Alice In Wonderland

I am a lover of movies. Typically, if it's quirky or artsy...I like it. The idea of reading something and turning it into something you can watch just fascinates me. I love a good story, or excellent acting, and I even like special effects. But, my favorite thing off all is cinematography. The way a movie is filmed, the method, technique, type of camera, type of lens, lighting, these all create the "feel" of the movie.

Do you ever see an object that reminds you of something completely different? For example, a pair of shoes that remind you of a car. The two seem completely unrelated, but it might be the lines or curves, etc. I do this all the time. Yes, this is a blog about hardware, so where am I going with this? I've done this with a number of movies and hardware. It usually happens with one piece of hardware that reminds me of a movie and then I go on a hunt to find other pieces that would fit. I've got enough pieces picked out that I might do a series of these, just because they're fun.

First up on the list: Alice In Wonderland.

I chose the Tim Burton version because well, he's Tim Burton and you're bound to get some striking effects with his movies. For those of you who haven't seen the movie, here's some stills to give you an idea of the "feel."








What kind of hardware could possibly remind me of this movie, you say?













See what I mean?

Erica
“Leave the Details to Us”

Dream On!

Winter in Spokane is not pretty....It snows a lot, everything is dead, the snow melts and everything is drab and dirty. This winter we didn't get a ton of snow, but it got cold! Just last week we were in the single digits for the entire week. For me it just gets old. It's wet and inconvenient, not to mention my winter wardrobe is not nearly as exciting as my summer wardrobe. In general it's just kind of depressing.

I woke up this morning and thought, "I want to be someplace warm, tropical. Sunny skies, sandy beaches, drink in hand." I can't be there in body but dang it, I'll be there in spirit. So, readers....today we can all share a little paradise.



(Photo Courtesy Four Seasons Resort Estates Nevis, West Indies)


Just a minute, I'm taking in the scene........
Ready. Some of us aren't fortunate enough to call a place like this home, but you can still bring some tropical elements into your house with cabinet hardware that have tropical themes. There's also bath hardware and door hardware that have tropical elements, but I think cabinet hardware is a subtle enough touch.



Top Row-left to right:
Atlas Homewares Mermaid Knob
Belwith Shell Knob
Belwith Shell Pull
Bright&Thorpe Octopus Pull
Middle Row-left to right:
Bright&Thorpe Sea Turtle Knob
Modern Objects Sea Urchin Knob
Schaub Symphony Crab Pull
Notting Hill Anchor Knob
Bottom Row-left to right:
Notting Hill Lighthouse Knob
Modern Objects Seahorse Knob
Sierra Lifestyle Dolphin Pull
Sierra Lifestyle Pelican Knob

Just because I'm feeling festive, I'll go all out and get right into the tropical vacation mindset. How about a Martini glass and shaker?

A little taste of paradise for your Thursday, it's not even close to the real deal but it's all I've got. Summer is right around the corner, Erica......

Erica
“Leave the Details to Us”

Mid Century Modern

Mid Century Modern is probably my favorite design. I love the style of houses, furniture, and decor. It's sleek, stylish, functional, and often reflects nature. Mid Century Modern is simple and bold at the same time. I'm sure most people have at least heard of Mid Century Modern, but some may not be familiar with the overall aesthetic. If you've ever seen the Disney/Pixar movie "The Incredibles" you've seen an almost perfect depiction of Mid Century Modern. Have a look at some screen shots from the movie, they've nailed the look. If you haven't seen the movie, I strongly recommend watching it. Not only is a feast for the eyes for Mid Century Modern fans, it's a great story.








Good stuff huh? When I first saw this movie, I decided I wanted a house just like this. For some, you've probably grown up or lived in a house similar to this because that was the current style. So, maybe Mid Century Modern isn't such a big deal to you. I for one, am excited about it's reemergence.

Due to the rise in popularity, a number of our manufacturers have come out with items that reflect this era. Emtek is one brand that has introduced an entire collection called "Mid Century Modern."



They've also got some pretty cool door levers and knobs that fit the Mid Century Modern bill. Below is the Bern knob:

Or how about the Hermes lever:


Really, you should go check out the rest of the Emtek Mid Century Modern cabinet hardware collection. There are some real gems that are not shown in the picture above.

Speaking of gems, look at the design on these house numbers. Both Atlas Homewares and House Art make some incredible house numbers but the design on these two are again, the epitome of Mid Century Modern.







I've shared my favorite design/style. How about you?

Erica
“Leave the Details to Us”

Room With A View

I'm a visual person. I like pictures, I keep a tape measure handy at my desk because, I even though I know what 3" looks like I can't really visualize it. I need the actual tape to give me that visual. I wish more hardware manufacturers would realize that there are people in the world who can't automatically envision something in their head when they're planning their designs.

With this post, I thought I'd share a few pictures of the hardware that we sell in a setting. Feast your eyes on these beauties.

This picture shows the brand Sietto on a cabinet. To be honest, I wouldn't pick out this pull based on the picture of the pull alone but shown in this kitchen it looks fantastic.



This is the Architectural Mailboxes Coronado mailbox, it's shown in the black with copper trim.



Atlas Homewares is one of the few manufacturers that produce some good pictures of their hardware in the appropriate settings. The handles shown are from their Euro Tech line. This handle....


could be this.....



Here's a Schlage push button electronic lock that's installed an a door to a wine cellar.



And, another Atlas Homewares collection. The Zanzibar bath hardware, I think this looks pretty good on the dark cabinets but it would look good on a light wood too.


My last picture is a towel warmer by Amba These styles tend to look modern when not shown in a setting, but this bathroom is kind of retro, and definitely sassy. These towel warmers can really blend into any style.