How Iris enjoys the dog days of summer

August is one of those interesting months in which summertime activities come to a screeching halt yet work activities have not picked up the pace.  I think people must be hesitant to let summer go so, even though school is back in session in many areas and lazy days are over, we just can't seem to get in the mood to go back to work. Iris, our pit bull, certainly agrees with the idea of enjoying one final month of summer.  Although, if truth be told her days are really the same all year round--eat, sleep, play, rinse and repeat.  Oh to be able to enjoy the dog days of summer for just a few more weeks!

Here is Iris barely able to keep her eyes open while she naps in the warm southern California sun.

As you can see, her days never really change as here is Iris trying to stay awake in August of 2013!

One of her favorite past times is to play with her boyfriend Hoyt the corgi.  She is looking longingly for  him from the front steps of the warehouse, their favorite spot to meet.

And, finally, Iris whiling away a sunny afternoon.

Martin is making progress on the bust of Iris that he has been working on.  He decided to carve it out of walnut and it should be beautiful.  I will share details as the work progresses.

In the meantime, if you would like to view our entire collection of custom hardware, please visit our website at www.martinpierce.com.

Summer getaway recap--Part 3

We wanted to give you one last opportunity to take a look at all that Santa Barbara County and the Simpson House Inn have to offer so you can plan your own trip. As we mentioned in Part I and 2 of our vacation recap, the Simpson House Inn is a great choice for a weekend getaway, especially when you live in nearby busy and noisy Hollywood as we do.  We enjoyed relaxing and enjoying the beautiful gardens but we were also able to get out and hike the many trails that are nearby and even enjoyed a solitary day on Carpinteria State Beach.

We also found time to visit a spot we often come to when we are in Santa Barbara, the Botanic Gardens.  The historic man made dam which is the life spring of these gardens was created back in 1807 to supply the local mission with water.  It remains as part of the gardens, which were developed in the 1930's.

We have visited these gardens twice before over the last 15 years but have never seen them as dry as we did on this visit due to the drought in California.  However, the one watering hole we did find was home to a turtle who obligingly posed for a portrait shot.

Alas, as you can see in the photo below, water was not present in the creek and this poor tree was left suffering from soil erosion and exposed roots.

However, there is still plenty of plant and wildlife to enjoy as this little sparrow proves; offering Martin plenty of enjoyment as well as design inspiration.

We were also able to take a longish hike along the Cold Springs Trail that takes one high into the local Santa Ynez Mountains.  We had escaped the heat of LA and exchanged it for the cooler climate of Santa Barabara.  But even this terrain is showing the effects of the drought as we found boulders and exposed tree roots in areas where the creeks should be flowing.

The trail was almost empty on the eastern ascent and we saw few hikers.  Predictably , after our 90 minute hike we returned to Simpson House Inn for their cold lemonade.  The perfect finish to a perfect day!

To view our entire collection of architectural hardware, many pieces inspired by trips like this, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

An opportunity to find some design inspiration right here in southern California-Part 2

During our recent stay at the Simpson House Inn we were able to take advantage of all the opportunities to view and enjoy the natural areas that surround Santa Barbara in the form of hiking trails, state beaches and botanical gardens. Our fascination and interest in birds was certainly satisfied on our daily nature trips.  One such outing found us on the nearby Carpinteria State Beach.  We actually had the place all to ourselves for most of our visit.  With the exception of one lone human being,

the only other living creatures we saw were those with wings, pincers or fins.  For example, the ever-present seagull.  Have you ever noticed how they always seem to strike a pose?

Curlews flying in formation near the ocean's surface--no doubt hunting for a tasty morsel

and the prehistoric looking and always fascinating to watch Brown Pelican

This part of the California coast features outcroppings of rocks that are home to many species including this little crab Martin found in one of the rock mounds.

We certainly came back with plenty of design inspiration as well as an appreciation of this beautiful country and state we live in.

To view our entire collection of architectural hardware that includes birds, lizards and other creatures from nature, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.  We can also design a bespoke piece that will personalize and customize your next project.

Flowers are in bloom at Martin Pierce Hardware

There is no better time than during the warm months of summer to take the time to stop and smell the roses.  In other words, enjoy the beautiful flowers that are blooming all around you.  It is easy to spot them----well tended gardens in your neighborhoods, over-stuffed window boxes of local businesses or those blooms that grow wildly in the nearby fields.

