2011 CH+D Award for New Product Design
Author:Molly SedlacekTed Boerner
Ted Boerner, San Francisco
“Shift” for Rocky Mountain Hardware
The “Shift” grip in white bronze with a brushed patina is part of San Francisco designer Ted Boerner’s first hardware collection for Rocky Mountain Hardware.
When San Francisco furniture and accessories designer Ted Boerner began sketching images for his first hardware line, he envisioned breaking apart a solid form and letting its parts slide back together out of alignment. It was this theoretical exercise that gave rise to “Shift,” a collection of unexpected forms that have been turning heads since their debut in April 2010. The collection for Rocky Mountain Hardware includes five pieces: a pendant, a drop pull, a grip and two knobs. In selecting his materials, Boerner focused on user experience, using a weighty slab of metal to enhance the grip and smoothing out the edges for comfort. Made of recycled art-grade bronze, each piece is cast for a subtly textured surface. With nine patinas to choose from, a range of looks can be achieved, from polished and sculptural to rustic and antique. Boerner’s favorite color-and-style combination is the pendant in brushed patina. “I love the way it looks against wood,” says Boerner, who is already thinking about new creations. “This is my first hardware collection and it will not be my last.”
