The secrets of woodworking Part 2: veneers and burls

In our previous post we discussed the value and beauty of some of Martin's favorite solid woods-- cherry and walnut.  But the creation of custom furniture often requires the use of veneers to arrive at the desired pattern or design. As the name suggests, veneers are very thinly sliced cuts of a tree.  This cutting or milling, is a smart way to use woods, particularly when the wood is exotic or rare.  The tree or log is cut and milled depending on the individual tree's character.  For example, some are plain sliced while others are quartered.  This decision is made based on what is desirable and in demand at the time.  It is a bit like cuts of meat; some sections are more prime or choice than others.  Unlike meat, however, the beauty and preference of a cut is definitely in the eye of the beholder.

Once the tree is cut the veneer slices are called "leaves".  These leaves are sequenced and bundled together and those bundles are also sequenced.  Each bundle has anywhere from 16 to 24 leaves and we will typically use anywhere from 1 to 2 bundles to create a star burst design.

One of our favorite veneers is a thinly sliced burl wood veneer, often taken from the root of the tree.  These veneers are prized for their tightness of the burl, or swirl, and for the consistency of the color.  However, in designing our Hedgerow dining table we chose myrtle burls that were not so tight, offering more variation of color with hues ranging from dark chocolate brown to a golden honey color.  This allows us to create a more striking starburst design as you can see in this stunning photo of the tabletop.

Hedgerow tabletop starburst design crafted of burl wood veneers by Martin Pierce custom Hardware

When we began designing the Hedgerow Table we had a mental picture of how we wanted the starburst to look and the color range we were looking for so we contacted several milling companies and looked at live samples ( a sample from the actual tree) of the myrtle burl logs  that were available. We had to choose a log that gave us the “figuring” or burl clusters and color but were also wide enough to allow us to position our “pie” template and then select the best section from the bundle of leaves to create the stunning pattern.  While it is very expensive, we will typically buy an entire log so that we have some consistency in the look of our tables.  However, it will still be necessary to explain to clients that each table top is unique as it is made from individual bundles and the pie template is always positioned according to the specific properties of that bundle. Fortunately, as the leaves and bundles are sequenced, consecutive sibling bundles will be closer to each other in properties than later bundles, making it somewhat easier to select the right woods for each individual table or project.

For those of you who are interested in more detailed information about veneers and other veneer terms, you can find helpful facts at http://formwood.com/veneer-glossary.html.

To view our entire collection of custom furniture and architectural hardware, or to discuss your own bespoke project, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

The secrets to successful wordworking Part 1: our favorite woods

After nearly a quarter of a century of working with wood, Martin has certainly developed a few preferences in wood types.  In most instances, he prefers to work with solid wood instead of veneers and most often chooses walnut and cherry.

• Walnut:  Martin loves to work with solid walnut, the American cultivated variety that is hard and strong and  has a lovely range of tones and pretty grain as seen in our Morphic Sofa design.

  

   In the past we used Honduran mahogany but, while it is a beautiful wood to carve and has lovely rich red tones, it is endangered.  For this reason we feel that, if used it should only be used in veneer form where one tree will provide sufficient material for hundreds of furniture pieces.

• Cherry:  Cherry is a fruit wood and if you look at fine European antiques, many of them are often crafted in fruit woods.  It is a strong, hard wood, making it perfect for carving as well as for furniture.  Cherry will darken over time due to even the smallest amount of UV exposure so care needs to be taken to protect furniture from the light through the use of tinted windows, lined window treatments etc.  It's strength insures that it is not likely to fall apart even when enjoyed by someone of generous proportions. On this note, I once had a chair made of pine that I brought over from England that split under the weight of a very large dinner guest. Thankfully he had a great sense of humor.   Our Ascot lounge chair is crafted from beautiful and sturdy cherry wood.

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• Martins other favorite solid woods include English Yew, English Brown Oak, Brazilian Rosewood and Lignum Vita. The last 2 are very rare and England Lignum Vita was actually sold by weight.

Many of our custom furniture pieces are crafted with a combination of solid woods and veneers.  In part 2 of this woodworking series we will discuss our favorite veneers along with the process of selecting the right wood to create the perfect veneer.