We have always enjoyed and appreciated the beauty of different flowers.  So much so that Martin has created many different "varieties" of architectural hardware in floral motifs that are so lifelike you will be tempted to bend down and do a sniff test.  Sadly, there is no fragrance but you can enjoy the beauty of these flowers all year round, nevertheless.

Daisies are such a lovely little flower that conjures up feelings of carefree days spent at the park.  Our bronze daisy drawer pull will add just the right amount of femininity to a hip clothing boutique, day spa or a sunroom or conservatory in a beautiful home.

Few flowers are as elegant or as sophisticated as an orchid.  Enjoy the beauty of these flowers without all the worry and effort that goes into the care of these delicate blooms with the addition of our silver plated orchid and orchid stem drawer pull.

Don't let summer end without taking the time to notice the flowers in your area.  Visit a local botanical garden, stroll through your downtown area or just take a walk through your own neighborhood and see how many varieties of flowering plants you can identify.

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

It's a bug's life at Martin Pierce Hardware

A while back we shared with you our quest to find inspiration for new projects we were working on.  You can review that post here.  Since that time we have welcomed some new family members to our home.  The purpose was to study their habits, their form and their nests but, truth be told, Martin is enjoying his new friends.

These are Hercules beetles that we have named Boris and Natasha as they joined our household when the Olympics were being hosted in Russia this winter.

Boris, the male is easy to recognize as he is the proud owner of a pair of horns of “Herculean” proportion, hence the name of the species.

Natasha is less flashy and a bit camera shy.  As there is no competition in the terrarium they have been forced to accept each other and occasionally we have witnessed something vaguely approaching amorous behavior.  Yes, we are definitely guilty as charged of imbuing these scarabs with human emotions.

What can we tell you about our 5 months with the couple?

• They like banana and mango and, most recently have developed a taste for peaches.
• They have very poor table manners.  Once they discover they like a particular fruit they quite literally immerse themselves in it and use their mouth parts, which look like hairy brushes, to suck up their food. They can remain immersed for hours.
• They are generally nocturnal and when we look at them in the daytime we spend quite a lot of time turning over mulch to find them.
• They need a very moist habitat so we spray water into the terrarium every couple of days.
• When they emerge from the soil they are dark but become lighter with exposure to UV light.
• Conversely, when they are sprayed with water they turn darker.
• As a result of all of the above we have a fair number of fruit flies that require we clean out their soil quite often.
• Last but not least, when you stroke Boris he hisses and Martin finds this “cute”.

You will recall that we gave away ten of our scarab beetle drawer pulls at the recent 2014 HD Expo.  Both Diana Kouzouian of Kouzouian's FCF. Inc., and Carlita Anderson of Josh Held Design walked away as the proud owner of their own beetle.

As a teaser I will let you know that Martin is currently working on a fantasy painting of beetles and I will share his progress as we go along.  So, how do you feel about these prehistoric creatures?

To view our entire collection of architectural hardware in beetle and other animal forms, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Part 5--a step by step process of creating custom door hardware

For those of you who have been following along with this process, you will remember that we had reached the shelling stage in part 4 where the waxes had been encased in silicon shell and were ready to move on to receive the molten bronze. The goblets were the first part of the handle to be cast and, thankfully, we only needed to make one pattern that, with just a few minor adjustments,  would work well for both the left and right facing figures.

We then moved onto the 2 figures.  Having made 2 molds, one for each figure, we made wax replicas which we proceeded to shell.  The biggest challenge with the figures was how to devise a way to mount them to the cast goblet.  As they were separate castings we decided to attach the figure by drilling through the goblet into the hand of the figure so that we could thread and weld a small bolt to hold the figure firmly in place.  As we discussed in part 3,  the back of the goblet was cast separately and the reason for doing so was so we would have good access to the figure from inside the goblet.

The castings were then prepared for assembly as pairs to be mounted back to back onto glass doors. The client wanted to use 2 pairs as he had double glass doors in his wine cellar.

For strength we decided on 2 mounting posts for each handle, one to support the top portion of the goblet with a post attached to the goblet and the other post attached to the figure at hip level.  If you look at the photograph of green wax figures you will see the mounting post.

Once cast the solid bronze posts are drilled and tapped and we create a 3/8” diameter bolt that is threaded at one end and blank at the other. As these were being mounted back to back, the threaded end was screwed securely into one post and the non- threaded end was passed through the door into the post of the other handle.  The figure was then held in place by drilling a hole through the wall of the post into the bolt and inserting a threaded Allen screw.

