Color As An Accent for Bronze Door Handles

As a large portion of our door handles are cast in bronze we have the ability to add subtle shading to the pieces by oxidizing them and then sealing them with oil and wax. However, those of you who are art collectors will also know that bronze can be finished with more sophisticated colored patinas. Some of these colors, specifically Verde Gris, will often develop naturally on bronze and we have all seen the beautiful blue green hues on the domed roofs of old churches and civic buildings that have developed after decades of exposure to the elements. As our time scale does not permit the patina to develop naturally we are able to create several colors of patina by applying pigments directly to our bronze. To ensure an intense color that permeates the surface we heat the bronze up to 200° and apply the pigment by hand often with a very fine brush. As you can see from the picture below we add a pea-green pigment over the body and toes of our lizard door handle to approximate the color of the Anole lizard.

Green Patina For Patio Lizard Door Lever

We use these hot patinas typically on our nature inspired door handles and cabinet pulls. For an autumnal appearance on our sycamore leaves we use an ox red pigment and for our wasp cabinet pulls we turn to a mustard pigment. Our use of hot patinas on bronze began when we started making our wasp cabinet pulls for our limited edition Ascot series of case goods. The furniture pieces in this collection are all decorated with vine leaf motifs created using a form of japanning, a technique that uses gold leaf over casein to create a raised motif which is then hand painted with colored glazes made by suspending pigments in turpentine. The bronze wasps, some with closed wings and the leader with open wings were made as the finishing touch to the Ascot Highboy.  

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO BAT LOVERS

As many of you know Martin loves reptiles and insects but he also loves mammals and this extends to bats which are found in his collection of animal cabinet pulls.

For some reason I do not think of bats as mammals and see them as flying rodents and indeed if you look at many bats they do appear to be rats with leathery wings.

Bat Cabinet Pulls

When Martin and I were in Belize several years ago we stayed at the luxurious Blancaneaux Lodge, a Coppola resort and took a guided excursion by canoe to Barton Creek Cave. The ancient Maya once used this cave as a burial site and the interior is filled with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites and a thriving bat colony.The ceiling of the cave was fairly low so with our head held flash lights we could see the fine details of the bat faces and their fury bodies as they hung from the cave ceiling in clusters. 

More recently, in Paso Robles, in the hot month of August with the doors open to cool the house a large bat with a 16" wing span flew into our bedroom. After much flapping the bat tired and so Martin was able to carefully hold the bat by its wings and emboldened by his action I stroked the incredible downy coat of its fur and touched the soft fine translucent leathery skin of its wings. Respecting the bats right to peace we turned all the house lights off and released him back to the night. For those bat lovers out there is a great YouTube page where you can see a bat rescue center in Australia with some adorable bat videos.

Custom Door Handle Videos

At long last we are making videos for our custom door handles and will be sharing these with you both on our new Video Gallery and on YouTube and DailyMotion.

The first video was shot on location at a private residence and features our Lizard Entry Thumb latch set.

The big advantage to showing our custom hardware in this format is you get to see and understand what we mean by “functional art”. The lizard sculpture acts as a large bronze door pull and you grip the body of the lizard to open the door or in this case front gate. Above the lizard there is a sculpted bronze back-plate reminiscent of stone, on which a butterfly is perched. The butterfly is also a functioning thumb latch and when depressed it opens the gate by releasing the mortise lock.  On the reverse side or inside of the gate we used a smaller lizard sculpture to act as the door lever and to continue the natural theme mounted the lever on a bronze back-plate styled to resemble tree bark. Lizard food, in this case a small beetle, is used as a whimsical bronze turn piece that functions to either open or close the deadbolt.

As the lizards have been made as lefts and rights they will also will work well on door double doors or gates.

In this particular project we created custom grills at the top of the gate in the form of flax stems and appropriately added a left and right bronze frog to complete the entrance. As Martin Pierce is also a wood carver he carved a wooden raven head to house the chain for the house bell.

While I hope you find this description clear I hope you will agree that the video does a better job of capturing the three dimensional reality of this set.       

While videos are fun to watch they can be difficult to make  so our thanks go to Jeff Jenkins whose patience as  director and skill as a videographer made this project a success. Jeff’s work can be seen at;

Anatomy of a Custom Patio Door Handle

As mentioned in an earlier piece, we were recently commissioned to adapt our Ergo Door Handle so that it could be used as a low profile door pull for sliding patio doors. This is not the first request to adapt this piece and so bending to designer demand we decided to create a new left and right pull.  Our standard Ergo pull is 18”High, 5”Wide and 5”Deep and these dimensions allow the piece to have pleasing fluid lines that are easy to grip so the challenge was to find a way of retaining the artistry of the design but with a profile of 4”.

