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

A mid-summers getaway to Pt. Reyes

One of the amazing things about living in California is that you do not have to go far to find a change of scenery or climate.  Such is the case for us as we travel north to Pt. Reyes National Seashore, located in Marin County.  This beautiful part of northern California provides us with a change from the sandy and smooth beaches of southern California to a more rugged coastline ripe for exploration and cooled by the breezes and fog from the Pacific. We will be taking some lovely long hikes and hope to again see herds of wild elk and maybe see a stag as we did last year, which is just such a magical experience.

Elk spotted on hike at Pt. Reyes park in California. Photo by Martin Pierce Los Angeles, CA 90016

Bird spotting is just a given and any insects we find along our path will, of course, be photographed.  You never know what new  custom hardware products will be inspired by this trip!

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, CA  90016

323 939 5929

How does a new product evolve at Martin Pierce Hardware?

The process of designing and developing new products is a timely one.  A new idea may be inspired by something we have seen in nature, on our travels or as a result of a client's specific request, which was the case when we created these amazing door handles for a private wine cellar.

One of the new products we are currently working on is adding LED lights to our small Morphic handle and while it may seem like an easy task, it is anything but easy!

• We must first re-design and make a new pattern that is 5% bigger than the current one we use in order to accommodate an LED bulb.  This is one of the ongoing research and development costs that are inherent to any creative manufacturing process. Fortunately, we enjoy what we do and actually get a real buzz from improving a product or offering an alternative to an existing product.
• While there are plenty of LED lights on the market the one we are testing is certified for use in wet locations, which is important for any door handle.
• During the design process we must find a style that we both agree works for the new product.  Currently we have 5 designs for new caps on the pulls but have not been able to agree on which one is best.  Not to worry as we both know that when the right one is drawn we will both know it!  And since Martin is a doodler by nature, coming up with new designs is no problem.

We are also contemplating adding an LED light to the Morphic Heroic pull. This will not be easy and may well prove too costly.  The molds for this piece are very difficult  to make and there are several molds used in one handle. We need to figure out how to increase the diameter of this piece so it is large enough to house a small LED light.

To view our entire 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

Hotel and travel expectations of today's millennials

Millennials, also known as Generation Y, are defined as "a person reaching young adulthood around the year 2000."  They have taken over, in numbers, the Baby Boomers, making them a generation to be reckoned with!

Tech savvy and hooked on social media, the number of young adults in this group is estimated to be around 80 million!  That is an awful lot of travellers with very specific expectations when they do travel.  According to a survey conducted last year by Chase Card Services, whether for business or pleasure, this group of sophisticated young adults search for specific amenities when looking to book a hotel.  By familiarizing themselves with these expectations, hospitality designers can create spaces that they will, hopefully, return to time and again and share positive experiences with their fellow millennials via social media.

• Access to spas, massages, gyms and other luxury amenities
• A pet-friendly hotel
• Personal services such as dry cleaning
• Easy access to public transportation.  At the very least, shuttles that will pick up and drop off
• Reward programs are important to this group of travelers, especially those that offer elite status
• A tech friendly environment.  This group is not shy about posting about their experience as well as seeking the opinion of others before making hotel selection
• Well-designed lobbies that allow guests to meet and interact.  New and bold designs and ideas will attract their attention.

To view our entire collection of architectural hardware that will add that all important detail and touch of elegance to your hospitality projects, 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 finds a home in sunny Florida

With every single project it is, of course, necessary for us to focus our attention on the details surrounding the project i.e.location, design details etc.  But there are wonderful people behind the scenes that we are privileged to work with.  Such is the case with this southern Florida residential project. We were approached by Theresa Wright, owner and principal designer of Interiors and Silks in Marco Island, Florida about some custom door hardware for her client.  She and the builder, Kevin William's Construction, Inc., have worked together for many years and came together once again to create a beautiful, one-of-a-kind home for their mutual client.

Theresa has been an interior designer on Marco Island, Florida for the past 20 years and is always searching for unique items for her clients.   In her words, having found our bespoke hardware pieces "...was a dream come true for me and my clients. I appreciate the artistic value of what you and your husband create.  My client, being an artist herself, truly understands the time and thought that goes into making something this extraordinary.  Thanks for creating this for us. The door hardware is the "crowning glory" on the spectacular, custom made one-of-a-kind front entry door".