As you can see from the almost finished product, these doors are going to create a spectacular entrance to the client's personal wine cellar.

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

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.

Hospitality designers create beautiful boutique hotel in Sweden

We have shared with you how much we enjoy our client who resides in Scandinavia; Norway to be specific.  So it is no wonder that we were fascinated with this new boutique hotel that just opened in neighboring Stockholm, Sweden. Boutique hotels are often smaller in scale than the large chain hotels and offer beautiful and inspiring interiors with unique and modern amenities including beautiful artwork, on-trend color schemes and custom hardware.  The Nobis Hotel is a beautiful example of an inviting boutique hotel and, in our opinion, is set in one of the world's most beautiful cities.

Through the process of combining two neighboring townhouses, the design firm of Claesson Koivisto Rune created a modern dream that brilliantly celebrates the beauty of the original 19th century architecture while offering contemporary interiors that cater to the needs of its sophisticated clientele.  Upon closer inspection you will spot design details that include contemporary furnishings with fine Egyptian linens, soothing colors and all the necessary electronic set-ups the modern traveler requires.

We are proud to have provided other luxurious boutique hotels with custom hardware that celebrates the hotel's location, design scheme or a client's individual brand. Some of our favorites include the orchid pulls and bespoke stylized Hawaiian bird hardware or the custom hardware for the W Hotel in Sensota Cove, Singapore.

To view our entire collection of custom hardware for your next hospitality or contract project, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Colorful powder coated hardware

We discussed our efforts to produce a durable and colorful new addition to our Morphic collection in a previous post through the use of powder coatings.  We are now pleased to share with you the newest offering in custom hardware from Martin Pierce:

In response to designers requests for a bolder statement in architectural hardware, we have designed this version of our Morphic pull with an impressive 32" height and an easy to grasp 2" diameter; the 316 stainless steel offers a rust resistant and durable finish.  This pull can now be further customized with a powder coated accent  in your choice of color. We are showing it in hot orange but we are able to work with designers to use a custom color or, for the hospitality market, perhaps a color associated with a client's specific brand to further enhance their corporate image.

This new piece, along with many of our customers favorites (and maybe a surprise or two) can be seen in our booth #4659 at the 2014 HD Expo in Las Vegas Nevada beginning May 14th and running through May 16th at the Mandalay Bay Hotel.  We look forward to seeing you there and hearing your comments on this new and colorful powder coated door pull.

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

Martin Pierce invites you to join us at the HD Expo 2014

Our invitation that recently appeared in the HD Expo newsletter:

Martin Pierce would like to invite you to come join us at HD Expo 2014.

Click here to register for free.

COME SEE OUR NEW DOOR HANDLES BOOTH 4659

This year we will be introducing our latest Morphic door handles in 316 stainless steel and bronze and will be offering you the choice of custom powder coated colors. We will also be debuting our first prototype LED handle, geared to those in the luxury hospitality market, we expect this illuminated design will become a signature statement. As a company we offer a full range of door hardware that includes trim for electronic key cards, bathroom and cabinet accessories and styles suited to all genre of boutique hotels be they contemporary, classical or transitional.

Booth: 4659 Contact: Anne Pierce, CEO Email: anne@martinpierce.com Phone: (323) 939-5929 Website: http://www.martinpierce.com

The first 20 visitors to our booth will receive a bronze cabinet pull!

Add color to your hardware with a powder coated finish

 

We will be debuting several new pieces at the upcoming 2014 HD Expo and one that we are particularly excited about is the new powder coated interior of our Morphic cylindrical pull. We have chosen the vibrant hot orange color shown above from Prismatic Powders but, as with all of our architectural hardware products, your choice of color can be customized to meet your needs.

Powder coating is an extremely durable way of adding an accent color to hardware, specifically the pieces in our Morphic series where the colored, powder coated finish will be visible through the openings in the design.

As its name suggest, powder coating is achieved by shooting powder onto a metal surface that has been specially prepared to receive the powder.   The process involves masking off the areas you want to be free of color and then baking on the applied color at a fairly high temperature.  This is a common finish for patio furniture as well as for hot rod motorbikes. The biggest design advantage is that it allows you to add your brand stamp to our products i.e. a commercial setting that has a brand color, thereby reinforcing the client's brand.

