What is all the custom hardware buzz about?

We recently received this letter from the Greenfield Second Church in Greenfiled, MA regarding their annual Beefest:

Hello Martin Pierce Staff:  Your nature-themed products are stunning. I am boldly writing to inquire about a donation of bee or butterfly item for our Community Bee Fest raffle to be held June 7, 2014.

WHY would you want to do this? We are losing millions of bees each year to colony collapse disorder which greatly impacts the farmers’ ability to grow fruits and vegetables. Our community Bee Fest, now it its 4th year, is an attempt at public education with a real purpose. Rev. Lorenzo L. Langstroth was pastor of our church in Greenfield, MA, in the 1840’s. He created the “Langstroth moveable frame beehive” still used by 80% beekeepers in the world. We honor his contributions by holding an annual “Bee Fest” with bee education, children’s crafts and a Pollinator Parade and by lifting up the serious challenges bees are facing worldwide. Bee researchers from the University of Massachusetts will give short talks on their research for adults which includes both interested local residents and New England beekeepers.

To give back to our community, our church is organizing 5 raffle baskets of donated bee-themed products. Proceeds from the raffle, after expenses, benefit SNAP (food stamps) and Heifer Prject Int’l (to purchase honeybees for families in 3rd world countries).

If you are willing to donate either a dummy bumblebee door knob or butterfly pull, we would be so grateful. If you are interested, please add product brochures for guests to order directly from you-I am sure they would be as delighted as I am to find your company!  This event is growing in scope and numbers and we expect about 450-500 attendees this year. www.greenfieldsecondchurch.com]

We appreciate your kind consideration.

This interesting fundraiser is dedicated to something near and dear to Martin's heart----the humble Bee.  We also liked the fact that some of the raffle proceeds go to the Heifer Project International to help purchase honeybees in 3rd world countries; and more generally that this Bee Fest helps raise awareness about the challenges bees are facing.

Bees have always been important in Martin’s art work as seen in his first bee sculpture of a bee landing on an orchid.

We are both fans of bees, even after being stung.   Iris, however, who was recently stung, does not share our viewpoint but, then again, name me a pitbull that does!  One of our favorite bees is the black carpenter bee which we first encountered back in 1978 when we were on a camping vacation in Santorini Greece. It is this bee that was the inspiration for the bumble bee handle from our Netzuke collection that we donated.

Carpenter bees are large bees that are distributed worldwide. There are some 500 species of carpenter bee in 31 subgenera.  Their name comes from the fact that nearly all species build their nests in burrows in dead wood, bamboo, or structural timbers. Wikipedia

To view our entire Netzuke collection and other custom hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Having fun at the 2014 HD Expo

The 2014 HD Expo is in full swing and there is so much color, so many lights and hundreds and hundreds of friendly people.  Our new products have been well-received and all of our giveaway bronze drawer pulls were quickly snatched up by the first twenty visitors to our booth. Here is just a sampling of some of the creativity that surrounds us in the Exhibit hall.

I am sure booth #1435 got several responses to this ad!  And to delight the child in all of us, there is a Lego table set up that appears to be getting a lot of attention.

And at the end of the day this is the view we see of the Las Vegas strip as we fall, exhausted, into bed.

To view our entire collection of custom architectural hardware, including the items you have seen at the HD Expo, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

2014 HD Expo here we come!

We have arrived in sunny, and HOT, Las Vegas Nevada and are busy setting up the booth for the 2014 HD Expo scheduled to open Wednesday, May 14th.  We mentioned in a previous post how involved it is to ready oneself for a stay in the exhibitor hall of a convention like this.  And while all of the "details" have been taken care of we are in the throes of physical labor setting up the booth and fighting the small fires that go along with a project of this magnitude.

Progress continues....the banner is up and is a fine representation of our new Morphic entry lever with a powder coated and colored accent that we will be debuting at the show.

Please be sure to stop by and visit us in booth #4659, and be sure to come by early as the first twenty visitors to our booth will receive one of our scarab beetle or dragonfly drawer pulls.

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

Final countdown to 2014 HD Expo

This year has flown by and we now find ourselves just one week away from the 2014 HD Expo at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. For the past several months we have shared with you new ideas we hope to debut at the Expo like our colorful new powder coated Morphic cylindrical pull; as well as some of your favorites from our custom hardware collections that we will bring along.  And, to top it all off, we are offering a wonderful giveaway to the first twenty visitors to our booth #4659----one of our beautifully detailed dragonfly or scarab beetle drawer pulls.

