Scarabs in design

I have recently noticed the appearance of the scarab motif in both interior and fashion designs. This little creature has a fascinating history dating as far back as 2000 BC.  A scarab is actually just a beetle, a dung beetle at that.  It began as a religious symbol in ancient Egyptian culture and was thought to represent the early morning or rising sun.  It is associated with feelings of development and growth, among other things, and is found in hieroglyphics, amulets and other forms of jewelry, both ancient and new.  Large numbers of scarabs were carved from stone or other natural materials and the more valuable ones depict royalty in some form.

Interior designers are able to introduce this ancient symbol in many of their designs through the use of wallpaper, fabric and architectural hardware.  We offer amazingly detailed bespoke knobs and pulls in the form of scarabs that have been cast in bronze and will add that custom touch to any project whether it is a private residence or a commercial or public building.

Beautiful in its own right, this scarab beetle pull from Martin Pierce Hardware is certainly creepy as well.

London textile and wallpaper printer, Ivo, offers a scarab wallpaper in several colorways including the gold shown here.

Scarab motif fabric and wallpaper from Ivo

And for the woman who has everything, this exquisite scarab motif compact is available at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Estee Lauder Beautiful Midnight Scarab Solid Perfume Compact

(clipped to

polyvore.com

)

To view our entire collection of custom architectural hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

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.

Seeking design inspiration

We are often asked what inspires Martin's designs and when we answer “nature” I can almost hear the disappointed sighs at receiving such a cliched and glib answer.  But it is the truth and one of his favorite spots to visit and to seek inspiration is the Huntington Gardens. We typically frequent this California gem at least 3 times a year and every time we visit we see nature in a different light, literally.  Those who visit Los Angeles, or any spot in southern California, don't see the ways that our trees, succulents and cacti bloom and change with the seasons, giving you a different view at different times of the year.

The beauty of the Huntington Gardens is matched only by the immense variety of plants that have been cultivated for over 100 years.  Specimens range from the arid cacti and succulents native to our deserts to the tropical trees and and amazing carnivorous plants housed in the conservatory.

As always, we took lots of photos to study later.  But it is interesting to see how many of our designs have been directly inspired by nature, whether found at the Gardens or in other travels.  Here are a few examples to show how the shape of a plant, root or leaf becomes a piece of custom architectural hardware to use in your home or business.

The roots in this photo have amazing movement and power and while they were not the direct basis for the Hedgerow Heroic design they no doubt are buried in Martins sub-conscious.

Similarly while this variegated agave has not been used as a precise model for any specific design,

the fluid movement  lurks somewhere in the recesses of Martin’s mind and I see the results in the swirling forms visible in our Willow series.

By comparison, when it came to creation of our Bamboo cabinet pulls we visited the gardens in November of 2004 and took this shot of a bamboo plant and later used it as an image in our first printed catalogue.  In this case I think the results of the inspiration are pretty obvious!

In some cases Martin has already designed a specific piece but needs further inspiration to satisfy his desire for realism.  In the case of the Lizard collection Martin wanted his large Heroic lizard to be “grounded” and not simply to be placed directly on to the door stile. This raised the question of what would make an artistically appropriate and natural landscape for the Lizard sculpture and Martin chose a stratified stone or boulder as the mounting platform or in hardware terms the back plate.  If you visit the Japanese Gardens at the Huntington Gardens you will often spot a lizard basking in the sun on these rocks but, alas, we did not see any on this visit.

Whatever your excuse for visiting the Huntington gardens, I highly recommend at least 3 visits a year to not only view the changing seasons in this area but also to re-charge your batteries and maybe burn off a few of those Thanksgiving and holiday calories.

