HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO BAT LOVERS

As many of you know Martin loves reptiles and insects but he also loves mammals and this extends to bats which are found in his collection of animal cabinet pulls.

For some reason I do not think of bats as mammals and see them as flying rodents and indeed if you look at many bats they do appear to be rats with leathery wings.

Bat Cabinet Pulls

When Martin and I were in Belize several years ago we stayed at the luxurious Blancaneaux Lodge, a Coppola resort and took a guided excursion by canoe to Barton Creek Cave. The ancient Maya once used this cave as a burial site and the interior is filled with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites and a thriving bat colony.The ceiling of the cave was fairly low so with our head held flash lights we could see the fine details of the bat faces and their fury bodies as they hung from the cave ceiling in clusters. 

More recently, in Paso Robles, in the hot month of August with the doors open to cool the house a large bat with a 16" wing span flew into our bedroom. After much flapping the bat tired and so Martin was able to carefully hold the bat by its wings and emboldened by his action I stroked the incredible downy coat of its fur and touched the soft fine translucent leathery skin of its wings. Respecting the bats right to peace we turned all the house lights off and released him back to the night. For those bat lovers out there is a great YouTube page where you can see a bat rescue center in Australia with some adorable bat videos.

Custom Door Handle Videos

At long last we are making videos for our custom door handles and will be sharing these with you both on our new Video Gallery and on YouTube and DailyMotion.

The first video was shot on location at a private residence and features our Lizard Entry Thumb latch set.

The big advantage to showing our custom hardware in this format is you get to see and understand what we mean by “functional art”. The lizard sculpture acts as a large bronze door pull and you grip the body of the lizard to open the door or in this case front gate. Above the lizard there is a sculpted bronze back-plate reminiscent of stone, on which a butterfly is perched. The butterfly is also a functioning thumb latch and when depressed it opens the gate by releasing the mortise lock.  On the reverse side or inside of the gate we used a smaller lizard sculpture to act as the door lever and to continue the natural theme mounted the lever on a bronze back-plate styled to resemble tree bark. Lizard food, in this case a small beetle, is used as a whimsical bronze turn piece that functions to either open or close the deadbolt.

As the lizards have been made as lefts and rights they will also will work well on door double doors or gates.

In this particular project we created custom grills at the top of the gate in the form of flax stems and appropriately added a left and right bronze frog to complete the entrance. As Martin Pierce is also a wood carver he carved a wooden raven head to house the chain for the house bell.

While I hope you find this description clear I hope you will agree that the video does a better job of capturing the three dimensional reality of this set.       

While videos are fun to watch they can be difficult to make  so our thanks go to Jeff Jenkins whose patience as  director and skill as a videographer made this project a success. Jeff’s work can be seen at;

What To Consider When Choosing Door Handles For A Home Renovation

A lot will depend on how you are planning to use the door handles, questions you may want to consider;

1.     How many doors are you planning to re-furbish - is this a statement piece for an entry door or are there several doors where you will be using the same style of design?

2.     How eclectic are you? Do you like to continue a particular style through the entire home or do you like to mix and match styles?

Interior And Exterior Door Knob Sets

3.     Is the door exterior or interior - if an exterior door, is it protected from the elements or will it be exposed to rain, snow or sea spray as these will contribute to the corrosion and rust of the handle. While bronze does not rust, it will over time develop a patina and is often referred to as a “living finish”. Stainless steel is corrosion resistant and while not rust proof, 316 stainless steel is the preferred alloy for coastal properties exposed to sea water.

4.     Does the door need to lock - and does the door handle manufacturer provide the handles you are considering for all types of function from locking front and privacy doors to non-operating "dummy" handles that are typically fixed and often used to complete the symmetry for example of double doors where one handle operates to open and close the door and the “dummy” handle is used more as a grip or pull.