A visit to our booth will make it possible for you to see in person all of the hardware pieces you have viewed online.  There is no better way to experience the exquisite carving, realistic detailing and the hefty weight of metal than in person. Please stop by our booth to view our hardware and to say hello;  and make sure to come by early to pick up one of our giveaway bronze pulls.

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

HD Expo 2014 is just around the corner

In just three short weeks we will be on our way to sunny and warm Las Vegas, Nevada to exhibit at the 2014 HD Expo.  We can be found in booth #4659 and are anxious to share many new products with you as well as some of our most popular architectural hardware collections. We are offering a giveaway to the first 20 visitors to our booth.  Those early visitors will receive either a bronze scarab drawer pull full of exotic mystery or a whimsical yet realistically detailed bronze dragonfly drawer pull.  Either one of these items will add a custom touch to a cabinet door or desk drawer or can just sit on your desk to be admired.

We look forward to your visit to booth #4659 and to hear your thoughts on our custom hardware products.

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

5 things the "ordinary" person can do to honor Earth Day 2014

Earth Day 2014 is/was April 22, 2014.  On this day individuals, businesses and communities from around the country are given a reminder to take a look at their personal and business practices to see how they measure up when it comes to environmental issues.

While there are many rules and regulations handed down to manufacturers, builders and other businesses to adhere to, the ordinary person can also make a contribution to the environmental movement; thereby making this world a better place to live for current and, maybe more importantly, future generations.

1. Perhaps the easiest way to live a green life is buy locally--locally grown, locally manufactured and locally created.  This not only reduces transportation costs and energy usage, it benefits the local economy by keeping your dollars in your own neighborhood and keeps your neighbors employed.
2. Even easier than buying locally is to monitor your thermostat.  Turn the heat down during the colder months and place an extra blanket on the beds; and turn the heat up during the warmer months.  Experts recommend a comfortable 68 degrees during the daylight hours in winter  (and a good ten degrees lower when you go to bed) and 78 degrees when you are home in the summer and completely off when you leave the house.
3. These days water conservation concerns are at an all time high.  Many states, including California, are suffering from drought conditions that have been present for years. There is no better time to replace water wasting fixtures like toilets, faucets, shower heads and appliances, with energy efficient products.  This might even result in some tax savings next year so check your individual state and local regulations and requirements.
4. Properly dispose of electronic and toxic waste.  Many communities and businesses offer electronic waste "fairs" that make it possible for you to drop off old computers, televisions, cell phones, printers and other electronic equipment as well as empty paint and varnish cans, and other toxic materials that could harm the environment if placed in the landfills.
5. We have all seen the commercials wrapping the earth in disposable water bottles. Reusable water bottles and shopping bags will reduce this waste by the ton.

Other ways to live an eco-friendly life:

• Recycle as much as possible
• Repurpose or reclaim old wood and metal into other usable items
• Use natural fibers in upholstery and rugs such as hemp, wool, cotton.
• Use natural latex and/or recycled foam in upholstered items
• Choose low VOC paints and stains

And, best of all, plant a tree!

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

10 tips to help you organize your trade show booth--Part 2

 

In our previous post we discussed all that is involved in being an exhibitor at a large trade show such as the 2014 HD Expo.  We have developed this checklist that may help you organize the process and actually enjoy yourselves:

1. Select the size and type of booth you will be renting.  Will it be a corner booth, how close to the entrance is it, are there complimentary exhibitors nearby etc?
2. Decide which pieces you will be debuting and which signature pieces to take
3. Design and make the plinths and mock-up doors that will display your pieces
4. Design the fabric banners that will separate and enclose your booth
5. Decide how much to spend promoting your booth at the show. This is in one of the most expensive aspects of the show as it involves upgrading your listing on the official website by adding images that can be showcased on the site; enhancing your appearance in the official Show Guide with a full page or half page advert; promoting attendance at your booth by means of a physical postcard mailing etc.
6. Arrange transportation for both you and your products.  Fortunately for us we are within driving distance so we rent a van and drive to the show 2 days before the show begins.  This allows us plenty of time to set up the booth.
7. Book accommodations – we always rent a self-contained flat so we can have our breakfast and dinner in a quiet and calm environment.
8. Rent a lead retrieval system so that you can scan and record details about people visiting your booth
9. Rent necessary chairs and tables from the show administrators
10. On arrival find out where you need to unload your van and if you are able to use the “caddie” system to get your products to your booth. This is very effective as you literally pay the staff by the trip to move your pieces on a small electronic cart. If you have larger displays then you will have to crate your goods, organize a shipping company and hope that nothing gets damaged. You also will have to pay substantially for what is known as “material handling” which is the cost of getting your crate delivered to your booth. We have been down this road before and as a result re-designed our booth to easily “break down” into easily manageable components.