To view any of our custom furniture pieces or our entire collection of bespoke architectural hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com

A haunting we will go with custom hardware

Believe it or not we are actually beginning to see Christmas holiday decorations in the stores and it is only September!  Before the red and green of Christmas arrives there is that other very important holiday just around the corner--All Hallow's Eve, better known as Halloween. Halloween is a very fun holiday for kids and adults alike and provides a great opportunity for businesses to incorporate some of the iconic symbols of this day into their hardware choices.  For example, our bat pulls feature amazingly lifelike detailing that turn them into miniature works of art for interior doors, cabinetry and furniture.  Use them in residences as well as businesses.  While fun for Halloween, these custom hardware pieces can be incorporated into the design of many different projects including Zoos, science labs, schools, pet boutiques or any business where one of these images would befit their brand.

While not really scary, lizards and frogs have enough of a "creep" factor to be used for Halloween.  But our lizard and gecko hardware collection is more fitting as architectural hardware for a luxurious tropical hotel, spa or residence.  See for yourself:

Lizard multi point door lever from Lizard collection of Martin Pierce Hardware

We offer plenty of bugs and creepy crawlies in our Animal collection,  ranging from scarab beetles to moths to bees and wasps, all hand cast and beautifully detailed.

To view our entire collection of architectural hardware please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.  Happy Haunting!

Fun projects at Martin Pierce Hardware

We always enjoy working with designers and showrooms on their custom requests.  They often take our furniture pieces and tweak them just a bit to meet their client's needs. Currently we are working on "tweaking" five of our Hedgerow bar chairs that will ultimately reside in Hawaii--lucky bar chairs!  Through the wonderful showroom of Gaul Searson, designer Jacques St.Dizier of St. Dizier Design has also ordered two of our Seicho beds for the same project;  but we will be replacing the tamo normally used in the design with fabric.  One of the beds will be upholstered with Kalahari, an animal print by Peter Fasano, and the other bed will receive a Manual Canovas animal print appropriately named Safari.

The very talented showroom is Gaul Searson, whom we have written about before.  They are masters at coordinating furniture and fabric.  And we have worked with Jacques on several projects spanning a period of over ten years.  He is a marvelous designer to work with and truly understands how to customize  our different styles to give the client something special.

 The light colored and yellowish wood seen on the headboard and footboard of our Seicho Bed is a Japanese wood called Tamo, and is being replaced with fabric for these custom bed orders.

 One of our most popular furniture styles, the Hedgerow barstool has a swivel seat for comfort and versatility.

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

Custom bird motif architectural hardware from Martin Pierce

Do any of you remember the tongue in cheek Youtube video from a few years ago titled "Put a bird on it"?  It was in response to the trend at the time of putting bird motifs on everything from wallpaper, fabrics, pillows, home accessories and even personal items like jewelry and handbags.  Well, when it comes to design we cannot leave out hardware!

Throughout the years Martin has carved many different birds for custom orders.  We have spoken often about the bird designs we offer in our collection of architectural hardware and recently we shared the swallow pull that was inspired by the migrating birds of San Juan Capistrano.  But we also offer other bird designs as seen below.

This beautifully detailed woodpecker door knocker provides an elegant way for your guests to announce their presence.

Bird motif hardware would be right at home in many different retail and hospitality establishments or perhaps your client's logo includes a bird.  We designed this stylized Hawaiian bird knob for a hospitality project in Hawaii.

If you are looking for custom hardware designed in the form of your favorite feathered friend, or to view our entire collection of bespoke hardware please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com

Find design inspiration from these iconic contemporary designers

 

As every residential and contract designer knows, the world of interior design is a world that is constantly changing.  Several times a year furniture and fabric manufacturers release new collections; Pantone annually releases a new color for the upcoming year and current events dictate the latest trends in style, accessories and the "must have" of the season.  Isn't it nice to know that there are some iconic designers who's styles remain just as pertinent today as the first day they were debuted?

Ray and Charles Eames

The very mention of the name Eames conjures up visions of exquisitely designed mid-century furniture.  Their goal to create functional and affordable furniture resulted in designs that are still desirable today.  This is due, in part, to the vision of the couple.  According to Ray “What works is better than what looks good.”The looks good can change, but what works, works.”  And that still holds true today, some sixty years later.

George Nelson

We can thank George Nelson for the still incredibly popular idea of built-in storage walls e.g. bookcases.  Once he realized that the space in between walls was empty there was no stopping the creativity and the storage wall was born.  He also developed the idea of a large room in the home where the family could gather for meals and recreational activities and, as a result, coined the phrase "family room".