The result is shown below.

To accentuate the fluid curvature of the Ergo series we have developed a two tone finish that is both beautiful and labor intensive. To begin, we clean up the rough cast surface and remove all the seams and imperfections by using angle grinders and sanding disks of varying grit. Next, we polish selected areas with successively finer sanding compounds till we achieve a reflective mirror like surface. At this point the piece is only half finished and we next mask off the polished section by applying a thin flexible tape that is positioned to closely hug the polished seam. Once, we have masked the piece it is then sand blasted using white oxide sand. The tape is then removed and the result is a custom door handle with jewel like facets but with softened areas that are easy to grip and that accentuate the curvature of the handle.

Reflection of KAUAI Beauty in Martin Pierce Work

We have recently shared our Hawaiian cabinet pulls on Instagram so wanted to share some photos from our recent trip to Hanalei Bay in Kauai, HI.

Golden Palm with resting Red Headed Cardinal Bamboo Cabinet Pull cast in bronze

This was our first visit to the oldest and lushest of the Hawaiian Islands and we stayed on the north shore known for its sandy beaches, tropical forests and great hikes. We woke each morning to a chorus of bird song from native minor birds, red whiskered bulbuls and white rumped shama. The proliferation of bird life is a testament to the healthy habitat of this tropical gem that remains almost 80% un populated with many areas inaccessible to cars and to all but the most seasoned of hikers.

How many frogs do you see?

Thankfully, there were more accessible trails near Princeville including the Okolehao Trail, a 2.5 mile hike that climbs to 1,250 feet, which while muddy underfoot was home to a multitude of orchids, hibiscus and golden palm and bamboo. At the beginning of the trail we spotted a very well camouflaged frog which was especially rewarding as the arid conditions in our home, Los Angeles, have rendered frogs scarce in our local Nichols Canyon and Griffith Park.

There is one coastal road that takes you from Lihue to the remote and breathtaking craggy cliffs of Na Pali,  where on route,  tree lovers are rewarded with the sight of hundreds of Koa ,Eucalyptus and native Pine trees. The Koa trees are part of the acacia family and have wonderful airy feathery canopies that reminded me of the tree canopy used in our Hedgerow style of door handles.

Princeville is also the location of the St. Regis hotel and we stopped by to see how well our

custom Hawaiian door handles are holding up to the local weather and I am pleased to report that after 8 years they have developed a rich deep brown patina with a touch of verdegris.

What To Consider When Choosing Door Handles For A Home Renovation

A lot will depend on how you are planning to use the door handles, questions you may want to consider;

1.     How many doors are you planning to re-furbish - is this a statement piece for an entry door or are there several doors where you will be using the same style of design?

2.     How eclectic are you? Do you like to continue a particular style through the entire home or do you like to mix and match styles?

Interior And Exterior Door Knob Sets

3.     Is the door exterior or interior - if an exterior door, is it protected from the elements or will it be exposed to rain, snow or sea spray as these will contribute to the corrosion and rust of the handle. While bronze does not rust, it will over time develop a patina and is often referred to as a “living finish”. Stainless steel is corrosion resistant and while not rust proof, 316 stainless steel is the preferred alloy for coastal properties exposed to sea water.

4.     Does the door need to lock - and does the door handle manufacturer provide the handles you are considering for all types of function from locking front and privacy doors to non-operating "dummy" handles that are typically fixed and often used to complete the symmetry for example of double doors where one handle operates to open and close the door and the “dummy” handle is used more as a grip or pull.

5.     Are there special needs - to consider making it important that the door handle be easy to grip and that levers not be too heavy to depress

6.     Are your doors unusual -  are they extremely deep or shallow, bare in mind that a typical door in the US is 1 3/4" to 2" thick and while many handles can accommodate other depths, the manufacturer may have an up charge to create shorter or longer spindles or through bolts.

7.     Unforeseen charges to consider -  the  lock is often not included in the cost of the door set but this varies with manufacturer, for example  we do include the costs for tubular latches but not the cost of the mortise lock made by Accurate.  The installation of a door set, particularly one that locks, will need to installed either by a contractor or locksmith.