To view our entire collection of bespoke hardware and furniture, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Mixing it up with different metals in interior decor

With the current popularity of brass metals in interior decor many designers and clients alike question the possibility of mixing metals throughout a space.  For example, can you incorporate oil rubbed bronze architectural door hardware with stainless steel lighting fixtures in one space?  Will shiny and matte finishes compliment each other?  Is it necessary for cabinet hardware to match? These beautiful rooms may offer an answer to these questions:

Eclectic Kitchen by Chicago Kitchen & Bath Designers Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

The brass pendants provide an unexpected but lovely glow in contrast to the high polished stainless appliances, door hardware, bar stools and faucet.

In this dressing room, a combination of rubbed bronze door pulls and light fixtures warm up the coolness of the nickel faucets and accessories.

Mediterranean Bathroom by Aliso Viejo Interior Designers & Decorators D for Design

At Martin Pierce we offer a wide range of custom products in various metals that make it easy for you to mix your metals to your heart's content.  From functional items like drawer pulls and towel holders to complete entry door kits to whimsical products like our woodpecker doorknocker,

you will find just the right item in stainless steel and bronze.  Please contact us to discuss your client's bespoke hardware needs.

Custom vs. ready made or Why should I buy a custom piece of furniture?

Many people question the value of customizing a piece of furniture or hardware when a similar item may be available for immediate purchase.  Take a look at the latest incarnation of our limited edition Ascot Tallboy and you will clearly see the value of a custom piece. This piece was commissioned by architectural designer Jan McHugh of JBM Designs. Jan works in the Chicago and Indianapolis areas and can be reached via email at jbmdesigns@icloud.com.   This tallboy is intended for her clients who are the proud owners of an incredible art collection.  The interior of the tallboy was customized to hold their prized Victrola and store their valuable collection of "78's".  Coincidentally, this is #78 in a limited edition of 100 and it is going to be used to store 78's...clearly meant to be!

In order to properly support the Victrola and still enjoy the beautiful japanning details we adjusted the placement and allowed the pattern to wrap around the sides of the cabinet instead of across the top.  We also wanted to make the pull more of a focal point so chose to use the medium sized scarab pull from our Animal collection of custom architectural hardware.

martin pierce ascot tallboy number 78 of 100 side view

As usual, the tallboy is crafted from English brown oak and darkened chiseled walnut. You may remember that Martin likes English brown oak for the lovely golden amber hue and the "leopard spots", or dark brown markings that are part of the character of this particular wood.  These brown spots are a result of a fungus that the English brown oak tree suffers from or supports, depending on how you look at it.

The interior of the cabinet was also customized to house the sleeves of the unique record collection.

martin pierce ascot tallboy number 78 of 100 interior view customized for client record colleciton

As you can see, a ready to purchase cabinet would not have met the unique needs of this client but being able to request specific design and function details will make it possible for them to enjoy not only a beautiful piece of furniture but store and display their prized record collection.

To view other items from our custom furniture collection and our bespoke hardware collection, visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

ADA requirements for door and window hardware

 

The baby boomer generation continues to age and, as a result, are experiencing the aches and pains and limitations associated with the aging process.  Furthermore, some statistics are reporting more than 50 million Americans have some level of disability that can make life challenging. The American Disabilities Act (ADA) regulates the building and construction industry and sets forth standards that basically make life safer and easier for those with disabilities or age-related challenges.   These guidelines address the use of wider doorways, ramps, grab bars, lower counters, etc.  Also addressed is the ability to easily access a public or commercial building and/or interior spaces through the use of appropriate door hardware.  These ADA requirements will insure that all people are able to easily and safely enter and exit a building and gain access to interior spaces such as restrooms, apartments and offices:

• Door hardware must push through or pull...no twist and turn knobs that may be difficult to grasp for some.
• Hardware must be installed 48 inches from the floor to accomodate those in wheelchairs
• Both window and door hinges must move with under 3 lbs of pressure

Many items in our collection of custom door hardware can be adapted to meet ADA standards as well as meet your clientele's needs.  Specifically, door and cabinet levers found in our Ergo and Morphic collections.

