2014 HD Expo Countdown and a great giveaway

Well it is hard to believe that the first quarter of 2014 has come and gone and here we are in April.  Not sure about where you live, but in Los Angeles the sky is blue and the winds are brisk, typical spring weather, and the Jacaranda trees and desert flowers are in bloom. We are busy preparing ourselves and our products for the trip to Las Vegas to join designers, architects and hundreds of exhibitors at the 2014 HD Expo, held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Convention Center.  We will be occupying booth #4659 this year and are excited to share not only some of our more popular items but we will also be debuting some new pieces of architectural hardware that we know you will enjoy.

On top of all that, the first ten visitors to our booth will receive one of our scarab or dragonfly drawer pulls to use in their own home or office.  These little functional pieces of art feature exquisite detailing that makes them a joy to look at and handle.

Some believe that the scarab beetle represents the rising sun and is a symbol of development and growth but we see it as a unique drawer pull that will add interest to your custom hospitality design projects.

Martin Pierce will be on hand to discuss your individual projects so we look forward to speaking with each of you.

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

Merry Christmas from Martin Pierce Custom Hardware

We wish you and yours Happy Holidays in the language of our wonderful friends and clients from around the world-----, Joyeux Noel, Eid Melad Majeed , Frohe Weihnachten, God Jul, Kala Christouyenna and of course

                                                                      Merry Christmas!

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.

Happy Thanksgiving from Martin Pierce Custom Hardware

We at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware would like to take this opportunity to extend our wishes for a very happy Thanksgiving and a bountiful holiday season to you and your family and friends. Let the feasting begin!

Martin Pierce Hardware: How's Iris?

We have had several inquiries as to how our beloved pitbull Iris is doing and, in particular, how she fared while we vacationed in England.  She spends pretty much every day and night with us so we were concerned about how she would cope with such a long absence.  We are very happy to say that Iris came through the separation unscathed,  due mostly to our dear friends Cynthia and Ken who, along with their dog Ike, stayed in our home and made Iris feel safe and secure.  It's as if she knew on some level that we would be returning.  This may stem, in part, to her remaining at home in her own territory and not in a kennel and having dog-loving friends and her best buddy Ike around certainly helped; at least that is my take on what happened but who really knows what goes on in a dog's mind?

As many of you know, Iris has been a member of our family for over a year.  She came to us through the wonderful efforts of The Rescue Train and it has been amazing and inspiring to see her progress and watch the many facets of her personality develop.  Over the past 14 months she has come to trust people and is much more affectionate with others.  For example, friends from Paso Robles recently visited and the first greeting they received was Iris' stubby tail and rear end wiggling with clear delight!  On a side note, if you are thinking of adding a new member to your family, please visit The Rescue Train's website.  You won't be sorry!

Iris also has a very playful side.  Like many dogs she has a love of squeaky toys and has eviscerated at least 7 crowing cockerels and 2 gurgling lobsters.  In true dog style she also likes to play tug of war with them but is not aware of her own body strength so this game is really a losing battle for me since she is  much too strong  for me ever to win.

She is also keen on being chased and this can be hilarious as she often has difficulty getting enough traction on our hardwood floors all of which will at some point now need to refinished.  But that is a small price to pay for the love her sweet personality brings to our home.

Do you have any favorite dog stories...Iris would love to hear them so please share!

To view  our complete line of custom hardware and get the latest news on what is happening at Martin Pierce, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com 

There are bats in the belfry at Martin Pierce Hardware

"Eye of newt, and toe of frog,Wool of bat, and tongue of dog, Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg, and howlet's wing,-- For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble."

Macbeth (IV, i, 14-15)

Shakespeare said it best but, not to be left out during the Halloween season, at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware we not only have bats in the belfry we have lizards leg, and frogs toes as well as beetles and moths and lots of other creepy crawlies to add to the witch'es recipe and a touch of fun to your interior design.

Take a look, if you are brave enough!

For more information on these products or to view  our complete line of custom hardware and get the latest news on what is happening at Martin Pierce, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.  And Happy Halloween!

It's back to work with Martin Pierce Hardware

We have returned from our trip to England and are attempting to recover from the inevitable jetlag that is the result of traveling through so many time zones.  That being said, all in all it was a wonderful trip that took us back to places we have not been in over twenty years.  Was it Thomas Wolff who said "You can't go home again"?  In this case I must say he might be wrong.