Mies van der Rohe

While an architect by trade, Mies van der Rohe certainly left his mark on interior design as well, particularly in the area of furniture design.  His hallmark was fine craftsmanship, luxurious yet practical fabrics and chrome frames, exemplified by his classic Barcelona chair.

This is obviously a very brief introduction to these iconic designers and their ideas that have endured for decades and illustrates that good design is lasting design.  To view our collection of well-designed architectural hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com

The beauty of textured hardware

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

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

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

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

Escape to Pt. Reyes to bid farewell to summer

If you live in Southern California then you know how miserably hot and humid it has been here.  So, tired of the LA heat and having worked rather long hours lately we decided to use the days leading up to the Labor Day holiday to head north and visit Point Reyes. The only question I now have is "Why didn't anyone tell us about this place before ?" The answer may lie in the unspoiled beauty of this under populated part of Marin County and the desire to keep it so. This state park offers a wonderful variety of vistas and eco-climates,  not to mention an abundance of wild life.  We took a hike down “Muddy Hollow” and then veered off at Estero Trail and were privileged to spot a herd of Elk and one amazingly beautiful stag who was calling to his harem.

The terrain is so varied and runs the gamut from sheltered small beaches with shallow calm waters like the "Heart's Desire" beach shown here

to the tempestuous and rugged coastline of Chimney Rock located on the northern Pacific edge of this peninsula.

The tree life follows suit and is equally varied with shrub and eucalyptus trees bordering the dunes and sandy beaches while wind-whipped  Cyprus trees often laden with lichen are further inland.

Nearer the dunes we used binoculars to spot sandpipers, egrets and heron in the small inlet that surround Limantour Spit.

As you can see, the countryside is beautiful but the towns of Point Reyes, Inverness and Olema were all charming and quaint with great restaurants like Osteria Sellina and the nostalgic Sir and Star in Olema.  We stayed just outside of Point Reyes in a Swedish styled B&B appropriately named Lingonberry Farm.  The hosts, Susan and John, made us feel at home with homemade muffins and granola with berries for breakfast and port appropriately decanted in the evenings. Our room was bright and beautifully furnished with folk art from the Skane area in Sweden.

If you are looking for a wonderful escape from the heat and city life, we highly recommend a visit to Point Reyes.  But one last, very important, tip.  If you are hiking we suggest you pick up a sandwich from Perry's Deli to sustain you if, like us, you start out on a 2 mile hike and find yourselves doing a 7 mile hike instead.  You will find that that sandwich comes in handy!

ADA requirements for door and window hardware

 

The baby boomer generation continues to age and, as a result, are experiencing the aches and pains and limitations associated with the aging process.  Furthermore, some statistics are reporting more than 50 million Americans have some level of disability that can make life challenging. The American Disabilities Act (ADA) regulates the building and construction industry and sets forth standards that basically make life safer and easier for those with disabilities or age-related challenges.   These guidelines address the use of wider doorways, ramps, grab bars, lower counters, etc.  Also addressed is the ability to easily access a public or commercial building and/or interior spaces through the use of appropriate door hardware.  These ADA requirements will insure that all people are able to easily and safely enter and exit a building and gain access to interior spaces such as restrooms, apartments and offices:

• Door hardware must push through or pull...no twist and turn knobs that may be difficult to grasp for some.
• Hardware must be installed 48 inches from the floor to accomodate those in wheelchairs
• Both window and door hinges must move with under 3 lbs of pressure

Many items in our collection of custom door hardware can be adapted to meet ADA standards as well as meet your clientele's needs.  Specifically, door and cabinet levers found in our Ergo and Morphic collections.

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

Custom toy chest part III--final detailing

If you have read, and hopefully enjoyed, our previous posts then you are now aware of the process used to create this incredible toy chest but you may be asking yourself how it gets that glow?  Here is a synopsis of the final detailing process we used.