To view our entire collection of custom door hardware visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

The California grape harvest is early this year

Global warming has come to Central California and forced an earlier than usual grape harvest in wine growing regions that include Napa, Paso Robles and Santa Barbara.  Let's hope this is good  news for those of us who enjoy an occasional glass of cab, chardonnay, zinfandel or syrah.  

While the winemakers are busy harvesting all those beautiful vines we thought we might introduce a couple of our custom architectural hardware collections that we feel would be the perfect addition to their tasting areas, guest rooms and other public spaces.

Our Grapevine collection was inspired by the beautiful Paso Robles wine region and is a natural for use in wineries.  The hallmark of Martin Pierce Custom Hardware, incredible detail, is evident in all of the pieces and this attention to detail will delight all who enter your establishment.

Our willow collection would also be a nice design addition to both your public and private spaces.  While simpler in design than our more elaborate Grapevine collection, the same amazing detail and casting process is used to create this elegant hardware collection.

Drawer pull from Willow 2 collection by Martin Pierce Custom Hardware

To view these items or our entire collection of architectural hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.  Also, be sure to check your favorite winery's website to find out when the annual harvest celebrations are scheduled.

Just for fun:  Here is to the corkscrew - a useful key to unlock the storehouse of wit,the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the gate of pleasant folly.       W.E.P. French

How Martin Pierce spends the final days of summer

Our beloved pitbull, Iris, certainly has the right idea!  Since Iris joined our family a few years ago she has become a very loving and affectionate dog and enjoys sharing tea in the music room with our guests and friends.  Lounging lazily in the den and soaking up the sun sounds inviting to me as well.

As the lazy days of summer begin to disappear we are busy working on several new projects that we look forward to sharing with you in the coming months.  In the meantime, here is a quick review of some of our custom hardware products that will remind you that fall is just around the corner.

How do you enjoy these last remaining days of summer?

To view our entire collection of custom architectural hardware please visit us at www.martinpierce.com

And the winner of our bronze drawer pull is......

In celebration of our 100th blog post we offered the first person who "liked" our new business Facebook page one of our beautiful swallow drawer pulls.  We have a lucky winner and her bird pull is flying her way now via the U.S. mail. Cast in bronze, this pull is a beautiful representation of the little birds that appear at the same time every year in San Juan Capistrano California to build their unique mud nests in the tile roofs of the local mission.  Once their job is complete they leave the area just as quickly as they arrived. Mother Nature really does create amazing creatures!

Martin is always inspired by nature and enjoys creating these beautiful pieces of miniature art that can double as functional hardware.  Our custom entryway sets modeled after some of those critters will create a memorable first impression while our unique door and drawer pulls, hinges and other architectural hardware pieces cast in the form of many familiar bugs, reptiles and things with wings found in our Animal collection will add that all important final detail that sets any home or business apart from its neighbors and competitors.

To see our entire collection of custom hardware or to discuss your special hospitality or residential project, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Geometrics in design--a math lesson you will enjoy

Do you break out in a cold sweat at the mere mention of mathematics?  Does the term "geometry" send you running?  Well, no worries  here.  For the purpose of discussion on this blog, let's take a look at how geometry and geometrics are used in the realm of interior design and architecture. A quick review

The true list of geometric shapes appears endless so, for our purpose, we will review the most common shapes used in design:

• Triangle
• Hexagon
• Polygon
• Square
• Octagon
• Rectangle
• Pentagon
• Straight line
• Oval, circle and ellipse

Even to those of us who barely got through math class, these shapes are familiar.  Just take a look at your surroundings and you will begin to see the use of one or a combination of geometric shapes that make up the design of buildings and furniture as well as its appearance on fabric patterns and accessories.  Now here is a math test you can pass--How many geometric shapes can you spot in this photo of both old and new architecture?

Even fluid and organic items such as the architectural hardware designed by Martin Pierce feature many geometric shapes that include a circle, an oval, certainly a straight line, and even a triangle.  Look closely at the design of our Hedgerow line and you will see evidence of these.

In other pieces, straight lines are softened and morph into the waves and curves of our popular Ergo collection for example, and circles are elongated to form our conical pulls.