We provided Theresa with pieces from our Willow hardware collection, including our new cremone or surface bolt, as well as front door hardware from our very unique and unusual Hedgerow collection.  We look forward to sharing photos of this completed project as soon as they are available.

You can view the Willow and Hedgerow designs, along with our entire collection of architectural hardware on 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 Birthday America!

If you are not already familiar with the history or the reason behind the celebration of July 4th, you can read all about it here. Regardless of whether you celebrate with a patriotic concert in the park, a family backyard barbecue or enjoying a small town parade, the day is certainly set aside to allow us all to reflect for a moment and then celebrate in an all-American manner.

Enjoy!

To view our entire collection of architectural hardware, you can 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

A surface bolt and matching doorbell complete the Willow door hardware collection

Exterior doors are designed to allow you and your guests access to a building and make it possible to enter and exit said building.  And since every building obviously has a door, if not several,  people do not give them much thought.  During the design of the building you make decisions on door and hardware style, location and the finishes such as paint color and whether you want bronze or steel hardware.  But it is also necessary to consider security and ease of operation when it comes time to select your door hardware.

Door knobs, levers, backplates and locks are all part of a door's hardware and, like every successful team, they work together.  However, some door configurations require additional items.  For example, double doors for styles that include french doors, interior cabinet doors and dutch doors will also need a surface or Cremone bolt that is designed to keep one door in place when the adjoining door is open.  We have added a cremone bolt to our Willow collection, making it possible for you to fully coordinate the hardware in any space.  We recently paired this collection with magnificent Hedgerow Heroic Trees entry door pulls for a spectacular look.

Hospitality and residential designers alike know that attention to detail is the key to a well-designed space and the coordinating Willow door bell seen in the center of the photo above will add that all important detail to any project.

To view each of these collections, along with our entire 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

Summer has arrived and we have vacation plans

The summer solstice arrived at exactly  9:39 a.m. on June 21, 2015 marking the official beginning of summer for those of us who reside in the Northern Hemisphere.  Both the summer and winter solstice have historically been celebrated by ancient civilizations, including one of the oldest celebrations that took place in Stonehenge located in our native England.  But for many people, including ourselves, it is a signal that it is time for a vacation!

While our travel dates are not exactly a summer vacation, we will be traveling to Istanbul for one week in late September and can hardly wait!  I am trying my best not to think about it too much so I can stay focused on work.

This trip is, in part, inspired by our visit to Granada last year and the exposure to Moorish architecture along with the incredible work of famed architect Antoni Gaudi; all of which whetted our appetite to discover other architectural treasures. Needless to say we will be taking in the phenomenal architecture Istanbul has to offer and, like every good traveller, sampling the food.

Where are your summer vacation plans taking you?

To view the entire collection of architectural hardware at Martin Pierce, 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

Closer to home we will be going up to Point Reyes in July.

Drought gardening update

Our dream of a lush green lawn and garden like the verdant gardens at the Simpson House Inn seen here: have been dashed by the severe drought that California has been suffering for several years now.  Instead, we recently shared with you the process of turning our once green backyard into a drought tolerant "oasis" by allowing the grass to slowly turn a lovely shade of brown

and we are now the proud owner of a well-groomed patch of dirt

This brings us to the planning stage of the new drought tolerant garden.  To begin, we are mapping out the area to decide which areas will be pathways and which areas will be plant areas.  We find the most difficult part of this task is deciding on the "look" we want for each area.  What colors do we want to use, how tall should the plants be and which plants we want in the foreground and which ones do we want to place in the background are all topics earnestly debated.  We seem to be going in circles so it is back to the drawing board as we carefully re-draw our map and compare it to the dirt patch that is our current reality. We must then establish the location of the plants and lay down the drip lines of the drip system that we will be using to deliver water. Once the lines are installed it will be necessary to stabilize the dirt with a layer of decomposed granite.  The pathways will be created with pavers and somewhat compacted sand and the planting areas will receive a top layer of pea gravel.  We are searching for a pea gravel that doesn’t look as if it just arrived from a building site.   As you can see in the photo, we have made good progress on the grading of the back garden and Martin has dug down and removed a section of soil so that we have a seating area that looks into the garden.  We both agree that we would like to replace our archaic ceramic bird bath with a modest water fountain but since we want the water to be running and recycled we now have to think about getting power to that area of the yard.  The planning continues.......