Dog days of summer at Martin Pierce Hardware

The dog days of summer are upon us once again and that phrase has always intrigued me.  So much so that I shared the history and meaning of it in a previous blog post that you can view here.

With the summer season winding down we thought it might be a fun time to share some photos of how our dog spends her days of summer as these dog posts are always popular with our clients.

To begin, Iris was a rescue dog from The Rescue Train in Los Angeles.  She is sweet-natured and loving and lots of fun.  When we travel long distances or for extended periods of time, Iris stays at home with a loving dog-sitter.  But every chance we get we take her with us on our local forays into the mountains and onto the hiking trails we so enjoy.

Martin Pierce Hardware Los Angeles CA  90016

While she loves to race about in open fields, she also enjoys a quiet afternoon in the workshop or in the shaded backyard as you can see in the above photo.

But when she is not “resting”, she is quite the trail hiker.

Martin Pierce Hardware Los Angeles Ca  90016

And nothing makes her happier than wide open spaces where she can run to her heart’s content.

Martin Pierce Hardware Los Angeles CA  90016

And, just like us, Iris enjoys an afternoon spent with good friends.

Martin Pierce Hardware Los Angeles CA  90016

So how are you and your dog enjoying the dog days of summer?

Different Ways To Remodel Your Dining Room

When planning to remodel a room many of us begin with the color scheme and build our design from there. While this is admirable it may also unwittingly turn us into trend followers. So what other approaches are there?

Much will depend on the scale of the makeover, is it the entire home or is the scope limited to the social areas of the home such as the dining and living room, or the more personal areas like the master bedroom and bathroom.

Re-upholster chairs that are worth saving

For the purposes of this piece I will focus on the dining room. As mentioned in a previous post, both ends of the age spectrum from the millennials to the baby boomers are moving into smaller homes and making use of more flexible spaces. Hopefully, the dining room as a place to relax and enjoy meals with friends has not fallen victim to this scaling down and still exists as an area demarcated from the rest of the home. If so, look at the furniture and determine whether it can be revived. As furniture makers we are fortunate in having chairs that we made from solid walnut and that were intended to last if not forever, at least for a few lifetimes and that have over the years been easily revamped by new upholstery. If your chairs are worth saving  and are made of solid wood or metal then they can be revived by re-finishing the frame and by re-upholstering the seat or back. If you live in Los Angeles you should have no problem in finding a furniture finisher or upholster but if you are not familiar with how to order fabric what yardage to use, or footage to buy if using hide, then I strongly recommend working with an interior designer. The designer will be able to guide you through the maze of questions about which fabrics need to be backed, how much fabric you will need depending on the pattern repeats of the fabric, whether the chairs should re-sprung and if so whether coil and spring is a better option for your chair frame than webbing.

Replace the cabinet knobs for the defining touch

The dining room can also be remodeled by focusing onbuilt-in cabinets. Built-ins are a common feature regardless of the age of the home and can be revived by re-painting or re-varnishing the doors and frames or by removing the doors to create an open cabinet either with or without shelving. This is how I plan to revamp my dining room and to add the defining touch I will be replacing the cabinet knobs.

Having The Right Door Pull - The Benefits of Working With An ASID Designer

We were recently featured in the Los Chapter of the ASID magazine and want to share with our readers the benefits of working with a creative designer, like Bonnie McIntyre.  Working with a professional designer is especially important when a home owner is choosing custom door hardware for their existing home that needs renovation.  Bonnie began the project by reviewing Martin’s wide range of hardware designs and assessing each style as to its scale, design aesthetic and compatibility with her client’s existing front door. The client, a keen birder, loved Martin’s woodpecker door knocker and so Bonnie continued this natural theme by taking the bark texture of the mounting plate for the door knocker and using it as back-plate for the door set.  The result of this collaboration was a custom one of a kind willow bark door set.

One of a kind custom door set in bronze

The Willow series was continued into the renovated kitchen where Willow cabinet knobs and Hedgerow  pulls were nickel plated and gently oil rubbed with a dark patina to create a sophisticated finish and one that paired well with the pewter faucets and steel range.

Hedgerow Plant Style Cabinet Pull

The transition from the kitchen to butler’s pantry and then to the breakfast room was a point of departure and here more whimsical bunny knobs were used for the passageway doors.