Martin and I were both born in Worcester city. As a child I couldn’t stand the place and dreamed of faraway glamorous cities and the south of England so when I was 18 I escaped to Brighton where I attended Sussex University. Martin and I had met that summer and he was brave enough to leave Worcester with me (much to his mother’s annoyance). 

We have both been guilty of making disparaging remarks about Worcester since we left but this was the trip that turned us around. We treated ourselves to a decent stay at the Whitehouse Hotel directly opposite the Merchant Building and Hop Market.  Martin used to have a very small studio inside this building and we would meet here often when while we were dating. 

 Besides being known for Worcestershire sauce and sadly the recently closed Worcester Porcelain works, the city was also well known for the growing and distribution of hops, key in a country where beer is one of  the favored beverages.

We spent a couple of days in Worcester checking out the exquisite Georgian, Victorian and Tudor architecture, all of which I had until now taken for granted.

Worcester city has also become pedestrianized which has vastly improved not only the pedestrian life but also the lung experience!

We also are lucky to have a flourishing community of Swans on the river Severn. They are extremely powerful, beautiful and, thanks to a Royal Charter, protected birds .

Hmmmm....maybe a swan door knocker?

For more information on ou products, view our complete line of custom hardware and get the latest news on what is happening at Martin Pierce, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com

Limited Edition hardware series at Martin Pierce

Isn't it wonderful to know that you own something that no one else owns?  Perhaps it is a piece of art or a treasured antique.  Or, in the case of a limited edition, you and a few select people are privileged to own a specific item.  Well, we are excited to say that it is now possible to own beautiful custom hardware from the new limited edition series at Martin Pierce. We are not new to the idea of limited edition pieces.  In fact, our Aspen Buffet with a limit of 30 pieces, of which 20 have sold, has been popular as has our vine series with a limit of 100 (76 have sold). 

We are now offering the large vine door handle in a limited edition of 100.  Two of these signed and numbered pieces of "functional art" have already sold with the help of LaForce Decorative Hardware in Madison Wisconsin.  We have shared the creative process of this piece from design drawing to pouring of the mold to actual functional item and are now ready to release this to 100 discriminating home and business owners.  As you can see, the incredible detail and thought that has gone into this design makes this a very special piece.  Look closely and you will spot several critters and knot holes among the leaves and vines.

For more information on these new products, view our complete line of hardware and get the latest news on what is happening at Martin Pierce, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com

Let the sun shine in with Martin Pierce custom window trim

It is always fun to design new products for use in today's businesses and homes much like the new window trim products we are now offering. We recently completed a custom project for Tim Folger of Folger and Burt Architectural Hardware where we designed and created custom window trim in a scaled down version of our Willow design collection. (the actual locking mechanisms were made by Kolbe Doors)

Spurred on by the success of this piece we are in the process of designing a window trim that will coordinate with our popular Ergo collection of custom hardware.  Who knows what the future holds?

For more information on these new products, view our complete line of hardware and get the latest news on what is happening at Martin Pierce, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com

Turning art into functional hardware at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware

As you browse the local hardware store or the internet have you ever wondered how those beautiful and sculptural door levers and knobs are created?  We thought we would share the basic process of turning art into hardware with you so you can see what goes into the making of what appears to be a "simple" door knob. Martin is inspired by everything around him from a row of lovely bushes to one of nature's critters to the characters in a science fiction movie!  At Martin Pierce Custom Hardware the process of creating a new piece begins with an idea that soon becomes a lovely sketch of Martin's.  I have always believed these sketches were worth framing!

Once Martin is satisfied with the design he begins to carve it into a piece of wax to create a wax mold.  At Martin Pierce we use the lost wax method that basically means the wax mold is created and covered with a shell.  Molten steel is pured into the wax mold, which then melts away or is "lost", leaving a steel mold.  This method allows the amazing detail of Martin's designs to show through.

The end result is a one of a kind yet functional piece of hardware that is actually artwork for your home  and can be enjoyed for years to come.

What's new at Martin Pierce Hardware

We have been working hard on several different projects here at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware and thought it would be a good idea to offer frequent and brief updates on these products for those clients looking for specific information.  We have added a "Latest News" column to the site that appears on our home page.  Simply click the icon for the latest update.  Here is a sample of what you will see: July 20, 2012

Today we are announcing our first limited edition with the introduction of a new Grapevine Heroic Door Pull. We will be adding more details and photos of this piece over the next few weeks. We can tell you that the edition will be limited to 100 pieces and that each piece will be signed and numbered.

June 28, 2012

We have spent some time re-thinking the design and have concluded that we do not need to use a thrust bearing and have re-designed the hinge as can been seen below in this drawing of a 4 x 4 leaf design.

