month closer to the 2015 HD Expo and our trip to Las Vegas, Nevada.  This will be our fourth consecutive year exhibiting at the Expo and we are, as always, looking forward to connecting with many of you.

As we get closer to the event we will be sure to share not only our location in the Exhibitor's Hall but we hope to have some custom hardware surprises that we think will please many of you who are involved in the hospitality design industry.  If you will recall, we debuted our new Morphic cylindrical entry pull last year featuring a hot patina color enhancement that adds a new dimension to this very unique item of architectural hardware.

More to come!

To view the entire Morphic collection please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Great news for hospitality designers attending HD Expo 2014

As with all of the exhibitors, we are very busy preparing for and excited about attending the HD Expo in Las Vegas again this year and sharing many of our favorite products, as well as debuting several new items.

We hope to share with you the prototype for our new LED lit entryway lever that we feel could be one of the most exciting innovations in hospitality design.  This hardware is not only beautiful but provides safety and function for all of your hotel, retirement home, spa and boutique hotel clients.

We will also be debuting our new powder coated line from our Morphic custom hardware series.  This new addition will allow you to further customize your client's spaces with a color that is either part of the overall design plan or represents and highlights their specific brand.

And, while we have been sharing the fact that we will be giving away ten of our dragonfly or scarab beetle drawer pulls, we have decided to double that and give away 20 of these unique pieces of hardware to the first twenty visitors to our booth #4659.  So be sure and stop by early, see our products, say hello and collect your custom bronze drawer pull.

You can view our entire collection of architectural hardware on our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Interior design trend alert--Paisley

 

Paisley is making a big comeback in both the fashion and interior design world.  This ancient design is fondly remembered by many of us as the favored fabric of the bohemian world during the turbulent sixties and seventies.  At that time it was used for both clothing and textiles for home decor and provided a way to rebel against traditional designs like damask and other popular patterns favored by the "establishment".  Apparently unbeknownst to the rebellious youth, this teardrop shaped design had been around for centuries.

Originating in Iran in early 200AD, it was known as the Boteh Jegheh.  The stylized floral design is believed by historians to be a combination of tree and floral symbols that represent life and eternity. Interestingly, the western world favors the term paisley, which comes from the Scottish town of the same name that produced the woven textiles once they were introduced to the British Isles by travelers and sailors.

This versatile pattern mixes well with both contemporary and traditional styles. Therefore, both residential and hospitality designers are utilizing this exotic symbol in many ways.  Paisley patterned fabrics are available in all colorways and weaves and will add a sophisticated look to window treatments, upholstery, wall coverings and room accents. Oriental and Persian carpets, antique and new, often utilize this symbol in either an overall design or in the border.

Stylized floral patterns, like paisley, have played a large role in many of our architectural hardware designs.  For example, our popular Hedgerow collection is Martin's interpretation of the hedges and bushes that were so familiar to him as a child growing up in England.

Have you used the paisley pattern in any of your recent projects?

If you would like to view our Hedgerow hardware or our entire collection of custom hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Countdown to HD Expo 2014

The countdown for what has become an annual trip for us, the HD Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, has begun and is on our calendar again this year.  We look forward to making this trek, seeing old friends, making new friends and, most importantly, sharing some new products with those of you who attend the expo. The 2014 HD Expo will be held on May 14-16 at the Mandalay Bay convention hall. Visiting this beautiful venue is a good enough reason to attend this conference. But, as in years past, the exhibit hall will be full of hundreds of companies sharing their newest products that they hope will make your job as hospitality designers and architects much easier.  Products range from architectural hardware and other FF&E products to items designed to fill the needs of an aging population to the latest innovations in countertop and flooring material and everything in between.

Once we are assigned a booth number we will share that information with you in the hopes that you will stop by and say hello and view our amazing selection of custom hardware that will enhance your current projects.  We plan on debuting a few new items as well like our Morphic handle enhanced with LED lighting.

In the meantime, you can view our entire collection at our site www.martinpierce.com.