5.     Are there special needs - to consider making it important that the door handle be easy to grip and that levers not be too heavy to depress

6.     Are your doors unusual -  are they extremely deep or shallow, bare in mind that a typical door in the US is 1 3/4" to 2" thick and while many handles can accommodate other depths, the manufacturer may have an up charge to create shorter or longer spindles or through bolts.

7.     Unforeseen charges to consider -  the  lock is often not included in the cost of the door set but this varies with manufacturer, for example  we do include the costs for tubular latches but not the cost of the mortise lock made by Accurate.  The installation of a door set, particularly one that locks, will need to installed either by a contractor or locksmith.

Different Ways To Remodel Your Dining Room

When planning to remodel a room many of us begin with the color scheme and build our design from there. While this is admirable it may also unwittingly turn us into trend followers. So what other approaches are there?

Much will depend on the scale of the makeover, is it the entire home or is the scope limited to the social areas of the home such as the dining and living room, or the more personal areas like the master bedroom and bathroom.

Re-upholster chairs that are worth saving

For the purposes of this piece I will focus on the dining room. As mentioned in a previous post, both ends of the age spectrum from the millennials to the baby boomers are moving into smaller homes and making use of more flexible spaces. Hopefully, the dining room as a place to relax and enjoy meals with friends has not fallen victim to this scaling down and still exists as an area demarcated from the rest of the home. If so, look at the furniture and determine whether it can be revived. As furniture makers we are fortunate in having chairs that we made from solid walnut and that were intended to last if not forever, at least for a few lifetimes and that have over the years been easily revamped by new upholstery. If your chairs are worth saving  and are made of solid wood or metal then they can be revived by re-finishing the frame and by re-upholstering the seat or back. If you live in Los Angeles you should have no problem in finding a furniture finisher or upholster but if you are not familiar with how to order fabric what yardage to use, or footage to buy if using hide, then I strongly recommend working with an interior designer. The designer will be able to guide you through the maze of questions about which fabrics need to be backed, how much fabric you will need depending on the pattern repeats of the fabric, whether the chairs should re-sprung and if so whether coil and spring is a better option for your chair frame than webbing.

Replace the cabinet knobs for the defining touch

The dining room can also be remodeled by focusing onbuilt-in cabinets. Built-ins are a common feature regardless of the age of the home and can be revived by re-painting or re-varnishing the doors and frames or by removing the doors to create an open cabinet either with or without shelving. This is how I plan to revamp my dining room and to add the defining touch I will be replacing the cabinet knobs.

Hawaiian Door Pull

We have added a new cabinet door pull to our animal and bird collections and have used the inspiration of Hawaiian birds and fauna to create this piece. The pull is substantial in scale measuring 12” high and 3” wide and can be used either for large cabinet doors or for interior doors.  It is cast in solid bronze and made using the lost wax method of casting which allows us to achieve incredible detail and fluidity in design that is difficult to achieve by other casting methods.

Fusion of bird, vine stem and human attributes for abstract cabinet pull

The pull is a fusion of bird, vine stem and even human features all of which flow together to create an abstract mythical piece.  The pattern for this piece was sculpted in wood and was carved as a 3 dimensional sculpture, both sides having the same design. In the picture we are showing 2 pieces and  by turning the piece over we are able to create pulls that are the mirror image of each other. The mounting posts are attached after the casting has been made and so on this occasion we were too able to create a left and a right pull using one pattern and one mold.

We have named this new addition the “Grand Hawaiian” pull to distinguish it scale wise from the single and double-headed  bird pulls in the same collection.  If you are looking to use other Hawaiian inspired cabinet pulls we also have an orchid stem and bamboo design  to complete your  tiki dream room.

work and home come together from interior design dot net

http://www.interiordesign.net/articles/detail/36481-chicago-designers-say-offices-increasingly-like-home/