To view more items in all of these collections or to see our entire selection of custom hardware, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.  We promise there will be no math test!

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!

Summertime and the livin' is easy.....

What is your favorite summertime song?  Perhaps a rockin' Beach Boys tune or something sultry like "Under the Boardwalk"?  Whatever is it, I am sure that when you hear it you are immediately transported to a place that is warm, relaxing and stress-free, and isn't that what summer is all about? The calendar tells us that summer has arrived when the summer solstice occurs.  According to Wikipedia, this is when the earth's axis tilts so that the northern hemisphere is closest to the sun, resulting in the longest day of the year.   For the next several months the days will get shorter but, until then, we can all revel in the wonders of summertime livin'!

No real summer plans here but many people think it is always summertime in Los Angeles.  We do have seasons in California,  they are just not as pronounced as they are in other areas of the country.  But summer is always special.  Longer days to enjoy the beautiful beaches and those amazing sunsets that occur late into the evening.  A chance to experiment with a new summer cocktail, entertain outdoors and close shop early when it is just too beautiful to be indoors.

Fortunately, one of the summer items southern California does not have to suffer through are bugs.  But that did not stop Martin Pierce from creating wonderful and whimsical hardware designed after those pesky critters.  How cute would one of these be on your outdoor cabinetry or indoors at your beach or lakeside retreat?  For those of you working on commercial projects, consider adding this detail to an indoor spa or as guest room hardware in an appropriate location.

While not a bug, frogs are certainly a summertime resident and these frog pulls are so fun!

To view our entire collection of bug inspired bespoke hardware, visit us at www.martinpierce.com

New trends for the commercial design industry from NEOCON

There is certainly no shortage of conferences, conventions and other informative gatherings available to those in the interior design industry.  Some are general and others are very specific and made for those involved in specialized areas of design.  NEOCON is perhaps the premiere industry event designed for professionals who specialize in contract design for hospitality, government, retail and healthcare clients.

A NEOCON event provides an opportunity for designers to view the latest products and resources available including fabrics, wall coverings, hardware, furniture, appliances, lighting and fixtures.  At this year's event there were several stand out trends that we can expect to see in the upcoming year:

• While ultra bright colors were everywhere, one color stood out as color of the year and that was an eye-popping shade of fuchsia.  This mix of red and purple is a high energy color that would be appropriate for many creative venues.
• The very acoustically sound material, felt, is emerging as a popular upholstery and wall cover choice in the expected soft gray, but is also available in other colors as well; making it possible to use this unique fabric in many different applications.
• Can you spell Eames?  Molded plastic is back in vogue.  Conversely, there were many designs that included high backed upholstered sofas and chairs in the office environment.  Perhaps this is a response to the need for more private spaces in open concept areas or simply a design trend.  If it can help reduce the amount of private cell phone conversation overheard then I am all for it!
• Architectural hardware trends are combining the desire for a sleek and minimalist look with warm finishes like bronze and brass as well as celebrating the outdoors with nature inspired fixtures.  We meet both of those needs with our Flora and Animal collections as well as our newest Morphic collection cast in bronze as well as stainless steel.

It is always interesting to follow these trends and see which ones take off, so to speak, and which ones die on the vine.  To view the entire collection of Martin Pierce Custom Hardware visit us at www.martinpierce.com

Design for aging: new trends and ideas for our aging population

It's no secret that people are living longer;  just watch the Today Show and take note of the number of over 100 year old birthday greetings Willard Scott shares, and he is no spring chicken!  And while we are living longer, we are also living healthier which means that designing private homes, independent and assisted living facilities and public buildings for the aging is also experiencing change. The stereotypical vision of the elderly as confused and weak people is a generalization that simply is not true.  Today's seniors are active and aware and up-t0-date on current affairs, trends and technology.  Did you know that, according to the American College of Surgeons survey in 2010, 1/3 of all surgeons were over the age of 55?  (with age comes wisdom, something I certainly want my surgeon to possess!) But we, as designers and architects,  cannot ignore the physical and mental changes that take place as we age.  Changes that include:

• short term memory loss or worse (Alzheimer's and dementia)
• diminished mobility
• vision and hearing issues
• diseases that include arthritis or glaucoma, for example, that affect daily lives

Families can, and must, address emotional needs that include companionship, a sense of purpose and developing new interests.  But designers and architects are tasked with addressing security and safety in regards to the above issues and help reduce the day to day stress many seniors experience in their homes.  Technological advances have made it easier to deal with some of these issues.  Simple things like larger buttons on phones, home security systems and keyboards, medical alert bracelets and  single button emergency devices, along with structural items like wider doorways to accommodate walkers and/or wheelchairs and easy to grasp hardware are just a few of the ways that designers can make it easier for seniors to "age in place", the desire of most elderly people.  Other solutions include grab bars in long hallways and baths, no threshold showers and doorways; lower cabinet heights with edges designed to prevent items from dropping to the floor and motion activated lights, window treatments etc.

And we cannot overlook the importance of appropriate color schemes that address anxiety and confusion or including personal mementos and familiar items in the decoration of interior spaces.  As the "boomers" continue to age it will become even more important to keep abreast of both the emotional and physical needs of seniors when it comes time to design hospitals, community centers and medical buildings along with the decoration of interior spaces.

Let's talk about the bathroom

Sometimes function just has to take precedence over everything else and that is certainly true with the bathroom ; but function does not have to mean unattractive or ordinary! Whether it is an ensuite bath in a hotel room, a small powder room off of a home's foyer, private bath compartments in a spa or a large and luxurious master bath, choosing unique hardware can turn this utilitarian room into a true retreat. The bath provides many opportunities to showcase custom hardware--cabinet door and drawer pulls, door knobs and window levers, for example.  In addition, there is a need for towel racks, coat hooks, soap dishes and tissue holders.  Here at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware we offer coordinating accessories in some of our most popular hardware styles:

The unusual design of our Morphic soap dish will add an air of elegance and mystique to any bath area.

The coat hook from our Hedgerow Collection is truly a miniature work of art that functions as a robe or towel hook in the bath and coordinates with all other pieces from this collection.

Bath tissue never looked so good as when stored on the tissue holder from our sculptural Ergo collection.

You can choose a design from our Hedgerow, Morphic or Ergo collection or we can create a style that echoes and celebrates your brand and is unique to your project.  To view the entire collection please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Don't overlook the importance of architectural hardware and other details

What is it that turns an ordinary square box of a building into something special?  Why do some hotel rooms absolutely delight their guests while others offer simply a place to lay your head at the end of a busy day?  Why is one retail site attracting more customers than another?  The answer could be found in these two simple words--architectural details; those seemingly unimportant design items that turn an ordinary space into an extraordinary space:

• Hardware:  architectural hardware is evident in every single room in the form of door knobs, drawer pulls, towel hooks, window levers and even hinges and backplates.  While certainly functional, in many cases these items are miniature pieces of art that can highlight or compliment a brand logo, celebrate natural surroundings or support an overall design theme.  Case in point--our Hawaiian collection designed for a large project in Hawaii that not only celebrates the tropical surroundings but also honors the history of the islands.  This seemingly small detail will enhance the experience of guests and visitors and isn't that the goal of any business?

  

• Molding, molding and more molding!  Framed panels, crown molding, large and impressive baseboard moldings, corbels, medallions, rosettes..the list goes on and on.  The addition of moldings can provide architectural interest to a room devoid of any enhancements or recreate the character of an historical building.
• Decorative trim: Wainscoting, ceiling beams, arches, cornices and door and window trim will all add dimension and interest to any interior space.

Clients and customers will enjoy the time and attention paid to these architectural details as they relax in your spa, rest in your hotel room or shop in your boutique.

To view our entire collection of bespoke hardware visit us at www.martinpierce.com.