• Before the entire piece is finished, details need to be applied to the raised carved animals. Some animals were lucky enough to receive a coating of gilt including the owl, deer, rabbit and geese who were decked out in white gold.  This is a multi-step process that begins with the application of a modern jesso called casein (made from milk solids) in successive layers to fill in the open grain of the wood.  Next Martin applied a gold size called Wondersize over the smooth casein and very carefully laid the paper thin white gold on top.  Once dry the excess gold was brushed off and the gold received a coat of lacquer to seal it into place.  It was now time for all the animals to receive a paint job to bring out the individual details of wings, feet, fur etc.  This was accomplished through the use of a glaze made of pigment, oil and alcohol.
• It is now time for the entire chest to be finished with a penetrating oil that brought out both the rich grain and red amber color of the wood. We then lacquered the piece with a commercial lacquer for shine and protection.  Unlike woods like walnut and oak that lighten with ultra violet exposure, this cherry chest will turn a rich mahogany color as it is exposed to the oxidation of ultra violet light over time.
• Final details like those whimsical and "Disneyesque" mushroom feet and the swallow pull add the final magical touches.  The pull was cast in blue jeweler's wax that allows Martin to create details like the wing and tail feathers.  You can learn more about this casting process by reading this post.

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The end result of all of this is a toy chest that is an heirloom in waiting and while our client is not royalty, is certainly fit for a royal baby, wouldn't you agree?

Please visit us at www.martinpierce.com to view our entire collection of bespoke hardware and furniture.

Custom toy chest--part II

In our last post we shared the initial process of creating such a detailed piece as this toy chest.  You were able to see how Martin scales up his drawings on a simple piece of grid paper and how the end result compares to the original drawing.  But how does this:

become this?

This toy chest is crafted of cherry wood as it has a vibrant and lovely red character and is an excellent carving wood.  The dancing animals are carved directly into the wood with a variety of chisels, a labor intensive process to be sure.

With this drawing the design is outlined onto the wood and the correct chisel is chosen to begin the carving process. For example, a curved chisel for the back of the bear and a flat, straight chisel for the legs of the geese.  You "set" the chisel and hit the top of it with a heavy mallet that results in a clear cut into the wood where you can begin the carving process.  The “raised” animals are then carved with a variety of chisels to give them fur, muscles, and wings.   Some of the animals were covered with casein plastic so they could be gilded while others were left in natural cherry tones.  You can clearly spot the animals in the drawing in the finished product shown above.

The work involved in creating this amazing toy chest is what sparked Martin's interest in painting.  While he has not painted much lately,  he does like to create fantasy scenes involving very large beetles and wasps.  Until he begins painting more, I guess we are stuck enjoying his insect designs  in our Animal collection of custom hardware.

To view our entire collection of bespoke furniture and hardware designs, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com

also show swallow pull

Childhood fantasies come alive on this custom wooden toy chest-Part I

As you may already know, Martin Pierce Hardware designs and produces not only beautiful and functional hardware but also manufactures bespoke furniture pieces that, in my humble opinion, are true works of art.  Take for example this toy chest that we designed for a very special client:

Just as it does with our hardware pieces, the design of this toy chest began with a set of very detailed drawings that Martin created.  It was necessary for him to create a scene for each side with different dancing animals as well as other whimsical touches like those incredible mushroom feet and the swallow pull on top.  Delightful!

This first photo shows how Martin uses a simple grid to scale up the animals to full size for proper proportion on the chest panels as well as scaling up the mushroom feet.

In this photo you can see the finished product.

Martin's inspiration was most likely memories of his childhood playing in the Perrywood area of Worcester that, while small, seemed to us as children to be quite a mysterious and magical place.

In our next post we will explain the choice of woods and the carving process.  And if you would like to view our entire custom furniture and hardware collection please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Musical instruments as artwork for interior design projects

While many of us immediately think of a beautiful watercolor painting or a wonderful bronze sculpture when we hear the term "artwork", experts might agree that the beauty of art really is in the eye of the beholder.  Take, for example, the beauty of musical instruments - -wood frames of violins and cellos rubbed to a glossy shine, brass that sparkles like jewels and the gorgeous linear shapes of the woodwinds could certainly be considered artwork and displayed as such. In the following rooms precious musical instruments are proudly displayed as functional artwork that provide a touch of life to the spaces and most would agree is as beautiful as any oil portrait.

A grand piano always makes a welcoming statement in a residential foyer or the lobby of a boutique hotel or chic shopping complex.  Notice the more traditional piece of artwork that mimics the design of the piano. [houzz=http://www.houzz.com/photos/333310/Elegant-Stairs-traditional-staircase-minneapolis]

A cello in the corner quietly balances out the large painting on the other side of the doorway in this setting.