Custom Nickel Plated Bronze Bunny Door Knob

While the project was very satisfying to all who were involved, had it not been for Bonnie McIntyre’s creative restraint and her amazing eye for the smaller finer details I do not think we could have created a space that was both sophisticated and soothing.

Hawaiian Door Pull

We have added a new cabinet door pull to our animal and bird collections and have used the inspiration of Hawaiian birds and fauna to create this piece. The pull is substantial in scale measuring 12” high and 3” wide and can be used either for large cabinet doors or for interior doors.  It is cast in solid bronze and made using the lost wax method of casting which allows us to achieve incredible detail and fluidity in design that is difficult to achieve by other casting methods.

Fusion of bird, vine stem and human attributes for abstract cabinet pull

The pull is a fusion of bird, vine stem and even human features all of which flow together to create an abstract mythical piece.  The pattern for this piece was sculpted in wood and was carved as a 3 dimensional sculpture, both sides having the same design. In the picture we are showing 2 pieces and  by turning the piece over we are able to create pulls that are the mirror image of each other. The mounting posts are attached after the casting has been made and so on this occasion we were too able to create a left and a right pull using one pattern and one mold.

We have named this new addition the “Grand Hawaiian” pull to distinguish it scale wise from the single and double-headed  bird pulls in the same collection.  If you are looking to use other Hawaiian inspired cabinet pulls we also have an orchid stem and bamboo design  to complete your  tiki dream room.

HOUSING TRENDS AND DOOR HARDWARE CHOICES

We have lived through the Great Recession and appear at least on the housing scene, to be close to pre- 2007 levels for home prices and new construction. This bodes well for the construction industry and by extension those of us involved in making door hardware and lighting.

We look at housing trends so that we can assess who is buying what. It is useful to know that millenials account for 35% of all purchases and that they are buying homes in the 1,200 s.f. to 1,650 s.f. range and that both younger and older baby boomers are downsizing so they too are looking at smaller houses. Both groups seem to prefer more open spaces and more baby boomers now need a home/office as they are deferring retiring, or at least moving some of their work home.

Small but tactile cabinet knob helps define a home/office

As a designer of door handles the move to smaller housing may mean fewer Mc Mansions but it may mean more carefully selected door handles chosen specifically and with thoughtfulness to define a particular space. In reality, as a US manufacturer and because we only cast in premium stainless steel and silicon bronze, our work was and still is necessarily “high end”.  So even in the heyday of the McMansions our work was more commonly used as the statement piece for the entry door or decorative accompaniment to the guest bedrooms or the master suite. In short I feel the trend towards smaller is a positive one with door hardware being chosen for key areas based on style, durability and  with a focus on a eclectic mix of designs.

Sources used by the writer in this post included:

Neil Irwin’s piece: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/24/upshot/the-housing-market-is-finally-starting-to-look-healthy.html

And; https://www.nahb.org/en/research/design/housing-trends-for-baby-boomers.aspx

Post written by Anne Lauder

What is your definition of luxury?

Martin Pierce Hardware Los Angeles CA 90016 Photo Doug Hill

Luxury---defined as “a condition or situation of great comfort, ease, and wealth” by Merriam-Webster, can mean different things to different people.  But what does luxury mean to you?

Is it a set of high thread count Egyptian cotton sheets on the bed?  Or perhaps it is a prized original oil painting or a beautiful sculpture. Maybe your definition of luxury includes items that are one-of-a-kind or custom made just for you.  It could even be something as simple as keeping fresh flowers in your home at all times.  Whatever your definition of luxury is it will, no doubt, enhance your everyday life and bring you much happiness.

There are several ways you can add a luxurious touch to your interiors.

• Anything made by hand will add a hint of luxury. This might include hand-painted wall coverings, hand-embroidered textiles and hand-crafted furniture.

• Artwork can definitely add a luxurious note to any room, and something that is signed and/or numbered and in a limited edition, even more so. This indicates that the piece you have is limited in production, making you one of the "elite" few who own the item. And certainly an original of anything is desirable to collectors.

• Fine finishes such as a hand-rubbed oiled bronze are a seemingly small detail that imparts a touch of luxury to door handles, faucets, cabinet pulls and other hardware.

Willow entry door handle in oil rubbed bronze from Martin Pierce Hardware Los Angeles Ca 90016 Photo Doug Hill

• Rich textiles that include velvet, mohair and leather add both a visual and a tactile luxury to interiors.