At a recent roundtable discussion of about 30 Chicago designers and architects, the talk turned not to fees or millennials but to office culture and live-work balance. The lively group spent most of its time discussing how office design was being driven by the merging of life-work time, with the two increasingly having little to no separation in today’s daily life. As Jim Prendergast, design director at Gensler in Chicago, said to the nods and laughter of others in the room, “It’s no longer work and life. It’s become one thing. Life is just life.” Invited by Interior Design to participate at the discussion, which was held at Soho House Chicago during the magazine's One Night Only Chicago networking event, the designers and architects also spent time talking about how workspace is becoming more authentic and real. “We are spending an increased amount of time finding out what makes a company distinctive. We have to discover what is the culture and the values,’’ said one designer, who talked about the space needing to reflect a company’s culture in an authentic way. “I get super worried about these clients who say they want their space to be ‘cool’, but it doesn’t fit with the company, “ continued the designer. “It’s just not authentic.” The client’s words may not match the reality of the company, agreed another designer. “When they [executives] say the company has an 'open-door' policy, how true is that?” asked one designer. “We can come up with design solutions, but the culture the client describes has to be embraced by everyone at that company to make it successful.” As home life and office life increasingly merge, the office is also becoming more like a home, with amenities and a feel-good atmosphere that is a must to attract top talent. “It seems they are looking at the environment more than they are looking at the salary or benefits plan,” said one designer of new hires who ask more about the firm’s space and amenities than about the firm itself. Added another designer: “These aren’t amenities anymore… these are expected. The question is what more can we give them?” It’s not just the lifestyle amenities that are part of attracting top talent. Everyone from young to old, the group agreed, is looking for cutting edge technology. Employees are looking at new or advanced technology as the norm. Being able to talk to outside offices, design and comment, send large image files and more—employees expect these and more at anytime without logging in, without having to download a program and within one tap of the screen or keyboard. Yet, not everyone can be cutting edge with technology or design. Most of the group agreed that their job also included being what one called "Truth Consultants," getting clients to see the reality of budget, space restrictions or even a corporate culture that may not embrace or benefit from a huge change. “Every e-commerce company we’ve worked with in the last three years, when asked who do you want to be, they all say Google,’ said Gensler’s Prendergast. “And that’s just impossible.”

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Parc Guell--the original gated community

As we begin to make the final preparations for our upcoming trip to Istanbul we are taken back to last summer's vacation destination of Barcelona Spain  where we looked forward to visiting and studying the works of Antoni Gaudi and other Catalan Modernists whom Martin has long admired.  One of our destinations while there was the Parc Guell, an area that could certainly be referred to as the original gated community!

Named after Count Eusebi Guell, what is now a public park was originally designed as a housing development inspired by the English garden city movement in which homes were planned around a community that was self-contained and included plenty of what we now refer to as greenbelts.  Visit any modern housing development and you will see this idea in play today.  Sixty lots were created with the intent of building luxury homes that took advantage of  the view and the fresh air, far from the smoky environment of the city. Count Guell chose Antoni Gaudi, a renowned architect of the time, to design the buildings and homes. Unfortunately, only two lots sold, forcing Guell to alter his plans.  He convinced Antoni Gaudi to purchase the "model home" that had been constructed and Gaudi moved in with his family and his father, where they lived until 1925, just a year before Gaudi's death.  This house is now the Gaudi House Museum and home to many of Gaudi's furniture and other designs.  If you are in the Barcelona area this historical museum is definitely worth a visit.

To view our entire collection of architectural hardware and custom wall sconces, 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

Happy Labor Day as we say goodbye to summer

Labor Day is a federal holiday that has become the unofficial signal that summer has come to an end.  But the fact is that the summer season does not officially end until the arrival of the Fall equinox, expected this year on Wednesday, September 23rd. We hope your summer was full of fun getaways or relaxing staycations and that the upcoming last quarter of the year is full of exciting projects.  So time to say good-bye to summer and hello to the cooler weather, shorter days and beautiful changes that Mother Nature brings us when autumn returns.

