Childhood fantasies come alive on this custom wooden toy chest-Part I

As you may already know, Martin Pierce Hardware designs and produces not only beautiful and functional hardware but also manufactures bespoke furniture pieces that, in my humble opinion, are true works of art.  Take for example this toy chest that we designed for a very special client:

Just as it does with our hardware pieces, the design of this toy chest began with a set of very detailed drawings that Martin created.  It was necessary for him to create a scene for each side with different dancing animals as well as other whimsical touches like those incredible mushroom feet and the swallow pull on top.  Delightful!

This first photo shows how Martin uses a simple grid to scale up the animals to full size for proper proportion on the chest panels as well as scaling up the mushroom feet.

In this photo you can see the finished product.

Martin's inspiration was most likely memories of his childhood playing in the Perrywood area of Worcester that, while small, seemed to us as children to be quite a mysterious and magical place.

In our next post we will explain the choice of woods and the carving process.  And if you would like to view our entire custom furniture and hardware collection please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

You CAN stop and smell the roses and work at the same time

Can you believe that the summer months are passing by so quickly?  Before you know it media advertisements and retail store shelves will be full of items for the upcoming holidays and your mind will wander to Halloween, Thanksgiving and even Christmas!  Therefore, I might suggest we all take a moment and reconnect with our natural surroundings that can provide so much design inspiration.

• Stop and smell the roses, orchids, magnolias and daisies---and while you are at it take notice of the details of that flower such as the shape of the petals, the amazing color combinations and, of course, the amazing scent.  I am pretty confident you will walk away with your creative juices flowing!
• Let Mother Nature be your guide.  You may be working on a seaside spa, for example, and trying to avoid the very expected colors and textures most often used in the design of these spaces but are "stuck".  A walk on the ocean with eyes wide open may reveal colors and textures you did not expect or the mix of colors in the sunset may inspire a color scheme you have been struggling to identify.
• Vary your routine and you just might find inspiration in items you see every day.  I live in a town full of hills and canyons and walking trails, some with spectacular views.  If I walk every day at the same time, for example, I get used to the "sameness" and am very likely to miss many of the details found in that spectacular view or even in the shape of what we might call "weeds" but are, in fact, miniature works of art from Mother Nature.  An earlier or later walk will produce different shadows and colors and feel new.   Martin Pierce is often inspired by nature and that can be seen in many of our architectural hardware collections including Flora, Hedgerow and Grapevine.  If your routine takes you through the concrete jungle there are still plenty of opportunities to be inspired by the architecture, the hearty flower that pops up between cracks in the sidewalk or the amazing color combinations put together by people on the street.
• Relax.  Many people do their best thinking when they are relaxing by the pool or enjoying their own backyard.  The world will not end if you take time to simply "be" and let the creative juices flow.   How often have you awakened during the night with the best idea ever for that new project and cannot recall the details when you wake in the morning?   How wonderful to come up with those same ideas during a relaxing respite in the middle of the day so you can remember them!

There are still several weeks left of summer, allowing plenty of time to slow down just a bit and enjoy this special time of year while working!  No one ever has to know that your design inspiration came while napping in hammock or strolling along the beach!

Happy 4th of July from Martin Pierce Hardware

The 4th of July is an interesting American holiday that is bound by countless traditions that include parades, fireworks, family picnics and of course, as many hot dogs as one can eat.  I must admit that I have bowed to the pressure of friends and neighbors and will be hosting this year's neighborhood BBQ complete with hamburgers (even though I will be offering some sauteed mushrooms and stilton cheese for those with a more sophisticated palate) but I do draw the line at hotdogs!

Like most countries, American citizens are very proud of their flag and proudly fly it daily, but especially on the 4th of July.  You probably think you know all there is to know about the flag but here are a few facts that may just surprise you:

• Betsy Ross may not have been the original designer of the American flag as you Americans were taught in grade school.  Say it ain't so!  According to records from the first Congressional Congress, a gentleman named Francis Hopkinson was the original designer.
• Five of the six flags planted on the moon during Apollo expeditions are still standing!
• Americans regulate everything so, of course there are federal regulations (the US Flag Code) governing the use of the flag for advertising, for example.
• The official colors of the flag are white, old glory red and old glory blue and have their own HTML code and Pantone equivalent.
• Speaking of Old Glory, the name was simply a nickname a ship captain gave to a flag he had been gifted with and the name stuck ever since as a nickname for the flag.
• A little TV trivia-- in the pilot episode of "Gilligan's Island" a flag being flown at half-staff can be seen in the background.  The reason it is being flown half-staff is because the show was being filmed on November 22, 1963, the day President Kennedy was assassinated.

Thank you to the National Journal for this information and Happy 4th of July!