We would love to hear your input on how you handle your booth as an exhibitor or what you as a participant look for from exhibitors.  And to view our entire collection of custom hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com  See you in booth #4659.

Interior design trend alert--Paisley

 

Paisley is making a big comeback in both the fashion and interior design world.  This ancient design is fondly remembered by many of us as the favored fabric of the bohemian world during the turbulent sixties and seventies.  At that time it was used for both clothing and textiles for home decor and provided a way to rebel against traditional designs like damask and other popular patterns favored by the "establishment".  Apparently unbeknownst to the rebellious youth, this teardrop shaped design had been around for centuries.

Originating in Iran in early 200AD, it was known as the Boteh Jegheh.  The stylized floral design is believed by historians to be a combination of tree and floral symbols that represent life and eternity. Interestingly, the western world favors the term paisley, which comes from the Scottish town of the same name that produced the woven textiles once they were introduced to the British Isles by travelers and sailors.

This versatile pattern mixes well with both contemporary and traditional styles. Therefore, both residential and hospitality designers are utilizing this exotic symbol in many ways.  Paisley patterned fabrics are available in all colorways and weaves and will add a sophisticated look to window treatments, upholstery, wall coverings and room accents. Oriental and Persian carpets, antique and new, often utilize this symbol in either an overall design or in the border.

Stylized floral patterns, like paisley, have played a large role in many of our architectural hardware designs.  For example, our popular Hedgerow collection is Martin's interpretation of the hedges and bushes that were so familiar to him as a child growing up in England.

Have you used the paisley pattern in any of your recent projects?

If you would like to view our Hedgerow hardware or our entire collection of custom hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

HD Expo countdown continues

We hope you enjoyed (and survived) the St. Patrick's Day festivities in your area but all good things must end and it is back to work for us. Along with the custom items for our hospitality designers and architects that we are working on we are busy preparing for the trip to Las Vegas and the 2014 HDExpo.  It takes a lot of work to create an inspiring booth that allows visitors to view our products up close and personal. We will be sharing many pieces from various collections as well as debuting some new items that we are very excited about.

A visit to our booth #4659 in the exhibitor hall not only provides you with an opportunity to view our custom architectural hardware collection, the first ten visitors will receive a custom drawer pull for their very own!  One of our scarab beetle or dragonfly pulls will be awarded to those first ten visitors so make sure to stop by, say hello and receive your gift; we look forward to meeting you.

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

Taking a break at Martin Pierce Hardware

Although we are very busy working on current projects,  it is not all work and no play at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware, as you can see by this video of our beloved dog Iris enjoying a bit of tug-of-war with her buddy Hoyt. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxebO8_3kZlgaWh1ekVDeFBESjBaaXdCUTJpOGpQelV0c3pv/edit

Hoyt, a corgi, lives in the building next to ours and has become a favored playmate of Iris'.  If I cannot take a break from work and get out of the office/studio myself, the next best thing is watching these two enjoy the simple things in life--friendship and fun.

Do you have fun-loving pets in your home or office?  We would love to see your videos.

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

2014 HD Expo---just seventy days away

We are continuing to countdown to the 2014 HD Expo and our trip to Las Vegas.  When we registered in January, May seemed a long way away.  But we now realize that we have just a bit over two months to pull our booth together!! This will be our third year in attendance and every year brings new relationships and contacts as well as the opportunity to reconnect with many of you who have attended and/or exhibited in the past.

As is our tradition, we are offering a fun giveaway to the first ten visitors to our booth #4659.  Each of those early visitors will receive one of our scarab beetle or dragonfly drawer pulls!

These finely detailed pieces of drawer hardware will add beauty to any application you choose i.e. a desk drawer, a cabinet door, a small box or simply as an objet d'art to enjoy.

Be sure to come by and say hello and view our collection of custom architectural hardware as well as some surprises we have in store.