A very basic discussion of stainless steel door hardware

If you have been shopping for door and cabinet hardware for yourself or for a client you have, no doubt, discovered the wide variety of options from which to choose, from style and design to color and finish.  We offer a variety of custom door hardware designs in different finishes including stainless steel.

What is stainless steel?

Without providing you with a lot of technical information you may never use, the simple answer is that stainless steel, unlike ordinary steel, contains various alloys such as chromium and nickel that render it corrosion, tarnish and rust resistant.  And it is good for the environment as it is 100% recyclable.  You can learn more about stainless steel at MidAmerica Stainless and here.

Are there different types of stainless steel?

Yes.  The most commonly used for our purposes is steel from the 300 series which is non-magnetic and corrosion and rust resistant.  This durable steel is used in industrial and commercial applications as well as building applications in the form of hinges, locks and other types of door and window hardware, appliances and even countertops and kitchen backsplashes.

Here at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware we usually work with two types of stainless--304 and 316.

• While still very hard, 304 is softer and a bit easier to work with than the 316.
• We describe the 316 steel as a marine grade or rust resistant and is best used for outdoor projects.  This grade can be a real challenge to tool and polish.

But we think you will agree that both steels result in a beautiful finish for the contemporary door hardware designs found in our Ergo and Morphic collections:

Ergo

Morphic

To view stainless steel architectural hardware,  as well as our entire collection of custom hardware and lighting, 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

National Dog Day

There is no doubt that pets add so much to our lives.  Therefore, we could not let National Dog Day pass us by without giving a nod to our wonderful Iris.

Iris is our pitbull that we rescued from The Rescue Train in Los Angeles over 4 years ago.  (or maybe she rescued us!)  She has been a faithful companion and a wonderful addition to our family.  Throughout the years we have shared with you bits and pieces of Iris' life including her play dates here at the office with her Corgi friend, Hoyt--

relaxing at the office---

the many hikes she has shared with us---

relaxing again, this time in the backyard---

Her playful side---

And her sleepy side---

Please share pictures and stories of your beloved dog with us.

You can view the entire collection of architectural hardware  at www.martinpiere.com.

Designers can visit the showroom located at:

5433 W. Washington Blvd.

Tel: 323 939 5929

Yet another early grape harvest for California wineries

History has a way of repeating itself.  Back in August of 2013 we wrote about the early grape harvest and the reasons for it (weather related) and it appears that the grape growers in California are experiencing yet another early harvest blamed, you guessed it, on the weather.  KCRA better explains the situation but the lack of any real spring season this year has a lot to do with it and it is the earliest harvest the industry has seen in the past six years.  The good news is that an early harvest can produce some delicious wines so we all have something to look forward to!

We often share our love of the Paso Robles wine region and the wines they produce.  In fact, the beauty of this region is what originally inspired our Grapevine collection of custom hardware.

This collection includes two different styles of entry way hardware as well as interior levers and cabinet and door pulls.  This versatile design can be utilized in both commercial and residential installations and will provide that all-important detail to any project.

To view the Grapevine group as well as our entire collection of architctural hardware, 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

"

Green design trends to watch for in 2016

[houzz=http://www.houzz.com/photos/5055366/Seasons-Living-Wall-Beverly-Hills-contemporary-landscape-orange-county] It's no secret that our natural resources continue to dwindle.  Therefore, the design of "green" or environmentally friendly buildings, including hotels and restaurants, is no longer just a trend but rather, a requirement set by both local and federal governments in many areas of the world.

Architects and hospitality designers are tasked with designing public and private spaces that are, at the same time, aesthetically pleasing and functional and energy efficient and sustainable.  There is a long list of methods these professionals employ in order to satisfy all the requirements mentioned.  Here are just a few:

• Capturing natural light can help reduce the amount of energy necessary to light a space.  Plenty of over-sized windows, dual and triple paned, can provide the light as well as reduce noise and heating and cooling costs.
• Green roofs have been around for a while now but this idea has now moved to walls as well.  These "living" walls help to naturally insulate a building, improve air quality and provide privacy as well as creating something that is simply attractive to see.
• Supporting local business by hiring local workers, purchasing from local businesses and using products indigenous to the area are all ways hospitality designers and architects are saving money on projects and minimizing any negative impact their projects may have on a community.  This also reduces transporation costs and energy usage--both major concerns when it comes to green building.
• Metered and electronic faucets help reduce water usage--a must-have after what has been labeled the hottest summer on record across the globe.