Martin Pierce Hardware has entered the building at HD Expo 2013

What would a trip to Las Vegas be without a reference to the King of Vegas, Elvis Presley?! But unlike Elvis, we have not left the building but, rather, entered it with a flourish as we begin to set up booth #2153 for the HD Expo 2013.

The rigors of going to a trade show such as the HD Expo as an exhibitor are more than offset by the helpfulness of the staff at the hotel (this year The Mandalay Bay) who identify with you as a fellow worker bee. Only too pleased to stand in the heat (and it is hot, a toasty 95 degrees as we speak) and hail a cab or keep you informed of new projects, including not one but 2 ferris wheels,  that are being planned for the Strip.  London only has one, The Eye, but Vegas is going to have two; not sure what that tells me but it was nice of the staff to share exciting new information with us.

The worst part of the show is trying to find your allotted booth space in the labyrinth of packing boxes, duct tape and a sea of bubble wrap.  It makes you wonder who can honestly call themselves "green" amidst this mess of non-recyclable items.  In our defense we wrapped our display pieces in remnants of fabric left over from some of our recent furniture orders; certainly green and has the added benefit of being much prettier to look at than normal packing materials. We will keep you posted on our activities this week and please do stop by the Innovation Pavilion and vote for our Morphic Cylindrical Pull as the Best New Product.

Last chance to enter our name that product contest

You have just one more day to submit your ideas in our naming contest.  The contest closes on Friday March 1st and the winner will be announced next week after we review all entries.  Do you have any clever and descriptive ideas for our Ergo large door handle?  We just know there is something a bit more exciting than "extended door handle."  So email us, comment on this blog or visit our facebook page with your ideas.  And remember, the word "Ergo"must be included in the new name.

Who knows?  This pair of solid bronze mushroom drawer pulls could be yours!

A new adventure awaits Martin Pierce Hardware

UBM launches "PORTA", a boutique for the finest door                                       hardware, the first of its kind in the Middle East." Thus begins a new chapter for Martin Pierce Custom Hardware.  We are thrilled and proud to be associated with Universal Building materials (UBM) and their CEO, Raghunath, as they open their new store in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia.  According to their press release, "Universal Building Materials has established itself as a pioneer in the construction materials  business of the KSA for more than three decades."

We will be joined by other luxury hardware brands as UBM delivers "door jewelry" to the discriminating designers and architects in the area.  The display areas will provide a real see and touch experience to assist clients in making their buying decisions as you can see by these photos of not only our display but others as well.  We were able to be involved in the display decisions so that our products are shown to their very best advantage.

If you would like to join us on this new adventure, 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.

Update on the Sensota Cove W Hotel hardware series

As we shared in our blog post on June 30th, we have been working on a series of hardware projects to be used in the W Hotel, Sensota Cove location.  We were introduced to this project by the Rockwell Group who felt our existing Ergo, Heroic and Morphic collection of custom hardware fit the ambience of the seaside location of this new hotel in Singapore. And, as we discussed in our previous post, our Ergo door set was altered to be a bit smaller in diameter and adjusted to work with a Vingcard controlled entry lock system for the guest rooms which required extensive testing as well as new patterns and molds and were made right here in Los Angeles.  Our standard Ergo pulls were also used on several armoires located in the spa area.

We also worked with Diffusion, a  Singpore/American design group who used our Morphic Heroic Pulls in some of the key public areas and in the Presidential suite. The Morphic Pulls were also cast in stainless with a beautiful brushed finish.

The fluid designs and wave like quality of our Ergo design fits the setting of this beautiful and luxurious hotel as it is situated right on the waterfront.   This type of attention to detail adds to the unique experience that every business owner wants his clientele to experience.

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.

I am attaching files for these 3 pieces.

Martin Pierce Hardware shares Pantone's color of the year for 2013

 

Have you heard that before 2012 even comes to an end Pantone has announced their 2013 color of the year--for fashion, that is and it is a rich navy called Monaco Blue.  The winning color for Homes and Interiors will not be announced until the end of November or early part of December and early prognosticators are calling for a soft shade of yellow.  No one really knows at this point but they have given us a few hints as to what we might expect.  And just as we were all getting used to Tangerine Tango!

Projected Home and Interior Design trends for the upcoming year include:

• Tribal.  Colors that are meant to evoke magical feelings from distant spots.  Think of burgundy reds, deep plums, peacock blues and fiery yellows.  2012 color of the year, Tangerine Tango shows up in this grouping.
• Rugged Individuals.  These colors bring us back home with warm leather shades of dusty brown, burnished clay and other warming earth colors.
•  Out of the ordinary.  If you like fun and quirky colors you may want to consider vibrant shades of pumpkin orange, amber green and bright violet.
• Gray and beige are not forgotten but appear in warmer shades reminiscent of birch trees, rocky coves or the blue/gray of a tropical ocean on a cloudy day.