Southern California rains bring desert wildflowers to life

It is no secret that, along with other west coast states, California has been suffering from a serious drought for quite some time and the unusually warm winter certainly did not help matters.  But we woke up this morning to the sound of rain on the roof and wet sidewalks-- with the promise of more to come this weekend! While this rain was so necessary for all the obvious reasons, it will also result in some pretty amazing changes in the local mountains and deserts and provide much inspiration for artists such as ourselves.  Residents and visitors alike look forward to the transformation of the desert from dull brown hills and plains to a rainbow of wildflowers in full bloom.  You can follow this transformation and plan a day trip via the information provided by DesertUSA.com.

Our state flower, the California poppy, covers the hills in spectacular shades of orange, yellow and red.

Yellow blooms merge with purple that merge with blue and red to create a carpet of color in the early spring months.  It will not be long before these desert areas are brown and arid once again but, for a brief moment, this harsh landscape becomes a candy coated dream.

If your home or hospitality project would benefit from the beauty of custom floral knobs, pulls and levers, or if you would like to view our entire collection of architectural hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com

Join us at the 2014 HD Expo

My how time flies!  We are less than 90 days away from this year's HD Expo, held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.  We have been excited to watch the anticipation grow as vendors post information about their new products and expectations for the event on the HD Expo facebook page. We will debuting a couple of new pieces of custom hardware including our Morphic cylindrical door handle imbedded with LED lighting.  Imagine how the addition of this lighting can enhance your hospitality projects by not only improving the appearance of the facility but also the safety of it's occupants.

And don't forget---the first ten visitors to our booth #4659 will receive one of our scarab beetle or dragonfly drawer pulls.  These miniature works of art will add beauty and luxury to your desk drawer and make you the envy of everyone in the office.

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

How do you feel about free stuff?

When we say free, we mean absolutely free.  And while our hand-cast, custom hardware items hardly fall into the category of "stuff" we are offering a giveaway this May.  All you have to do is stop by our booth #4659 at the 2014 HD Expo and say hello.  The first ten visitors will receive one of the following: One of our medium sized scarab drawer pulls.  These creatures have an interesting and mystical history behind them that will add a touch of the exotic to your desk, closet or anywhere you decide to use this beautiful hardware.

For those who prefer a touch of springtime, our beautifully detailed dragonfly pull will add a piece of the garden to a writing desk or a hint of whimsy to the powder room.

First come, first served and we look forward to visiting with all of you.

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

2014 design trends for the hospitality industry

As we familiarize ourselves with all the aspects of LED lighting, it will offer many opportunities for the innovative designer or architect to introduce it into their designs.

Bellacor Lighting recently discussed upcoming trends specific to the hospitality industry: "Interior design trends this year are influenced by the sometimes dueling forces of technology and nostalgia. On the one hand, technologies like LED's are influencing not only how lighting works within a space but also how it can look and where it can be utilized. Meanwhile, our longing for simpler times is creating a demand for mid-century modern design as well as simpler lines, natural materials and calming textures." These ideas will influence which products manufacturers place on the market including textiles, lighting, hardware and case goods.

Here at Martin Pierce Hardware we are in the process of developing a door pull with LED lighting embedded in the handle.  Our Morphic cylindrical door pull is the perfect candidate for this new technology as the cutouts that are part of the design offer a natural spot for the lights to shine through.   Our plan is to debut this innovative custom hardware at the 2014 HD Expo in May.  Please stop by our booth #4756 and see if this unique design will fit into your current projects.

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

Where to find us at the 2014 HD Expo

We recently shared with you our excitement about attending the 2014 HD Expo at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas Nevada.  We will setup residence in the exhibit hall and can be found in booth #4659.

Many of you have visited our booth at past events to view our custom hardware as well as see new products being debuted at the Expo.  This year will be no different as we will be debuting several new pieces.  We are particularly excited to share our new Morphic cylindrical door pull complete with LED lighting in the handle.  Not only will this make it easy to locate the door handle in a hotel, spa, nursing home or retirement facility for your hospitality clients, it is sure to cast a beautiful shadow due to the cutout pattern of the Morphic design.

So be sure and stop by our booth #4659 to introduce yourself, say hello and see what we have in store for 2014.