Along with designing buildings and rooms that are accomodating to those with any physical or age-related challenges, hospitality designers and architects have their hands full; but they continue to deliver beautiful projects throughout the world.

You can view our entire collection of architectural hardware and lighting at www.martinpierce.com.

Designers and architects can visit the showroom located at:

5433 W. Washington Blvd.

Los Angeles, Ca  90016

323 939 5929

Before, during and after- our drought tolerant garden update.

When we last updated you our backyard looked something like this--

And now, with the drip system in place

we have been able to plant many varieties of drought tolerant plants and this area now looks like this--

Before the construction--

And where we are now--

As you can see, our little ceramic birdbath remains part of the new design plans, which I am certain will make our feathered friends happy.  Some of the plants and grasses we decided to use include:

• This Golden barrel cactus – Iris beware!

• 

• Aeonium clyclops
• Agave
• Blue fescue - a hardy drought resistant grass

The next step will be to put down the decomposed granite and sand to create pathways.

We purchased all of the exotic plants from World Wide Exotics Nursery and the blue fescue grass from Armstrong Nursery in Glendale.

We will keep you posted as we complete each step of this transformation.

Have you altered your landscape as a result of the drought conditions?

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

Designers can visit the showroom located at:

5433 W. Washington Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA  90016

323 939 5929

What was your most memorable vacation--as we revist past vacation posts

Summer is nearing the end and our vacation destinations this year have been relatively close to home so I thought it might be interesting to relive some of our past vacations, both to far away places and nearby: England

In September of 2012 we journeyed back home to England to visit friends and family.  We shared many of our adventures such as scuttling races, quaint villages and the beauty of both old and new London.  This is also where the inspiration for our popular Hedgerow collection of custom hardware began many years ago.

Spain

Fall of 2014 found us in Barcelona Spain enjoying the trip of a lifetime.  We spent days visiting and admiring the work of Antoni Gaudi .  His awe-inspiring designs are certainly inspirational and we spent many  enjoyable hours soaking up every little detail.

 Local

We have enjoyed many "local" trips to areas that include Griffith Park, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Idyllwild, Pt Reyes and a road trip that introduced us to the grandeur of the Grand Tetons.  The beauty of these areas never ceases to amaze us as we enjoy the wildlife, scenery and all that Mother Nature has to offer.  Many times our beloved Iris is able to join us and no one enjoys a hike quite like Iris does.

We are looking forward to more travel as we depart for Istanbul in late September.  We will be viewing plenty of examples of Moorish architecture and other sites and will be certain to share photos;  so, happily, vacation time has not ended quite yet for us.

What was your most memorable vacation?

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

Designers can visit the showroom located at:

5433 W. Washington Blvd.

Los Angeles, a  90016

323 939 5929

Lighting options--Wall sconces

Residential and hospitality designers alike know the power of a good lighting plan for interior spaces.  Accent lighting is equally as important to a room as ambient and task lighting and can be achieved using various types of lighting fixtures.  One such fixture is a wall sconce. A sconce is defined as "a candle holder, or a holder of another light source, that is attached to a wall with an ornamental bracket."  Wall sconces are intended for use as accent lighting although certain circumstances may call for sconces to act as task lighting.  They are often hung along a hallway or flanking a fireplace mantel, headboard, bathroom mirror or a beautiful picture window.  Like our custom wall sconces, the designs often cast an interesting pattern onto the wall and offer soft illumination to any space.

