door hardware

Patina Artistry

In the course of the working week as I pass through the small studio here at Martin Pierce, I am often captivated by the workmanship of our patina artists. The assembly of like pieces that I see are images I wanted to capture as they are both very beautiful and can be captured in our small photo light box.

We started photographing our work as a way of keeping a diary of the different projects and new developments and with the help of a professional photographer learned some of the basic techniques of how best to shoot our work. Our photographs are taken with a Canon EOS Rebel T3 with a zoom lens inside a 5-sided white light box using  rows of small LED lights for an evenly dispersed downward light beam. The light box is housed inside a small dark room with almost no natural light. For stability the camera is placed on a small tripod. The camera is not state of the art and an equally good photograph could be created using a mobile device but what is critical is the light box and even distribution of light.

The willow friends shown above are being prepared for a new home in northern California and they are part of the handles we are making for 11 pairs of double doors that will be locked with an Anderson multi-point system. The Hedgerow and Willow collections were specified for the doors and the cabinet pull selections have been from the orchid and beetle and willow collections. In subsequent posts I will detail how we created 2 custom turn pieces to work with the Anderson lock.

Detailed Door Hardware

Occasionally we have the pleasure of working with a design company that shares the same detail-oriented focus and commitment to exceptional door hardware as we do. Over the last year we have had the pleasure of working  with Chiara de Rege and her all female team to develop custom pieces for her discerning clients. Based in New York, the company’s clientele spans both coasts with design services for residential and corporate clients.

 Our collaboration with Chiara de Rege  on an Upper East Side residence resulted in the creation of a unique collection of door push plates and door levers. The traditional  Willow series was whimsically re-invented and enhanced with flying creatures from our animal  collection of cabinet knobs. The resulting door push plates and interior door handles were selected from several initial designs that paired smaller insect, bird and frog pulls with the Willow back plates.

The design team were renovating a residence using the existing doors that had astragals and panel mullions  that reduced the workable free area of the door and limited the backset depth of the latch.  With these considerations in mind, we focused on the Willow and Hedgerow exterior backplates, both being narrow and having smooth areas that could be enhanced by the addition of a small creature .

 

Some of the designs considered are shown below. Once the design genie was released, we had a lot of fun experimenting with different cabinet knobs and with insects flying in different direction. While our preference and that of Chiara’s design team was on flying insects, leaves and flowers could work equally well for those who have an insect phobia.

 

Unique Handles - How Form Follows Nature

Like many others we have just visited Borrego Springs to see the flowering cacti season which is now nearing it’s end for spectacular blooms. The red ocotillo are still to be seen with their spiky protrusions guarding their bright tubular flowers and some of the yellow brittlebrush were also in bloom but as we discovered there is more to the desert than colorful flowers.

 

When hiking through the sandy gravel terrain over hills and into dry stream beds what was equally beautiful to see were the dried mummified remains of the jumping cholla and the wreath like roots of the dying ocotillo plants. The jumping cholla bears an incredibly strong textural similarity to our Morphic door hardware and you would be forgiven for suspecting that Martin used this as his inspiration for this series. In truth the Morphic collection was consciously  inspired by ocean coral but Martin Pierce is quick to admit that a stray image of the cholla plant may well have been lingering in the depths of his subconscious. In any event Anza Borrego springs is an inspirational haven for all and well worth a visit.

 

The area is dramatic and arid and at this time of year still not too hot to hike in during the early morning and evening hours. Borrego Springs can also be extremely windy and this helps keep the air clean and makes the night sky perfect for star gazing.

 

Enjoy a virtual tropical vacation with our nature inspired door hardware

                                    Tropical Patio by New York Architects & Building Designers Ike Kligerman Barkley
While many of you across the U.S. and Canada are digging yourselves out of yet another winter storm we are continuing to bask in unseasonably warm weather here in Southern California.  I don't share this to make you feel bad but, rather, to introduce you to some of our custom hardware collections that will have you dreaming of blue skies and warmer climates.