• Luxury touches can extend to the outdoors as well. A beautifully cultivated cutting garden or a "working" vegetable garden that makes it possible to step outside and collect ingredients for a meal is certainly a luxury to enjoy.

No matter how you define luxury, any interior will benefit from the introduction of items that add beauty and personality to the space.

Celebrate our national parks!

via NPS facebook page

“The mountains are calling and I must go.”  This quote is from famous adventurer and naturalist John Muir whom many credit with the birth of our national park system.  In fact, August 25, 2016 marks the 100 year anniversary of the national park service.  If you have ever enjoyed the beautiful natural scenery of Yellowstone, hiked the red rocks of Zion, marveled at the desolate ruggedness of Death Valley or seen the majestic sequoias of Yosemite up close, you know a little of what John Muir must have experienced.

We enjoy escaping to nature as often as we can.  Unfortunately, time restrictions often limit these getaways to local areas such as Idyllwild, California.  We visited this local mountain town a couple of years ago with our dog, Iris, who enjoyed the crisp, clean mountain air as much as we did. 

Lilly rock in Idyllwild, California photo Martin Pierce Hardware Los Angeles Ca  90016

This trip was for both pleasure and for work as Martin was seeking inspiration for the new beetle sculpture he was working on at the time.  Familiarizing himself with the habitat of any animal or creature makes it possible for him to add authentic details to his work, including the door hardware, lighting fixtures and sculptures he designs.  That detail is evident on this entry door handle backplate from our Lizard collection.

Multi point door lever from Lizard collection of entry door handles by Martin Pierce Hardware Los Angeles Ca  90016  photo Doug Hill

We were also fortunate enough a couple of years back to take a few weeks and venture north through Wyoming, Montana and other western states and seeing the bison and other wild life roam free in their natural settings.

Bison national range in Montana.  Photo Martin Pierce Hardware Los Angeles Ca  90016

Do you have a favorite park you like to visit?

Update your interior design project with new hardware and door handles

Are you looking for an easy update to the interior or exterior of a residence or commercial project that will make a big impact?  Seemingly simple items like custom door handles, mail boxes and door knockers can elevate the curb appeal and make your visitors excited to see what the interior has to offer.   Once inside, custom drawer pulls on cabinetry, unique passageway door knobs, coordinated bath and kitchen towel bars and robe hooks and even the very necessary toilet paper holder can turn an outdated space into a treat for the eyes.  Imagine a new look without all the dust and grime of a remodel!

Ergo stanless steel soap dish by Martin Pierce Hardware Los Angeles Ca 90016

While Martin Pierce Hardware is known for beautiful hand carved and hand cast door and drawer hardware, we also offer everyday items like those mentioned in all of our custom finishes including stainless steel and bronze.  This makes it possible to coordinate all of your hardware and create a truly cohesive and custom look.  For the ultimate in custom, you can request a bespoke design for entry door handles that reflect a favorite destination, animal or hobby, for example, or a company logo or icon.  Your valuable input and inspiration will be utilized to create the initial design sketch with the end result being a finished product that exceeds your expectations. Here we show a pair of custom door handles designed for the entry to a wine cellar.

Custom entry door handles for a wine cellar by Martin Pierce Hardware Los Angeles Ca 90016 Photo Doug Hill

So what’s stopping you?  It is time to replace those ordinary yet functional and necessary items with something extraordinary, eye-catching and memorable.

All about Rio

via

The 2016 Summer Olympics opening ceremonies are just a few days away and all eyes will be on Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  This highly anticipated world-wide event will bring attention to not only incredible athletic performances but also to the exotic locale of Rio and all it has to offer.  New fashion and interior design trends will soon follow.  In anticipation of new trends, you can be ahead of the design game by adding a touch of Rio to your interiors with these decorating ideas:

• Striking wild-life and tropical foliage is often associated with the exotic locale of Rio.  Birds sporting a veritable rainbow of colors in their feathers, lizards and geckos that can literally disappear right in front of your eyes and lush bushes and flowers in eye-popping shades of red, pink, yellow and blue abound.  Why not introduce one of these fun icons of South America through the use of unique door handles or hand-woven textiles, for example.
•  

Lizard door handle from Martin Pierce Hardware Los Angeles CA

• A neutral decorating scheme will allow the spectacular view to take center stage as seen here.
•  

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Photo by Eduardo Raimondi. Fotografia de Arquitetura - Browse contemporary living room ideas

While the addition of those colors and patterns that reflect the party atmosphere and general joie de vivre associated with the area will add a bit of sass and excitement.