We recently ventured into the world of lighting design when we introduced our new wall sconce designs at the 2015 HD Expo in Las Vegas this past May.  As we have mentioned in previous posts, we are big fans of "Game of Thrones" and that is evident in the details and design of our Dragon Egg wall sconce.

Along with the stylized back plate and finial, perforations meant to mimic the membrane that lines an egg allow the light to shine through.

In this photo, traditionally styled wall sconces line a hallway and offer illumination as well as an interesting design element.

Traditional Hall by Atlanta Architects & Building Designers Kemp Hall Studio

And this very contemporary wall sconce in a home in Melbourne Australia offers soft lighting in an art form.

Contemporary Bedroom by Melbourne Interior Designers & Decorators Sally Caroline

Another pair of artfully design wall sconces help make this fireplace the focal point of the room.

Contemporary Living Room by Los Angeles Interior Designers & Decorators Burnham Design

To view our entire collection of lighting and architectural hardware, 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

Five elements of a drought resistant garden

Mediterranean Landscape by Santa Barbara Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Pat Brodie Landscape Design

We recently shared with you the beginnings of a new landscape project in our garden--in other words turning our backyard into a drought resistant oasis.  While we will share some of the more exciting details of installing a drip system at a later date, we thought it might prove helpful to list a few elements necessary for a drought resistant garden that will work in both residential and commercial applications.

1. Hardy plants.  While succulents may be the first type of plant that comes to mind, there are many plant varieties that are able to survive, and even thrive, in a drought.  To name a few- recognizable plants like the Bird of Paradise, day lilies, California poppy, and even the beautiful and flowering hibiscus will add color and variety to a garden. Selecting plants that are native to your area or from a similar climate is a good place to start but check with your local nursery experts to find just the right plant species for your location.
2. Irrigation.  An efficient irrigation system is key to maintaining a beautiful garden at any time but especially during a drought or in a water challenged environment.  The experts will be able to help you determine the right type of watering system for your area.
3. Hardscape.  Hardscaping is defined as "the placement of nonplant elements such as fences, walkways, paving, and lighting in a planned outdoor area."  Gravel pathways, for example, can replace large expanses of water hungry sod and small patios or seating areas will create little backyard "getaways" where you can enjoy a quiet drink, read a book or sneak in an afternoon nap.
4. Shade.  Shade is one of nature's natural air conditioners.  Even palm trees will provide a bit of shade during the day and that will keep any plants, and you, cooler.
5. Personality.  Drought resistant or not, every garden needs a bit of personality.  A beautiful fountain will provide the soothing sounds of water while a unique sculpture, hand-thrown pots or custom lighting will add ambience to even the smallest of gardens.

To view our entire collection of architectural hardware and lighting, 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

Martin Pierce Hardware in the news

Recently we had the distinct pleasure of meeting Jim Gilbert, the publisher of the online publication Curating Los Angeles (CLA).  He and his lovely wife, Susan, visited our studio/workshop to see how our products are created. Jim became familiar with our products while remodeling his own home and searching for unique cabinet hardware for a guest bath.  He ultimately purchased two of the bronze moth pulls  from our Animal collection and the rest, as they say, is history.

What follows are highlights of our conversation.  You can read the entire interview on their website www.curatingla.com.

Late last year my wife and I undertook a major remodel of our kitchen and master bath. While we were at it, we also decided to upgrade a few other parts of the house, such as our guest bathroom. One goal for that room was to find unique pulls for a wall-mounted cabinet that would make it much easier to open its doors.

While browsing in a local decorative hardware store, we found a line of animal themed pulls that fit the bill. After looking at display samples and thumbing through a catalog, we decided to purchase two beautiful bronze moths. You can see one in the following photo.

While I was very excited to add these distinctive pulls to our bathroom, I was equally thrilled to learn that they were designed and hand crafted in Los Angeles by Martin Pierce Hardware. I immediately wanted to meet the people behind this business, hear their story and learn how they produce their products. So I reached out and set up an appointment with Martin and Anne Pierce, the owners of the business.