[houzz=http://www.houzz.com/photos/842585/Piso-en-Barcelona-contemporary-living-room-]

The graphic appeal of a grouping of woodwinds lends itself to this contemporary design.

[houzz=http://www.houzz.com/photos/1183868/Summerlin-Home-traditional-living-room-las-vegas]

While classical instruments are beautiful and sophisticated, don't overlook a colorful collection of electric guitars or the power of a set of drums or the simplicity of a grouping of native instruments from around the world.

And in our own home, where music is a must, Iris  enjoys relaxing by the piano in the den that doubles as our music room.

To view our collection of custom architectural hardware or speak directly with us regarding products for your own hospitality, commercial or residential project, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

The California grape harvest is early this year

Global warming has come to Central California and forced an earlier than usual grape harvest in wine growing regions that include Napa, Paso Robles and Santa Barbara.  Let's hope this is good  news for those of us who enjoy an occasional glass of cab, chardonnay, zinfandel or syrah.  

While the winemakers are busy harvesting all those beautiful vines we thought we might introduce a couple of our custom architectural hardware collections that we feel would be the perfect addition to their tasting areas, guest rooms and other public spaces.

Our Grapevine collection was inspired by the beautiful Paso Robles wine region and is a natural for use in wineries.  The hallmark of Martin Pierce Custom Hardware, incredible detail, is evident in all of the pieces and this attention to detail will delight all who enter your establishment.

Our willow collection would also be a nice design addition to both your public and private spaces.  While simpler in design than our more elaborate Grapevine collection, the same amazing detail and casting process is used to create this elegant hardware collection.

Drawer pull from Willow 2 collection by Martin Pierce Custom Hardware

To view these items or our entire collection of architectural hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.  Also, be sure to check your favorite winery's website to find out when the annual harvest celebrations are scheduled.

Just for fun:  Here is to the corkscrew - a useful key to unlock the storehouse of wit,the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the gate of pleasant folly.       W.E.P. French

How Martin Pierce spends the final days of summer

Our beloved pitbull, Iris, certainly has the right idea!  Since Iris joined our family a few years ago she has become a very loving and affectionate dog and enjoys sharing tea in the music room with our guests and friends.  Lounging lazily in the den and soaking up the sun sounds inviting to me as well.

As the lazy days of summer begin to disappear we are busy working on several new projects that we look forward to sharing with you in the coming months.  In the meantime, here is a quick review of some of our custom hardware products that will remind you that fall is just around the corner.

How do you enjoy these last remaining days of summer?

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

Hospitality design trend: View beautiful collections in hotel lobbies

Thousand of visitors enter hotels each year via the lobby and spend time meeting and greeting friends and business associates, sharing a cocktail or simply enjoying the ambience of a beautifully decorated lobby. As any professional hospitality designer will tell you, when decorating the lobby, or any   space in a hotel both public and private, it is important to find the perfect blend of comfort and function while still celebrating the specific hotel's brand.  This is often accomplished through the use of space planning, fabrics and colors and the addition of something unique that will hopefully make their guest's experience memorable.  Some hotels are doing this with the introduction and display of wonderful collections throughout the lobbies and on-site restaurants.

A true history lesson can be found at the Hotel Auberge Saint Antoine in Quebec City Quebec Canada where literally hundreds of found artifacts are on display throughout the public spaces.

Japanese sushi restaurant, Pabu, in Baltimore Maryland features a magnificent collection of raku pottery that lines the walls and acts as both a room divider and an art display. While it is a large collection the subtle coloring of the pottery allows for a relaxed dining experience.

Some hotels choose to change their collections to celebrate the seasons, acknowledge an anniversary or honor the history of the hotel.  The famous Willard Intercontinental Hotel, located right next door to the White House in Washington D.C. has found a way to celebrate their famous neighbor by offering a beautiful display of historic Christmas ornaments that have been used throughout the years on the White House tree.  You can view the informative video and see these beautiful ornaments by clicking this link.

Never one to do things on a normal scale, the world's tallest hotel located in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates has a lobby atrium that features an amazing collection of water displays that are sure to delight all who enter the lobby.  And while in the United Arab Emirates, take a little side trip to visit our hardware, proudly on display at the Porta Showroom in Riyadh City Saudi Arabia.

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

And the winner of our bronze drawer pull is......