To view the entire collection of architctural hardware at Martin Pierce, 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

Biophilia and biomorphism in interior design

We were so interested in the concept of biophilia design that we were introduced to at this years HD Expo and we shared our newfound knowledge and our new dragon egg wall sconce with a design that echoes this idea in a post here.

But the whole idea of furniture and "functional art" created in shapes inspired by nature and organic elements is an interesting one that I discovered has really been around since the mid -twentieth century  in a movement called biomorphism which  Wikipedia defines as:

Biomorphism is an art movement that began in the 20th century. It models artistic design elements on naturally occurring patterns or shapes reminiscent of nature and living organisms

Once you become aware of this artistic endeavor it can be easy to spot examples in the design of furniture, lighting, textiles and even in architecture.  For example:

This unique chair designed by Marc Newson and available through Christie's  auctions is designed to showcase the beauty of the wood and actually looks very comfortable.

Biomorphism can be easily translated into fiber and textile art as seen in this organically shaped, woven wall hanging  crafted of natural materials such as pine needles by artist Patti Chamberlin.

Biomorphism finds its place in architecture with the innovative design of the Selfridge's Department Store in Birmingham, UK, designed by Future Systems in which straight edges normally used in architecture have been replaced with more biomorphic rounded edges.  Also appreciate the juxtaposition of old meets new with this modern building sitting right next door to an old church.

Many of our own bespoke furniture and custom hardware designs reflect elements of biomorphism as well.  Martin has long been inspired by the shapes and movements found in nature, particularly in plants, birds, insects and other creatures and this is evident in the designs he creates.  For example, the rectangular dining room table from our Hedgerow collection with table legs and apron featuring the naturally occuring marks and shapes of a tree.

If you are interested in discussing a custom design for your hospitality design project or would like to view our entire 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

How to garden during California's drought

If you live in California you are painfully aware of the drought we are suffering and all the bad news that word conjures up.  As a result of new California regulations mandating water restrictions it has become necessary for all of us to make some adjustments.

As we are both from a country that is usually  too wet for words it is not surprising that we grew up with a fondness for green grass. Even though we moved to a seemingly arid city we still had an aesthetic dependency on that beautiful green substance.

In hindsight it appears we were not the only people who felt our small bit of Los Angeles could be kept green and, indeed, we buried our heads in the sand and clung to our nostalgic memories and to the hope that this would be the case.

Sadly,that is not the case so, after giving up the sprinklers which resulted in our “lawn” turning brown it seemed the time was right to embrace a deeper meaning of green.  Martin was still in denial hoping that some temporary solution could be found but eventually he conceded the dead lawn had to go.

The result is that we have decided to rip out the ugly brown grass and replace it with an orderly variety of succulents, paving stones and decomposed granite. With that as our goal we have photographed the old garden and will keep you posted as we move forward.

Not exactly the lush green landscape you expect from a home located in southern California.  But we have high hopes that the new plan will be just as beautiful in its own unique way.  Photos to follow.

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 CA  90016

323 939 5929

2 newly discovered wineries in Paso Robles California

Iris is not the only one in our family who enjoys visits to Paso Robles. We are fortunate to have close friends in this area but on our most recent trip we decided to play tourist and give our friends a break from our company.

When you travel it can sometimes be difficult to find a really informative website that covers topics like where to stay, the best restaurants, hiking trails and other activities, but PasoRoblesWineries.net is just such a website. It is easy to navigate, is comprehensive and, better still, can be used on your smart phone, allowing you to make those spur of the moment changes.  And, personally speaking, it allows me to deal with a husband who says he does not like to plan holidays but still expects them to be hassle free and fun!  They also have a great blog where I was pleased to discover a recent post about wineries that welcomed dogs, making it possible to visit with Iris.

Here are a few highlights from our long weekend that may help you find places to sample and purchase wine, all the while enjoying the beautiful natural surroundings.

1. A visit to Sculpterra Winery & Sculpture Garden. Not only is ones palate stimulated but so is ones imagination. As you may know Martin is ,in his “spare” time, pursuing his sculpting and is currently casting 2 large stag beetles that we will be sharing with you soon.  Therefore, we were thrilled to discover this artful winery located in the eastern portion of Paso Robles which is an area we are just beginning to appreciate. Some of the bronze sculptures were created by sculptor John Jagger and their scale and movement is quite awe-inspiring.