Few places on earth have the variety of foliage and flowers as Hawaii.  The islands are alive with colorful hibiscus, the state flower, leafy green ferns, elegant orchids, fragrant plumeria and exotic protea.  We designed our orchid pull in silver plate that offers the ultimate in luxury for a client's island home.

The height of elegance, Martin Pierce's silver plated orchid stem pull.  Notice all the grooved areas. Martin Pierce Hardware

Along with amazing beaches and the unbelievable landscape, the islands are also alive with tropical birds and other native animals that have sparked fun and mysterious folk-lore tales.  Along with the orchid pull, we designed a whimsical version of a Hawaiian bird to be installed on the same property.

Hawaiian bird knob from the Hawaiian custom hardware collection of Martin Pierce hardware

To compliment this truly bespoke collection our Animal grouping features lizards, geckos, frogs and other tropical creatures that all signify warmer weather ahead.

To begin your virtual tropical vacation you can view our entire collection of architectural hardware at www.martinpierce.com.

Get to know your entry door hardware up close and personal---backplates

A front door is something we all have in common.  And while the appearance of our entry door hardware varies from building to building, they all have parts in common.  Let's break it down and review the proper terminology and purpose of this very necessary hardware. lizard multi point door lever from Martin Pierce Hardware

Back plate or to some, escutcheon: The plate to which a door handle, be it a lever or knob, is attached, making it possible to open the door. The back plate was often referred to in England and Europe as an escutcheon plate which tends to imply that it is more decorative.  The back plate not only is the mounting for the handle but it also covers up the "guts" of the lock in the door be it a tubular lock or mortise lock.

At Martin Pierce  our back plates are extremely decorative and very stylized.  They are designed to continue the artistic style of the handles.  With our lizard handles shown in the photo we designed a back plate to look like the bark of a tree; our Willow knob uses a circular back plate or rose in the form of overlapping willow leaves; the Hedgerow handle uses a back plate that has fretted sections at the top and bottom that are stylized tree branches.

Willow collection from Martin Pierce Hardware

Hedgerow Collection from Martin Pierce Hardware

Our entire collection of custom architectural hardware for both entry and interior doors can be seen at www.martinpierce.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An exciting year ahead for Martin Pierce Custom Hardware

A new year always offers up the opportunity to sit back and review the past but to also look forward to what the next 12 months might bring.  Just six days into the new year and we already have plenty of things on our calendar guaranteed to keep us busy providing you with the perfect custom architectural hardware pieces for your upcoming projects.  Here is a little peak into our 2014 agenda: Morphic door pull from Martin Pierce Custom Hardware

  • Let there be light!  We will be hoping to light up our Morphic cylindrical pull with small LED lights placed inside the cylinder, and debuting this amazing piece at the 2014 HD Expo in Las Vegas.  This new advancement will be so useful in nursing homes, hotels, and residences for not only the aging or impaired; but for anyone concerned about safety or for those looking to add something new and different to their project.
  • We will also be releasing a new smaller Morphic pull in bronze and debuting this piece at the HD Expo as well.
  • We will be very busy at the Expo this year introducing you to all these new products, including a new Ergo inspired lever that will function for a glass door. In  most cases, lever style hardware does not work on glass doors as the latch has to pass through the door but we are in the process of developing a surface mounted latch that will enhance the beauty of your glass doors.
  • Martin will be developing more of his art pieces.  His paintings are fantasy pieces that depict imaginary insects with imaginary human figures and will be offered in limited edition prints or possibly giclees.  Martin will also be moving forward with fantasy insect sculptures in bronze that will be released as limited editions.  Very exciting!
  • As mentioned above, we will be exhibiting at the 2014 HD Expo during the week of May 14-16th and will provide more information as to our location in the Exhibit Hall etc. in the coming weeks.  This will be our fourth visit to this convention and we are looking forward to seeing old friends and making new friends.

That is our year in a nutshell.  What does 2014 hold for you and your business?

If you would like to view our entire collection of custom architectural hardware and other products please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

 

Dissecting door hardware

Door knob from the Ergo Collection of custom hardware from Martin Pierce Custom Hardware

When is a door knob just a door knob?  Never!  There are several components that come together with the end result being the door knob you or your customers take for granted several times every single day.