In celebration of our 100th blog post we offered the first person who "liked" our new business Facebook page one of our beautiful swallow drawer pulls.  We have a lucky winner and her bird pull is flying her way now via the U.S. mail. Cast in bronze, this pull is a beautiful representation of the little birds that appear at the same time every year in San Juan Capistrano California to build their unique mud nests in the tile roofs of the local mission.  Once their job is complete they leave the area just as quickly as they arrived. Mother Nature really does create amazing creatures!

Martin is always inspired by nature and enjoys creating these beautiful pieces of miniature art that can double as functional hardware.  Our custom entryway sets modeled after some of those critters will create a memorable first impression while our unique door and drawer pulls, hinges and other architectural hardware pieces cast in the form of many familiar bugs, reptiles and things with wings found in our Animal collection will add that all important final detail that sets any home or business apart from its neighbors and competitors.

To see our entire collection of custom hardware or to discuss your special hospitality or residential project, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Our 100th post and we are in the mood to celebrate!

Time to celebrate for this is our 100th post!  We have enjoyed sharing new products, design ideas and trade information to all of our followers and look forward to the next 100! As our way of saying thanks we would like to offer one of our swallow pulls to the next person who "likes" our new business facebook page on July 31st.

If you are from southern California then you are very familiar with these little birds.  They return to the mission at San Juan Capistrano every spring to build their unique mud nests in the openings found in the spanish tile roof of the mission.  They hatch their babies, teach them to fly and then depart the area in October, only to return again the next year and begin the process over.

This highly detailed pull is cast in solid bronze with a dark antique finish and will add a distinctive touch to any cabinet, closet door or desk drawer in your home or office.  In the photo below you can see how beautiful it looks on the toy chest, a special gift to a first grandson,  that also features japanned swallows in the sky.  So head on over to our facebook page and join the conversation.

You can check out other feathered friends as well as our entire collection of custom hardware at www.martinpierce.com.

Geometrics in design--a math lesson you will enjoy

Do you break out in a cold sweat at the mere mention of mathematics?  Does the term "geometry" send you running?  Well, no worries  here.  For the purpose of discussion on this blog, let's take a look at how geometry and geometrics are used in the realm of interior design and architecture. A quick review

The true list of geometric shapes appears endless so, for our purpose, we will review the most common shapes used in design:

• Triangle
• Hexagon
• Polygon
• Square
• Octagon
• Rectangle
• Pentagon
• Straight line
• Oval, circle and ellipse

Even to those of us who barely got through math class, these shapes are familiar.  Just take a look at your surroundings and you will begin to see the use of one or a combination of geometric shapes that make up the design of buildings and furniture as well as its appearance on fabric patterns and accessories.  Now here is a math test you can pass--How many geometric shapes can you spot in this photo of both old and new architecture?

Even fluid and organic items such as the architectural hardware designed by Martin Pierce feature many geometric shapes that include a circle, an oval, certainly a straight line, and even a triangle.  Look closely at the design of our Hedgerow line and you will see evidence of these.

In other pieces, straight lines are softened and morph into the waves and curves of our popular Ergo collection for example, and circles are elongated to form our conical pulls.

To view more items in all of these collections or to see our entire selection of custom hardware, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.  We promise there will be no math test!

Beds are trending at Martin Pierce--Part II

Here at Martin Pierce we believe that a beautifully decorated bedroom that provides a good night's rest should not be considered a luxury.  The most important piece in the bedroom is, of course, the bed and, as we mentioned in our recent post on what is trending at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware, orders for our custom bed designs are up.  In our previous post we shared our beautiful and exotic Rickshaw bed that offers a zen like quality to the bedroom in a sophisticated residence or boutique hotel. The look of our Hedgerow bed is quite different but also experiencing current popularity. This impressive bed is crafted from American grown walnut, a wood with a beautiful grain and color.  The bespoke features include a hand-carved footboard and headboard while a hand-chiseled "chip" carving detail on the posts provides additional texture to the overall organic style of this bed.

Two of these magnificent beds are finding new homes in the McNamara & Hirschman showroom located in the Arizona Design Center.  Since opening their doors in 1989, the name Mcnamara & Hirschman has become synonymous with quality and style and is the go-to spot for designers with a discriminating clientele.

If you would like further information on our custom furniture products or custom hardware, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com