Chinese New Year 2014---Year of the Horse

Another Chinese new year is upon us and 2014 is the year of the horse.  The official new year begins with the arrival of the new moon on January 31, 2014 amid celebrations that include street festivals and art fairs so check your local community to see what is being offered.

In Chinese astrology a horse year is believed to bring good luck and good fortune amid a wild ride of financial fluctuations throughout the world.  Whew!  In reality, that does not seem much different than every other year but I certainly hope the good luck and good fortune hits all of us in the interior design world.

As our products enjoy a worldwide presence we are hoping that the international "financial fluctuations" are all positive.  Here is a list of spots where our custom architectural hardware pieces are currently being enjoyed:

Candy and Candy, located in London, England, chose to have many of our cabinet pulls silver plated for one of their residential clients.  Also in England, the musical group "The Prodigy" selected our Bee passageway sets from our Netzuke collection for their studios.

HOC Architecture and Interiors out of Valencia, Spain chose several of our Willow and Hedgerow sets to decorate various suites in a spanish villa.

A residential client in Switzerland enjoys our sycamore leaf pulls in her home while artist Bruna Arpea from Milan, Italy chose various insect and animal pulls for her bathroom.  We are able to enjoy her artwork as well as we have many of her pieces proudly on display in the dining room of our home.

The W hotel in Singapore, through The Rockwell Group, chose our pieces to use in the entry and other public areas of the hotel.  And we are currently working with Anna Marie Chen of Deco Locks in Panama to set up a showroom and introduce our work to Central America.

Other projects scattered in various spots around the world are in the works and when we are able, we will be excited to share that information with you.

If you would like to view any of the products mentioned above or see our entire collection of bespoke hardware please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.  And we hope that 2014, the year of the horse, brings good fortune and financial stability to all of us.

Our holiday adventure in Idyllwild, Part two

As we mentioned in an earlier post, we decided to head to the local mountains of southern California for a quick holiday getaway and, of course, Iris joined us on this adventure.

Idyllwild is a lovely mountain community located just a little over 100 miles east of Los Angeles in the beautiful San Jacinto mountains.  It provides a quiet and peaceful escape from the traffic and noise of the city and offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, rock climbing or simply enjoying the vista from one of the local restaurants or your own cabin.

We stayed in a rather luxurious 3 bedroom house/cabin with a fantastic fireplace.  We had expected others would be joining us, hence the large abode.  We found this rental through Quiet Creek Vacation.  It had a lovely view of Lily Rock one of the amazing “rocks” or mountains that form a focal point to the Idllywild vista.  We were also very close to Humber Park and thus to the very scenic Ernie Maxwell Trail which is a great 2.5 mile trail (one way) that passes through rocky terrain with great open skies and many different types of tree including the beautifully twisted Manzanitas to fresh smelling pines.  Sadly, the drought has made many of the trees susceptible to an invasive bark beetle that requires the trees be destroyed.  However, one of our goals for 2014 is to focus on Martin's art and he is currently developing ideas for a beetle painting so the nesting grounds that are created from the fallen leaves provided inspiration for texture and background for his paintings.  Something good comes from everything!

After a day of long walks we felt we deserved to eat at some of our  favorite spots including pasta at Cafe Aroma, a regular for us.  And, if you are lucky enough to be there on a Monday night you will get to hear local live jazz.  After our long walks we would often splurge and eat sticky buns and lemon mascarpone slices at Honey Bunns, delicious home made cooking at its best!

How did you spend your holiday break?

If you would like to view our entire collection of architectural hardware and bespoke furniture items, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com

Iris enjoys a trip to the local mountains

It has been quite some time since we shared any of our adventures with our beloved rescue dog, Iris.  But she did join us on our winter "escape" to the local mountains during the holidays and really seemed to enjoy the cooler weather and higher altitude of Idyllwild, California.

Iris is a canine of few barks.  In fact, she rarely barks; although on this occasion she would use the wrap around deck to issue the odd bark at a passing hiker.  How dare anyone pass on her trail!

She shows off her hiking skills in this photo of her easily and bravely crossing a log:

and in this photo where she has clearly picked up the scent of some local critter or, more likely, a delicious morsel of food.

Many of you may recall that we adopted Iris from a local rescue organization, The Rescue Train.  They have many dogs like Iris looking for new homes so if you are in or near the Los Angeles area and are looking to add a new member to your family, be sure to check them out.

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

Merry Christmas from Martin Pierce Custom Hardware

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

                                                                      Merry Christmas!