If you were to dissect a door knob you would find:

  • Door Lever – you depress the door lever or turn the knob to activate the locking mechanism. There are springs inside the lever and knob that return it to its resting position

  • Back plate - also known as an escutcheon plate. This is the decorative metal cover that usually conceals the mechanism that allows allows the door lever to function. Each manufacturer has their own way of making the lever functional but there is a lot of commonality.  For example, the “stem” end of our door levers is cast and machined so that it is a square hole that accommodates an 8 mm square spindle. This “8mm on the square” spindle has its roots in Europe but most of the really top notch American lock companies, the premier being Accurate lock, use this configuration in their mortise locks so we have too. Alternatively the spindle can be diamond shaped and is often 7mm. One end of the spindle fits snugly into the end of the lever or knob and it is held in place by various springs, screws and clips. The other end passes through a hole in the back plate and then goes through the door into the lock regardless of whether it is a mortise or tubular lock, and then passes through to the end of the lever on the other side of the door. 

  • Rose - typically used for door knobs it is the equivalent of the back plate but, as its name suggests it is round in shape.  Many of our custom decorative roses are organic and tend to be irregular in shape.  The rose is also used to house the cylinder lock, again serving the purpose of concealing the moving parts.

  • As with many items we encounter in our daily lives, you can see that an ordinary door knob is anything but ordinary and involves a great deal of creativity to make them work properly and in an attractive way.

  • If you would like to see some of the pieces shown above or view our entire collection of architectural  hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

The beauty of textured hardware

We often talk about the shapes and forms our custom hardware pieces take.  Inspiration is derived from flowers, greenery and nature's critters, resulting in beautifully detailed and amazingly lifelike pieces.  But often, all a business or residence needs in their hardware is a wonderful texture and dimension.  The custom hardware pieces in our Textured collection meet that need in a sophisticated and stylish manner. Rectangular pull from Textured collection of custom hardware from Martin Pierce

In order to achieve this look the shape (rectangle, square) is cut into a block of dark blue wax and the pitted or dented texture is accomplished by chiseling out a series of small scoops in the wax to create the mold.  Once cast we use either steel or wire wool over the entire surface to soften the edges and acute angles.

The combination of simple design and beautiful detailing make this collection perfect for use in either a rustic or contemporary setting.  The round pull is available in large and small and is comfortable on the hand and easy to grasp.

Large round pull from Textured collection of Martin Pierce Custom Hardware

To view the entire Textured collection along with our other architectural hardware products, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Glossary of door hardware terminology

Did you know there was a glossary for hardware?  Today's post is not a test but, rather, information that will help you make an informed decision next time you purchase door, window and drawer hardware. Most of us are certainly aware of the definition of door knobs, drawer pulls and deadbolt locks but there are several other terms that are unique to the hardware industry that are important to know, especially if you will be making any hardware purchases in the near future.  Let me help you out just a bit by defining some door hardware terms:

  • Keyed cylinder:  This is the lock mechanism that requires a key to activate and open or lock the cylinder.
  •  Cover plate:  Some people feel that the mechanical or functional appearance of the deadbolt cylinder distracts from the artistic trim and prefer to conceal the face with a cover plate.  In the case of the Hedgerow cover plate shown below, the plate itself is smooth and a cover plate has been designed to blend into the back plate. The same idea of a smooth design appears on our Lizard collection cover plate in which a cover plate was designed to resemble a stone or rock that a lizard might lounge on.  (don't overlook the butterfly "lunch" waiting for the lizard as well)  
  • Hedgerow cover plate from Martin Pierce custom hardware