These are just some of the ideas that are being considered by the experts at Pantone as well as from the Color Marketing Group.  Your decisions on color will be based on personal preferences, of course, but also on the psychology of color and how your clients and customers will react to specific colors.

Do you have a favorite?

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

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!

The final leg of our journey back to England

London is an amazing city full of both unique and historical architecture sitting alongside new and whimsical sites like the eye of London seen here.

Modern day life goes on surrounded by ancient buildings and traditions including our parliamentary political system of government.  This style of government is similar to the American system of government in that the members of Parliament are elected by the people to represent their district.  It consists of The House of Commons  and The House of Lords.  One of my dear friends from university sits in the House of Lords so we were able to get backstage passes, as it were, to view the building.   For security reasons we were unable to take many photographs but were allowed to take pictures of the Great Hall (or original Hall).  This part of the building has one of the oldest buttress ceilings in Northern Europe.  Magnificent!

Maggie's office has a breathtaking view of Westminster Abbey.

The time spent in London was a fitting way to end our trip and head back home.  Is there nothing better than to spend vacation time with family and friends?

We are now back to work and busy creating new and exciting products that can be seen here.  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

Georgian Architecture: a design history lesson from Martin Pierce hardware

In the past couple of posts I have mentioned the beautiful and abundant Georgian architecture that can be found throughout England.  Examples of this included St. Mary's church in Ross-on-wye and also St. Anne's in our hometown of Worcester. The popularity of this architectural style spanned two centuries from the early eighteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century.  It is named after the first four British "Georges" i.e. George the first, George the second etc., etc.,  all monarchs from the House of Hanover who reigned from 1740 to 1830.   Characteristics of this very English architecture include:

• A centered paneled front door
• A simple box shape with either one or two stories
• Multi-paned windows
• Cornices with dentil work detailing
• Chimneys on both sides of the home
• Dormer windows on the upper floor
• Symmetrical arrangements of windows and doors

The old truly meets the new in this photo of the new Gherkin building in London fronted by ancient buildings in the foreground, some of which feature prime examples of Georgian architecture.

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.

Summer's end at Martin Pierce Hardware

Can you believe it?  Another summer has come to an end and the first day of fall is just one day away, September 22nd.  While many of us usually associate the first day of fall with things not weather or science related, like chunky sweaters, crisp apple pie and cozy fires, the autumnal equinox is actually a reference to the day of the year when day and night hours are equal at 12 hours each.  As we all know, each day gets shorter from that moment on until the winter solstice takes place.  But enough about weather and science, we are just ready to enjoy the change of seasons.  Good bye to the relaxing and warm days of summer and summer decorating:

And hello to the autumnal equinox and fall decorative changes:

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 Custom Hardware: You won't need any bugspray for these critters

Bugs and other garden critters are one of those things you either love or you hate.  But there is nothing creepy about our hardware collection of bugs, butterflies, bees and the occasional frog or lizard.  This lizard pull from our Animal collection would delight any budding young scientist in your family or add an unexpected greeting to the entryway of your nursery or pet shop business.

Our bright and shiny frog pull is always a popular giveaway in our HD Expo booth every year. 

Ancient Egyptians used the scarab beetle as amulets that represented many different Gods, earth cycles etc.  We have designed both a large and small scarab beetle pull that can be incorporated into the interior of your home or business.

If you have visited Hawaii or other tropical areas you are very familiar with the friendly geckos that can be found everywhere.  Relive those pleasant vacation memories with our Gecko pull.

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

The dog days of summer at Martin Pierce Hardware

The dog days of summer have certainly arrived at Martin Pierce Hardware. The work days are a bit more relaxed and Iris is enjoying her morning walks and cooling off with naps in the grass.  Do you ever wonder what the phrase "dog days of summer" actually means?  As with many rituals and phrases, it began in ancient times when the hot and uncomfortable days of July and August were blamed on the brightest star in the sky, Sirius or the dog star.  Now you know.

August for us means more time to spend in the garden, throwing open the french doors and enjoying the fresh air and the occasional cocktail on the front porch.  And, since we are English, sharing afternoon tea with friends.

To keep Iris excited we often head down to Beachwood Canyon and spend time with neighbors, especially those with dogs.  How do you enjoy spending your dog days of summer?

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

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!

Martin Pierce Hardware wishes you a Happy 4th of July

Enjoy the traditions this holiday brings---picnics, long days spent at the beach, family gatherings, food that is not particularly good for you but delicious nevertheless, patriotic music, hokey decorations, ice cream, hometown parades, a prideful feeling when the flag marches by, and a big thanks to all the service men and women who dedicate their careers to serving this country and to their enduring families.  And let's not forget the best part of this holiday----------FIREWORKS! Want to know the history of the American Flag?  The Smithsonian Institute has a great interactive website that provides an overview of the flag as well as the conservation project on the very first American Flag that is housed at the museum.   Check it out here...it is really very interesting and a lot of fun.