As you can see, these announcements are brief and to the point....no fancy words or pretty pictures (although I do think Martin's drawings are quite impressive).  For regular updates delivered to your inbox or reader, we hope you will subscribe to the blog and share any comments, questions or suggestions you may have.

To view our complete line of hardware and get the latest news on what is happening at Martin Pierce, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com

Martin Pierce Hardware says "Let the games begin"

Martin and I are both thrilled that this year's 2012 Summer Olympic Games are being held in London, England.  Along with the excitement of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee we are hoping it brings some much needed relief to the gloom that has sat over Europe for a few years now.  And, just maybe, it might bring some sunshine to rainy old London.  In fact, we have family members that are planning to vacation in Italy for fear that they will never see the sun again!  Isn't it sadly ironic that while we suffer one of the worst droughts in history England is being drenched with one of the wettest summers in history!?  While we agree with the London Times that "Enough is enough" rain, we also hope that the public transporation system, the infamous underground "Tube", is up to the challenge. Like many Americans, we plan on watching the games in between working on new custom hardware pieces, walking Iris and enjoying the ubiquitous southern California sunshine.

To view our complete line of hardware and get the latest news on what is happening at Martin Pierce, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Take your dog to work day at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware

Every day is "Take your dog to work day" here at Martin Pierce hardware.  We are fortunate enough to be able to bring Iris to the workshop every single day and she really enjoys it.

Have you ever noticed how smart dogs are?  Sometimes it is downright eerie!  As we get closer to the office each morning she gets very excited as she knows she gets to go on a second walk.  I believe it is the dog equivalent of us having our first cup of coffee of the day.  The routine is for me to go into the office and turn on the computer and, before answering emails or phone calls, off we go on our walk.  In fact, Iris will not even come into the office, waiting for me to take care of the computer before we set off for her favorite activity of the day.

Oh to live the life of a dog!

Discover the birds and the bees from Martin Pierce Hardware

If you are a fan of Martin Pierce Custom Hardware then you are already familiar with the birds and the bees.....not those birds and bees...rather our wonderful collection of unique hardware that celebrates nature's critters.  Take a look:

While the birds and the bees hardware pieces are fun and versatile, don't forget the other creatures we offer like our lizard door lever, fun bat hardware or beautiful flora and fauna options that will enhance any decor.

To view our complete line of hardware and get the latest news on what is happening at Martin Pierce, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

The beauty is in the details of this mahogany nightstand

Our Rickshaw nightstand is carved from solid walnut and normally features a beautiful hand-woven reed shelf, asian inspired legs and a hand-crafted chiseled pull to complete the look.  It is a beautiful and versatile piece of furniture that can be placed by the side of the bed or used as an end table in  the living or family room.  That being said, one of our favorite stores, Egg & Dart Ltd out of Denver Colorado added our dragonfly pull to the drawer, adding a bit of whimsy and changing the look completely.  The same effect could be achieved with our lizard pulls or any of our floral designs.

What is your favorite look?

To view our complete line of hardware and get the latest news on what is happening at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Martin Pierce Custom Hardware is now in the Far East!

With great pride we can now say that Martin Pierce Custom Hardware can be seen at the beautiful W Hotel in Sentosa Cove, Singapore, expected to open in September of 2012.  Entry door sets to the guest rooms were designed by Martin with the Ergo collection in mind.  The original design had to be adapted and re-tooled to suite a European style Vingcard entry lock but the cool and sleek look of the Ergo lever remains intact. 

Martin is currently finishing up an adapted version of our Morphic collection to be used in the Presidential Suite.  This is the first time our Morphic handles have been used in a hotel setting and I think the Presidential Suite is a great way to begin, don't you?

To view our complete line of hardware and get the latest news on what is happening at Martin Pierce, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Celebrate summer with whimsical Martin Pierce custom hardware

Today is the first day of summer.  Time to slow down a bit and enjoy the lazy days of summer.  Take a late afternoon walk on the beach, watch the sunset with your favorite person or simply find the time to read a book in the middle of the day! Summer is also a time of great inspiration for Martin.  He has always enjoyed capturing the look and feel of all the creatures that can be found in nature.  Need a lizard for your son's bedroom doors?  How about a wonderful bunny for that newborn nursery or a selection of beetles for a sunroom.  We have them all in our Netsuke, Lizard, Flora and Animal collections.  Check them out:

martin pierce bunny knob

martin pierce bee knob

martin pierce lizard lever