Photo by alison giese Interiors - Browse transitional bedroom ideas

Regardless of your design style or the decorating trends that will surface after the games are over, we are, no doubt, in for two weeks of very exciting TV viewing.

Social Media and Martin Pierce Hardware

Martin Pierce black and white sketch is one of the more popular Pins from our Pinterest Page

Remember the good old days when a single page website was all you needed in order to claim a “web presence”?  A stock photo was added if you were fancy.  Boy have things changed! 

Today’s web presence is an alphabet soup of options and must-haves in order to get your name out there and make it possible for clients and customers to find you.  New verbs like tweet, pin and post have been added to our vocabulary.  Good photography skills are now a must in order to post a pretty Instagram photo that others will want to follow.  Hours are spent poring over Pinterest pages to find inspirational photos that are not only pleasing to you but to others as well, in the hopes that you are “repinned”.  And sharing no longer refers to the act of splitting your sandwich in half and giving to others but rather, refers to the important act of linking and sharing web content that others might enjoy and link and share and so on and so on.

Here at Martin Pierce Hardware we have joined this sometimes confusing but always exciting world of social media.   

Pinterest

Our Pinterest page receives many daily visitors as well as impressions, clicks and repins---all those funny words that mean good things.  One of our most popular pins is our Black and White Sketch page that shows several of Martin’s sketches along with repins of other beautiful and inspiring works.  Martin begins each custom door handle project with a sketch of the design and these become miniature pieces of artwork themselves.

Instagram

We are new to Instagram but are enjoying the process of taking and posting photos of subject matter that we find interesting and inspiring.   An unexpected benefit is the opportunity to really take notice of the world around you, be in the moment and find pleasure in small details like the carving on a door or the gleam of a polished steel door handle or the rainbow of colors in a curb side garden.  You can follow us by clicking on this link and enjoying the photos we have posted thus far.  Our favorites include #doorhandles and #entrydoorhandles.

We would love to start following you on Instagram and Pinterest as well so please stop by, leave us a comment and/or follow our pages.  We look forward to seeing the world through your eyes, as it were.

How to customize a door handle to fit a specific project

The Ergo door handle  from Martin Pierce Hardware is one of our more popular collections due, in part, to its adaptability to any style decor or application.  Such was the case when we were contacted by Kathy Novo-Shumate CMKBD,CID to alter the look of these door handles to suit a set of three pocketed glass patio doors.  After discussing the project with Ms. Novo-Shumate we came to the conclusion that it would be best to create a new "version" of this piece to fit her doors and make it possible to make this version many times over.  

The new Ergo design is much more upright and the curvature of the handle more compact thereby allowing for clearance of nearby walls or other obstacles.

Ergo door handle from Martin Pierce Hardware Los Angeles CA  90016  Photo Doug Hill

You can see the subtle differences by comparing the newer version above to the original design shown below installed on a set of interior glass doors.

This is not the first time we have been asked to render the Ergo door handle more compact. We had a similar request from a designer who used these pieces as handles for an armoire. On that occassion Martin was able to cast the waxes from the existing mold.  With gentle heating he was able to manipulate the wax and make the piece flatter and then cast it in the chosen metal. 

To view our entire architectural hardware collection or to discuss your own bespoke hardware needs, please contact us at www.martinpierce.com.

Designers can visit the showroom located at:

5433 W. Washington Blvd.

Los Angeles, Ca  90016

Tel: 323-939-5929

A variety of door handle styles

A knob,  lever or backplate?  Entry or passageway?  It seems there are no simple questions when it comes to interior design.  Which door handle style best suits your design project is one of those seemingly simple questions that become a bit more complicated as you begin your search for the perfect door handle.  The definitions below are offered to assist you in selecting the most functional as well as aesthetically pleasing door hardware for your hospitality, residential or commercial design project.

Knobs

The official function of a door knob in door knob terminology is to disengage the latch from the striker plate in order to open a door.  Most often round in shape, passageway knobs are generally installed on bedroom, bath, closet and hallway doors and may or may not have a push pin locking system for privacy.  Knob style door hardware can also be used on exterior doors when fitted with a keyed lock system for security.  A dummy knob is a non-operating door knob that is most often used on closet doors or the non-operating side of a double door system.  Knob door handles are available in an endless variety of designs and finishes that will compliment any design style.