What follows is an edited transcript of my in person conversation with Martin and Anne that took place on July 2, 2015. Since my wife joined me for this interview, we both asked the questions. To streamline the conversation in written form, I have consolidated our questions and present them below under the acronym CLA (i.e. Curating Los Angeles).

————–

CLA: What brought you to Los Angeles?

ANNE: We’re both from Worcester England and we met in London. Martin was trained as a woodcarver and a sculpture, and that was where it all began. We left England in 1980 and came directly to LA. We were actually heading to San Francisco but it didn’t work out. By the time we landed and spent some money there wasn’t any left to get to San Francisco.

CLA: Was your intention to start this business when you arrived here?

ANNE: I don’t know what we were really planning.

MARTIN: We were really here on a mission just to check it out. I brought my carving tools with me. We just started to make furniture initially for people in Beverly Hills – cabinets, chairs. We got some pieces in the Pacific Design Center within just a few weeks.

CLA: How do you two work together?

ANNE: We didn’t use to. My background is law, but I never practiced here. I really wanted out. I eventually took over the business side of things. It became obvious it would be better if I became involved.

CLA: Were you always located in this building?

MARTIN: We originally had a space in downtown LA but then the Northridge earthquake happened. The building cracked down the middle because it was brick.

Anne was in real estate at that time. We were able to buy this place. It made sense. It’s a stucco building and it’s not going to fall down. So we’ve been in this space for about 20 years.

CLA: How did you get from furniture to cabinet hardware?

MARTIN: Because I made a lot of case goods I needed the correct pulls for the drawers and doors. I couldn’t find anything I liked so I made my own. I created the design, carved them in wood and found a foundry that would make them for us. So we sold the furniture with our pulls on them. It just evolved from there.

ANNE: All the pulls originally came from a particular piece of furniture. The moth pulls that you own came from a sideboard.

Eventually we felt that if we’re going to make cabinet pulls why not make door hardware too. It was a big leap because it’s quite different from non-functional pulls. They have moving parts and locks.

CLA: Do you seek out relationships with architects?

ANNE: Absolutely. We sometimes produce a custom piece and then use that design as inspiration for a production line. Pieces evolve over time.

Thank you, Jim, for the lovely article.

Designers can visit our showroom located at:

5433 W. Washington Blvd.

Los Angeles CA  90016

323 939 5929

You can view the complete Animal collection, as well as our entire selection of architectural hardware at www.martinpierce.com.

Custom designed bar stools continue to delight clients

Regardless of what type of business you are in, it is always nice to receive positive comments about your product or service.  Such was the case when we received this lovely note from San Diego based interior designer, Dora French, who placed several barstools from our Hedgerow furniture collection in this beautiful home:

"As a Designer it is very important I provide both comfort and the right look to fullfill my client's desire for their own “dream home." In addition to their great look, the Hedgerow chair is incredibly comfortable. The depth of the seat is plenty to allow you to sit back and feel secure while the wooden back is very comfortable and shaped to fit the back and the arms are at just the right height for ease of use.  So many of the counter/barstools  being made in today’s environment are "Apartment Sized”. They have a smaller seat and do not allow you to sit for longer times at an island area; and many are backless, which will shorten the time you find yourself wanting to spend at an island.  In today’s Great Room Style living, the island area is the very gathering spot for families and friends.  It is crucial for a designer to make sure to provide comfort as well as create the desired "look" and the Hedgerow chair successfully allows for both.”

We look forward to working with Dora again as she uses the Hedgerow design in a current project.  It also pleases us to know that the style and fit of our Hedgerow bar chair has not gone out of fashion, providing some proof that a well-designed and comfortable piece of furniture is timeless.