As a company we offer a full range of architectural door hardware that includes trim for electronic key cards, bathroom and cabinet accessories and styles suited to all genre of  boutique hotels be they contemporary, classic or transitional.  To see our new powder coated hardware as well as a sampling of our custom hardware, stop by our booth #4659 at the HD Expo or visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

2014 HD Expo Countdown and a great giveaway

Well it is hard to believe that the first quarter of 2014 has come and gone and here we are in April.  Not sure about where you live, but in Los Angeles the sky is blue and the winds are brisk, typical spring weather, and the Jacaranda trees and desert flowers are in bloom. We are busy preparing ourselves and our products for the trip to Las Vegas to join designers, architects and hundreds of exhibitors at the 2014 HD Expo, held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Convention Center.  We will be occupying booth #4659 this year and are excited to share not only some of our more popular items but we will also be debuting some new pieces of architectural hardware that we know you will enjoy.

On top of all that, the first ten visitors to our booth will receive one of our scarab or dragonfly drawer pulls to use in their own home or office.  These little functional pieces of art feature exquisite detailing that makes them a joy to look at and handle.

Some believe that the scarab beetle represents the rising sun and is a symbol of development and growth but we see it as a unique drawer pull that will add interest to your custom hospitality design projects.

Martin Pierce will be on hand to discuss your individual projects so we look forward to speaking with each of you.

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

Oh the joys of organizing oneself for a trade show--Part 1

When you attend a tradeshow such as the HD Expo there is always an Exhibit Hall chock full of pretty booths that proudly display the wares of the exhibitors.  The room is full of light and energy and is an exciting place to be.  But for most exhibitors, such as ourselves, there is a tremendous amount of work that goes into organizing and setting up the booth before the convention participants enter. Fortunately for us, the HD Expo is "local" (Las Vegas), allowing us to rent a van and make the relatively short 5 hour trip with our display in tow.  As we are a small custom hardware company with a somewhat high end niche product we are very “hands on” in the design, set up and time spent in the booth during the Expo.  Larger companies will often invest considerable sums of money to create very slick and elaborate booths.  By comparison, our focus is on showing key pieces and debuting new pieces; and while our booth is certainly pleasing, the emphasis is squarely on the product.

Martin Pierce is on hand, making it possible for hospitality designers and architects to meet him and personally discuss their projects to find out the feasibility of customizing our designs to meet their needs.  So you will meet both Martin and Anne Pierce in booth #4659 this year (as in prior years).

As I mentioned earlier, a tremendous amount of work and stress is involved in creating a pleasing booth.  Choosing the right combination of both signature and new pieces to squeeze into a 20'x10' booth is challenging.  It is for this reason that we attend just one show a year; so we search for a show that focuses heavily on the professional design community who are, after all, our patrons and those who specify our work to their clients.

We like to debut new pieces at the show but there is a process in deciding what pieces are ready for their debut.  There are several stages involved in launching a new piece including several prototypes necessary to get it "just right".   Add to this the marketing of the new pieces which begins with professional photographs, a digital CD (handed out at the show) along with a newly designed CD cover. And, of course, the website must be updated with these new products before the show.  Finally, we will prepare a press release that will get digitally distributed through the shows website.

Whew...I am tired just writing it all down.  In our  next post we will share a checklist that keeps us organized before, during and after the show.

If you would like to view our collection of custom architectural hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.  And be sure and stop by our booth #4659 at the 2014 HD Expo next month.

1. 

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 Update

While we are very busy working on some new projects that we cannot wait to share with you,  we are also very busy pulling things together for our booth at the 2014 HD Expo that is just 60 days away!

We are anticipating a wonderful experience at the Expo.  The venue is always great (Mandalay Bay Hotel & Convention Center) and as we have said, we are looking forward to meeting up with old friends from past Expos as well as make many new friends.

When you stop by our booth #4659 you will be able to see firsthand many items from our custom architectural hardware collections and new items that we are very excited to share with you.  For example, if we can get through the bureaucracy involved, we hope to debut an LED lit door handle from our Morphic collection that will serve many of your clients in the hospitality and commercial industry.  And, the first ten visitors to our booth will receive one of our custom drawer pulls.  In the past we have given away frogs, butterflies and daisies and we continue the tradition this year with one of our dragonfly or scarab beetle pulls.  These little works of art will add a touch of springtime to your desk or cabinet.  See you there!