Come and see in person how your custom hardware items are made

We are so excited to open the doors of our small showroom in Los Angeles, California to designers and homeowners alike.  We recently released this invitation to hospitality, residential and contract designers who are searching for just the right FF&E items for their upcoming projects:

COME SEE OUR RICH VARIETY OF LOCALLY MADE DOOR HANDLES Martin Pierce trade only atelier of fine custom door handles can now be viewed by local design professionals in the Los Angeles area. As our showroom is small we ask that you call to make an appointment to see our work in person.

Martin Pierce Hardware is an ASID Industry partner and we design and manufacture our custom and semi-custom door hardware here in Los Angeles using the lost wax method. The styles we offer range from contemporary to transitional to arts and crafts yet our work is original. We welcome designers to come and see our work in person at our modest showroom but ask that you call ahead tomake an appointment.

We look forward to sharing many of our unique hardware designs as well as the very interesting and environmentally friendly process of the ancient lost wax method.

To view our entire collection of architectural hardware and custom furniture, to make an appointment, or to download a catalog,  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

HD Expo 2013 and update on custom hardware naming contest

As we have mentioned, we are preparing for our third annual trip to the Hospitality Design Expo (HD Expo) in hot and sunny Las Vegas.  We will be exhibiting our custom hardware  products and are excited to be debuting several new pieces that we believe will meet the needs of many of you in the hospitality and design field. This exposition is always a fun event as well as an opportunity to reconnect with old friends in the industry and hopefully meet new faces along the way.  One of the pieces that will be making its debut is our new Ergo Extended Door handle seen below.

The curvy and sensuous shape is not only beautiful but functional as well.  The smooth curves make it easy to grasp, a major plus for those interested in meeting the needs of an older or physically challenged clientele.  We are hoping to rename this piece with a more descriptive moniker provided by visitors to our blog and/or facebook fans.  If you have a good recommendation for a  new name to replace "extended door handle" we would love to hear it.  Just remember, "Ergo" needs to be in the new name.  You could be the winner of two of our beautiful mushroom drawer pulls to use in your home or business.

And if you are attending the HD Expo, please be sure to stop by our booth.  There will be plenty of eye-candy and maybe a surprise or two.  As always, you can view our entire collection or contact us for bespoke orders at www.martinpierce.com.

A new resource for hospitality designers and their discriminating clientele

We have recently partnered with Interior Design Pro to showcase our custom hardware to you, a hospitality, hotel or entertainment designer who serves a discriminating clientele.  Your clients are looking for distinctive pieces that will set their business apart from the competition and, by visiting this site you can closely view many of our pieces. Many of our collections have been specifically designed for use in senior living facilities, for example.  Our Ergo collection features an easy to grasp design that is available in both a left and right hand version.  And, while we show a shiny stainless steel finish, you have your choice of finishes.

Other collections include our Willow, Hedgerow and Grapevine designs that would be a perfect addition to any hotel, winery, restaurant, spa or even a luxury yacht or sailing vessel.  And don't overlook the graphic appeal of our Morphic collection with its unique texture and dimension.

As designers we all know that small details like door and window hardware can turn an ordinary space into an extraordinary experience for visitors and guests.

After visiting our page at Interior Design Pro we look forward to hearing from you.  In the meantime, you can view our entire collection or contact us for bespoke orders at www.martinpierce.com.  And don't forget to check out our "name that hardware" contest on our facebook page.  Further details can be found here.

Chinese New Year: 2013 The Year of the Snake

With the arrival of the new moon in February (roughly February 10th), the year of the Snake begins.  The snake is the sixth figure in the Chinese Zodiac  Calendar.

While not as vibrant and significant as the Dragon, the snake is believed to be materialistic.  Depending on how you interpret this, it can mean it is time to shop, shop, shop; good news for retailers and designers!  However, others are saying the snake signals a time for rebuilding and conservation with many economic, climate and political changes ahead.  Wow!

All that being said, the figure of a snake can elicit different reactions from people as most reptiles and insects do.  While we do not have a snake design here at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware we do offer a wide selection of bespoke hardware pieces in both the reptile and insect category for those looking to introduce these very interesting species to their home or business decor.  Here are just a few of the items we offer.  Do you see anything that would interest your hospitality or residential clients?  If not, please contact us and we can come up with a custom design that is just right.