Levers

A lever style door handle has the same function as all door knobs---to open a door.  The lever is pushed down to operate the latch system, making this style of door handle a good choice for those who may experience difficulty grasping and turning a round door knob including children, seniors and those who are physically challenged.

Accessories

Backplates, deadbolts, rosettes--these door handle accessories and trim pieces add that all-important finishing detail to your door hardware.  Backplates and rosettes are not only attractive, they can eliminate the need for patching and repairing holes left from previous hardware.  Deadbolts are necessary for security on entry way doors and come in both single and double cylinder styles that may or may not be incorporated into the design of your door handle set.  A single cylinder incorporates both a keyed lock on the exterior of the door and a thumb latch on the interior.  A double cylinder requires a key on both the interior and exterior of the door.  

Once you have selected a door handle style it will be necessary to choose a finish (bronze, stainless steel, brass etc.) a design style (contemporary, traditional, rustic) and finally, a design motif that will suit your overall interior design.  The specifics of your individual project will determine which door handle style is best suited to your needs.

Safety tips for your dogs during the summer months

Our beloved rescue dog, Iris.  Martin Pierce Hardware

What with the hot weather, nasty bugs and noisy fireworks and thunderstorms, summer can be an upsetting and sometimes dangerous time for your dogs (and other pets).  Here are some simple and common sense tips that will insure that your entire family, including pets, has a safe and enjoyable summer.

1. First and foremost, get your pets micro chipped or, at the very least, make sure they are wearing some sort of ID that will help get them back home to you should they get lost. Social media and technology can help locate missing pets as well.  Check out sites like Whistle Labs Inc. or the hashtag #Lost4Dogs.
2. Many pets, especially dogs, react negatively to the sounds of fireworks.  It is important to make sure that your dog is kept in a safe environment that not only provides comfort during this scary time but prevents him or her from running away in fear. Keep your pet indoors during summer storms or periods of time that could be frightening such as a loud party, holiday firework celebrations etc.  Provide a "safe spot" such as a crate, special bed or closed room that will help keep them calm during these stressful periods.
3. Noise distractions can help so turn up the TV or play your pets favorite tunes during noisy celebrations.
4. Some dogs find comfort in tight "anxiety wraps" similar to swaddling a newborn baby.
5. Provide plenty of water during hot weather but also when your dog is stressed as they will pant more often and become thirsty much quicker.
6. Did you know dogs can get sunburned?  Did you know there is sunscreen made especially for dogs?  DO NOT use sunscreen meant for humans and containing zinc on your dogs!

As you are probably aware, thousands of dogs and cats find themselves lost and homeless each year.  In fact, according to the ASPCA, more pets go missing over the 4th of July weekend than any other time of year.  Thank goodness there are organizations such as The Rescue Train in Los Angeles that provide a safe haven for these animals while they are waiting to find their new homes.

Brexit as we approach July 4th

Long may she wave!

Happy 4th of July!

As we get ready to celebrate our independence and freedoms here in the United States. I am trying to fully understand the recent, and ironically timed, "Brexit" vote. This is the public vote that resulted in the United Kingdom exiting the European Union.

Martin and I grew up in England, before the UK joined the EU. The furthest we travelled was to the small channel islands that exist half way between England and France. Therefore, as young adults, membership into the EU was an exciting time. It enabled us to experience, first hand, the fun and benefits of what the EU offered. On a superficial level it meant we suddenly had access to affordable French and German wine, olive oil was no longer a luxury and my mother encountered her first green pepper, asking me how she should go about peeling it! Dieppe and mussels were a ferry ride away and Paris and the Pompidou and Musee d'Orsay were an hours flight from Heathrow. We visited Paris several times and saw the architectural creations of Guimard and Galle that, up to that point, just been photos in a book; and we spent hours wandering and absorbing the cultural marvels of this amazing city.

I am not suggesting that the ability to enjoy these things will all suddenly end or that travel will cease; far from it. But the vote does reflect a new inward looking perspective and is clearly a vote against globalization. Don Lee does a very good job of explaining what the vote means in his article for the LA Times. I do understand how those who feel their European representatives are too remote and unaccountable and have not seen their standard of living improve expressed their anger and frustration with a leave vote. But, sadly, I fear that very little will be gained by Britain's departure and indeed much may be lost. Alas, a referendum by its very definition is difficult to reverse so Britons must now wait to see where this new, likely turbulent, road leads.