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

Day trips from Los Angeles--The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens

Like many people who live in a large city, we often feel the need and desire to get away from it all and take a day trip to someplace peaceful and quiet.  One of our favorite destinations in the Los Angeles area is the Huntington Library in  San Marino.  With an amazing art collection and several breathtakingly beautiful gardens, there is always something to see or be inspired by on every visit.  We often make this quick 30 minute drive to seek inspiration and just enjoy the beautiful surroundings. As the seasons morph from winter into spring there is abundant new life in the gardens. Spring is the perfect time to visit and see the recent changes made to the lovely and tranquil Chinese Garden.  Two new pavilions will be host to visiting musicians for afternoon concerts and there is a new rock grotto with an amazing path that takes you underneath and behind a waterfall!

Whether you are seeking some design inspiration for an upcoming project or your own garden, or simply looking for an afternoon that does not involve crowded shopping malls and fast food restaurants, the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens is sure to delight. Enjoy some of our own photos taken on a recent visit.

Butterflies and birds are always a welcome sight in the gardens.

These tree roots remind us of the design of our Hedgerow Collection of architectural hardware.

To view the items in our Hedgerow collection or our entire selection of custom hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Green design trends for 2014

Architects, designers and builders all have a responsibility to their clients to create an environment that is healthy and safe, all the while preserving natural resources, air quality and the surrounding community.  The design community has done a good job of following the three "R's" of the "movement" --renew, reuse, recycle, as well as attempting to use local suppliers and reducing the use of toxic materials, all with an eye on preserving Mother Earth.

However, while the "green" movement is hardly new, it is a topic that is ever-changing and should be discussed on a regular basis as we have done in posts here and here.  Currently, global warming and changing weather patterns have many developers and designers trying to find ways to harness the'earth's natural resources in an efficient manner without depleting the diminishing supply.  On the horizon:

• Automated systems that result in energy efficiency.  The future will see many "cloud based" systems for the ultimate in energy and cost savings.
• Solar power will continue to gain popularity in both commercial and residential buildings.  Tax breaks, grants and other funding will make these systems more attainable for small builders and homeowners.
• Zero net energy is the new buzz word.  Simply put, it means a building uses as much energy as it creates through on-site renewable resources.  While usually still dependent on the electrical grid, these buildings harvest solar and wind power and reduce usage of the electrical grid through highly efficient HVAC systems, for example.
• We can dim the lights and design automobiles that use less gasoline but we cannot live without fresh water and those resources are certainly being affected by the changing weather patterns.  Engineers and scientists have their plates full as they try to come up with ways to reduce the damage to the atmosphere that has resulted in the change in weather, along with methods that eliminate waste and are more efficient.
• LEED consideration will extend to the "greening" of existing buildings.  Owners will be charged with the removal of dangerous products but also required to disclose any dangerous chemicals and products on site, along with any green methods put into place to correct the problem(s).

A combination of carefully considered design that is not only aesthetically pleasing but is safe for occupants and visitors in public buildings, considerate of special needs of those who might be physically challenged as well as an aging population and is sensitive to the need to conserve energy and preserve natural resources will result in buildings and rooms that will leave a positive mark on the community.

We do our best to recycle products, dispose of waste and conserve whenever possible.  To view our entire collection of architectural hardware and custom furniture, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Design inspiration from Mother Nature

Mother Nature has certainly given us all a lesson with this year's extraordinary weather throughout the world.  Unprecedented snowstorms and below freezing temperatures have hit the eastern portion of the United States while unseasonably warm weather has wreaked havoc with winter sports at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia.  But, along with unusual weather patterns, she also provides us with extraordinary inspiration for color combinations, sculpture and other forms of artwork and design.

We often talk about how nature inspires Martin's designs.  For example, our popular Hedgerow  furniture and architectural hardware collections were inspired by the trees and shrubs found in our native England.  Our Ascot series of custom furniture features beautiful patterns of leaves and vines using the ancient japanning technique of inlay.  We offer many custom hardware pieces inspired by insects and other living creatures and Martin is currently working on new paintings that include one of his favorite subjects, the beetle.

If you are searching for design inspiration for a project, it might be a simple as taking a walk in the park, a hike in your local mountains or just open your own back door to come up with the perfect jumping off point for your color, hardware and textile selections.

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

Corrected HD Expo booth number for Martin Pierce

Ooops...my bad.  We have decided to occupy a larger booth at the upcoming HD Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada and our booth number has been changed to #4659 from the previously mentioned #4756.

We look forward to seeing all of you at the Expo where we will debut several new pieces as well as share some of our more popular collections of custom hardware.

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.