To view the Hedgerow furniture collection as well as our complete collection of architectural hardware, 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

An inspiration takes form as Martin works on a sculpture

We have mentioned numerous times on this blog of how inspired Martin is by beetles, moths, lizards and other creatures, along with their unique habitats.  This is evident in many of the bespoke hardware designs found in our collections. One of the most fascinating creatures are beetles.  We have studied many of them and even owned a pair of Hercules Beetles we fondly named Boris and Natasha.  While they are no longer with us, they did provide Martin with a great deal of information as to their form and lifestyle and he has begun working on a one-of-a-kind sculpture partially inspired by the study of Boris and Natasha.

Martin is making a large sculpture of 2 fighting stag beetles. The concept came from a piece he did many years ago in England.  He carved this piece out of ebony as this wood is close in color to the stag beetle and also, because at this point in our careers we had neither the money nor the audience to sell such art pieces cast in expensive bronze. It is our hope that there may now be an audience for a bronze sculpture such as this.  The current sculpture is of 2 stag beetles in battle on a large piece of bark.  One problem we have encountered was how to cast the bark.  We thought we could actually use a nature made piece so we went in search of a suitable tree.  We have an amazing Pepper tree in our front garden but could not use it without fear of damage. So we got in contact with our arborist ----- Victoria Monson and her husband Daryl of C.O. Arboritsts and they very kindly offered to keep us posted of any suitable trees they were felling. So when a large oak was marked for felling Martin drove to Pasadena and chose the best section of trunk to use as a pattern for the bark sculpture.

The photos follow the process of preparing the tree trunk, shaping it so that it could be used as the pattern for the bark sculpture.  Normally Martin would actually sculpt his patterns from "thin air" as his creative imagination came to life in wax or wood. But since there is a lot of beautiful bark available he decided to manicure an actual tree trunk.

In order, these photos show how he chose the section and then chiseled it to essentailly form a trench. The next step was to make a barricade around the recessed trench by nailing strips of wood to form an outer wall and the last photo shows how the trough was filled with clay to make this area level.

The next step in the sculpting process will be preparing the mold...

To view our entire collection of architectural hardware or custom bronze sculptures, 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

Details of our trip to Pt Reyes California

Well we were certainly not disappointed in spotting wildlife, beautiful vistas and even an occasional beetle on this trip to Pt. Reyes, California.

On our hikes we came across California poppies, lupins and thistles and even I had to hold a Darkling beetle.  As you will see in weeks to come, while this specific beetle is not the one Martin has used in the sculptures he is currently working on, like all beetles he finds them riveting and I must admit I have caught his enthusiasm.

We discovered that we could walk 9.4 miles if the views kept us motivated, and they surely did.

We started out prepared with a huge sandwich big enough for 2 from Perry's Deli in Inverness  and began an amazingly scenic and surprisingly easy walk along the Tomales Point Trail.  This is the trail that takes you through Tule Elk Preserve and follows the ridge line of a peninsula bordered on the west side by the Pacific Ocean and on the east by the calmer waters of Tomales Bay.  On our visit here last summer we saw a herd of elk when we took the Muddy Hollow Trail but this time we were able to get up close and almost  personal with a very tolerant herd who viewed us with cool indifference.

We also came across this one horned juvenile elk and just had to take his photo. Apparently elk and deer go through one pair of juvenile horns before they get their "permanent" set and when they are shedding the first set it would appear that they don't necessarily drop off at the same time, hence the one horned phenomena. Neither this buck nor his companions seemed to find his lopsided quality odd or humorous, but we did.

Apart from the amazing Elk we also saw a Northern Harrier  Hawk catch a very fat rat and 2 windswept ravens enjoying the views; all  this in a setting that,thankfully, had very few other humans.

We returned with our friends to the tranquility of Osprey Peak Bed and Breakfast where our hosts David and Nancy had left the necessaries for us to brew some hot tea. The bed and breakfast is situated in a dense wooded area just outside Inverness and spoils us with vistas of thick foliage on the edge of a ravine.

To view our collection of architectural hardware, as well as Martin's sculptures, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Designers can visit the showroom located at:

5433 W. Washington Blvd.

Los Angeles, Ca  90016