  • Stone cover plate for lizard collection

  • martin pierce gecko hardware
  • Personally, while I understand that perfection is a good goal to have in one's aesthetic arsenal, I prefer the cylinder face to be exposed.  That way, when I get home and my arms are full, I can easily get my key into the cylinder, especially on dark evenings.  But, then again, I freely admit that I do not have the manual dexterity of others.
  • Deadbolt versus spring bolt. Wikipedia does a good job of describing the difference. A deadbolt lock, which is a more secure lock, cannot be moved to the open position without turning or rotating the lock. This is typically turned with either a key or on the inside of the door with what is termed a “turn piece”.  By comparison,  a spring bolt holds the lock in place with a spring which is activated by pressure, for example, by turning the door knob or depressing the door lever.  This type of lock is often used in powder rooms where one locks the door from the inside by pushing in a pin. In this instance the pin is fixing the spring and preventing it from being turned by someone on the outside of the door.  The spring bolt can be used with door knobs or door levers.  To really complicate things, quality hardware such as ours is sometimes outfitted with an "ancillary spring" that accommodates the larger or heavier door levers and allows it to be more easily depressed.

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

Hospitality design trends for 2013

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend that included time spent with family and friends as well as some bargain hunting if you were so inclined.  Now it's back to work....

The hospitality design industry is on a never ending quest to determine what their discriminating clients and guest are seeking and then figure out how to deliver it to them.  This process can be tricky as the goal is to provide all the amenities necessary for guests and create a memorable experience, all the while maintaining individual brand identity.

Guests of boutique or upscale hotels are always looking for a unique experience that provides all the comforts of home while they are far from home, either on business or visiting for pleasure.  There are several ways hospitality designers can create an environment that insures and enhances this experience and still meet the needs of the corporate parent as well.

  • Spa like bathrooms offer a respite from the harsh realities of daily life and business and "spoil" the guests with items such as large soaking tubs, exquisite linens and luxurious bath products at their fingertips.
  • Inviting and comfortable lobbies that not only create a positive first impression but also provide a gathering spot for guests during their stay.
  • Consumers continue to be interested in seeing that businesses they support maintain an energy efficient and even an eco-friendly environment.
  • The use of local craftsman and artists' work in the design of a hotel will enhance the experience of guests.  Large  photos of the surrounding areas or sculptures and artifacts that celebrate local cultures are just one of the many ways hotels are able to introduce their clients to the area.
  • Small details like custom door and window hardware, hand-made furniture, high quality linens and personalized items that meet a guest's individual needs will set your hotel apart from your competitor.
  • Many hotels are looking to attract local "staycationers" who do not want to roam far from home but are looking for a pleasant getaway.  Design that, again, celebrates the local countryside and/or culture will provide a romantic anniversary getaway or make a family reunion more memorable.

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.

5 easy ways to update your outdoor entry for fall

Autumn is a time to settle back into familiar and comforting routines and to enjoy the anticipation of the months ahead.  What better time to update your outdoor entry than during the fall months when the air is cooler and the days are just a bit shorter.  Here are a few quick ideas that can be accomplished during these shorter days.

  1. One of the easiest ways to update your outdoor entry is with new door hardware.  Take a look at your existing hardware.  Is it pitted, tarnished or simply out of date?  If so, add some hardware with a bit of personality or in a new finish that can update the entire look. 

 2.  Paint is always an easy fix.  Go for something eye-catching like a bright red door or something a bit more sophisticated such as glossy black  or cool gray.   This color can be used on both the front door and any surrounding molding or window trim for a unified look.

 3.  Something as simple as a new doormat can work wonders.  Choose a beautifully monogrammed mat to welcome guests or something purely functional such as a coir mat that will catch the dirt and debris before it enters your home.

 4.  Add some life to your entry with the introduction of flowering and/or evergreen plants.  These plants can be switched out with the seasons by replacing last summer's daisies with colorful mums, for example.

 5.  It is amazing what a simple broom can do to turn an ordinary outdoor entry into an inviting greeting for your guests.  Sweep away all the dust and dirt and don't forget those pesky cobwebs that form under the light fixture or around the door and window frames.  Don't overlook the door itself.  It could probably use a good dusting every now and then as well.

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

Celebrate summer with whimsical Martin Pierce custom hardware

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

martin pierce bunny knob

martin pierce bee knob

martin pierce lizard lever