2. Lone Madrone is also a great winery to visit and is located in the bucolic landscape on the west Adelaida side of Paso Robles. The winery is run by a fellow ex-patriat Neil Collins who, over the last few years, has  brought his heritage and his fondness for cider to fruition with his  Blackbeard Cider.  True to its roots it is a hard cider with plenty of flavor but also a little buzz to it.

To view our beautifully detailed Grapevine series of bespoke hardware for your next wine cellar or winery project, as well as our entire collection of architectural hardware, 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

Recycling and a new use for old wood

The concept of recycling is certainly nothing new.  In fact, the idea of reusing products actually dates back to ancient times but we are more familiar with this process as recently as World War I when rationing and recycling metal, for example, was necessary to our survival.  However, during the 1960's and 70's as we became more aware of the impact certain activities and products had on the environment, it was "trendy" to be environmentally conscious, as it were.  Labeled "The Green Movement", industry and individuals began to search for ways to live that would decrease the impact our existence has on the earth and the motto "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" was born.

Designers, architects and retailers in the hospitality design world have a unique opportunity to make a difference by applying this motto to their own projects.  For example, one of the many trends that made an appearance at this year's HD Expo was the use of reclaimed wood.

Strolling through the exhibitor's hall we saw reclaimed wood used in many creative ways both in the products being shown and in the construction of the display booth itself.  One would expect a company like Urban Evolutions  to utilize reclaimed products in their own designs and they did not disappoint.  Their booth and the furniture located inside the booth were all constructed from reclaimed products, giving everything a unique and environmentally friendly look that is so appealing.

Here at Martin Pierce Hardware we do everything possible to produce our products in an eco-friendly manner and are happy to see that so many of our fellow hospitality industry partners do the same.

To view our entire 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

Biophilia and interior design

One of the true highlights of the 2015 HD Expo this year was the time we spent and the very enlightening conversation we had with artist Ted Morrison.  A visit to his website will be worth your time. Ted introduced us to the concept of biophilia, defined by Wikipedia as:

“means "love of life or living systems." It was first used by Erich Fromm to describe a psychological orientation of being attracted to all that is alive and vital.^[3] Wilson uses the term in the same sense when he suggests that biophilia describes "the connections that human beings subconsciously seek with the rest of life.” He proposed the possibility that the deep affiliations humans have with other life forms and nature as a whole are rooted in our biology. Unlike phobias, which are the aversions and fears that people have of things in the natural world, philias are the attractions and positive feelings that people have toward organisms, species, habitats, processes and objects in their natural surroundings.

This is such an interesting concept especially in the way it pertains to the arts.  This idea can certainly guide and inspire future designs as we begin to better understand the way our clients are drawn to the "things" that appear in their natural surroundings including plants, creatures, animal and insect habitats etc.  In truth, Martin has always been interested in studying the habitats of the subjects of some of his designs and we have shared some of our trips to the local mountains to locate these habitats with you.

During the Expo Ted attended a round table seminar where designers and show attendees discussed how, on its simplest level, biophilia offers an explanation as to why curved and fluid shapes are more pleasing to people and more relaxing, if you will, than straight- edged pieces.  He returned to our booth after the lecture and commented that we must be “ahead of the curve” as the Morphic and Ergo designs were inherently “biophiliac designs”. While the compliment was well received, both Martin and I pay tribute to the Art Nouveau movement for much of our design inspiration and think this  period was perhaps the most biophiliac movement we have seen in centuries.

One of our new designs attracted a lot of attention at the HD Expo, our new Dragon Egg sconce, and with its membrane like cutout pattern certainly falls into the biophiliac category.

To view these items as well as our entire 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

Recipients of our 2015 HD Expo giveaway

We were thrilled to be able to hand out ten orchid knobs to the first ten visitors to our booth at the 2015 HD Expo.  Some of the recipients included:

• Enrqiue Crespo of CASA NOVA DESIGN GROUP
• Michael Nicola of Makram inc.
• Deborah Mayne of CHARLES RAMM ASSOC INC

This beautifully detailed silver plated knob can be used on a desk, cabinet or file box as a reminder of their visit to this year's Expo.

Floral inspired custom hardware will enhance many different hospitality and residential projects including spas, hotels, particularly those located in a tropical or warm locale, retail establishments and vacation homes.  Along with the orchid knob, our Flora collection features daisies, trumpet flowers, vine and leaves or you can opt for custom designed hardware that will be unique to your project and celebrate special qualities, brand etc.

To view our entire 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

next post

discuss biophilia and also some of the winners of the orchid pull