Custom Pot Rack Chandelier

Jason finished and installed this beautiful pot rack chandelier just before Easter (the day before actually, which is also the reason for the unpainted support beams). This was a particularly fun project because it had a "surprise" element to it. Our client (for whom we've done exterior work before) thought she was getting a pot rack chandelier from an online retailer. But her designer, Hampton Warren, collaborated with us (as he often does) to design something better and one-of-a-kind! This is what we made!

We designed it to have maximum pot hanging capacity. Pots can be hung from hooks placed on the outside of the base ring or from hooks on the lattice inside of the base ring. We placed "candles" around the top ring using collared scrolls almost like hanging sconces. To finish the project we developed an antiqued/aged brass faux finish to match the motif of the kitchen.

Wide shot with lights off

Wide shot with lights on

Close up of faux finish

Scroll work from the long end

Angled shot of the corner scroll/light

Our client was not only surprised but delighted when Jason showed up with the pot rack for installation (which in turn delighted both Jason and Hampton). 

As always, thanks for checking in!

Busy Busy Busy!

We've been busy at BHD! In the office, the shop, and the home! Which would account for the lack of blog activity and the now backlog of work to post!

Just what have been up to though? In the office and the shop it's been business as usual. As I mentioned, I have a wonderful backlog of work to post. So keep checking in!

On the home front, Beans has been running the show as she usually does! She had a wonderful first Christmas and first birthday (with a special corn dog and mac and cheese dinner)! And as you can see from the photo to the left, she enjoyed her second Easter and her first chocolate bunny!

I'll have more projects up soon. Don't forget to check in! Thanks for reading!  

Wall-mounted Luminary Plant Stand

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to get some new photos of

one of our projects. It's a really neat piece and I thought I'd share the new photos with you all!

This is a wall-mounted luminary plant stand or at least that's what we've dubbed it for lack of a better name. It is, just as the name suggests, a plant stand with votive candle holders made to hang on a wall. 

Jason really enjoyed making this piece. The client wanted a unique and some-what organic design to compliment the outdoors. And so, we designed it to have a sprawling, upward creeping vine feel. The client was also very open to artistic interpretation of the original design which allowed Jason to add to and adjust the piece. For example, the bottom that you see now has three scrolls (which make me think of roots); however, the original design only had one.

One of my favorite aspects of this piece is the collaring on the inner scrolls. It's gives the piece a more traditional iron work feel and is a bit like the ties one would use in gardening tall plants like tomatoes! And again, this was one of the details that Jason added in as the piece developed.

I am so glad that I got the opportunity to photograph the luminary. It made me even happier that it was night time and the candles were lit. This was the first time I have seen it since it left the shop for install. I have to say, the plants and candles really brought it to life!

Hand Painted Floral Border

BHD has branched out! We have begun doing hand painted wall decor. This was the job that inspired the new division. A designer and friend approached us about doing a hand painted border in a bathroom to match a custom made fabric. We delighted in the challenge.

This is the fabric we were to match. It was custom made for the client. It one of a kind and gorgeous!

This was the design we came up with for the bathroom!

And here's a wider shot.

We're very pleased that the client was so delighted with the final product. It was really enjoyable to do as well. We're looking forward to doing more painting in the future. The possibilities are exciting! So now it's iron and wood work by Jason and painting by Kelsey. Beans still provides the cute and Sadie's got the belly rubs!

Mississippi Magnolia "Tree Ring"

This is one of my favorite pieces we've done! It's not often you get to see iron finished to look like highly oxidized copper! This was made for a client in Oxford, Mississippi, home of William Faulkner, John Grisham, and the Ole Miss Rebels. It was specially designed to match the fun, whimsical, and unique taste of the now proud owner.

The owner wanted something simple yet fun to keep the leave contained around her magnolia tree (the state tree and flower of Mississippi) as magnolias are "self-mulching". The people that do her yard work, however, kept raking away all the leaves! Thus this "tree ring" was born.

My favorite part of this piece is the color. Jason met with the client at Sloss Furnace in Birmingham, Alabama and that's where the color was inspired. The copper on some of the furnaces has oxidized so much that it has turned a piercing shade of blue-green. We came up with a blue-green finish reminiscent of that very blue. It was a very unique and memorable project!

The Secret Garden's Trellis

I wanted to share  some photos of this trellis we did in July. This trellis was made for a family in the Briarcliff area. It was made to go in there 21 year-old daughter's "secret" garden. It's not really a very secret garden, but it was a very special place for her as a child.

It consisted of three Turkish inspired arches paired with sweeping trellises of pierce bar. It's lovely combination of rugged and elegant.

Both the family and ourselves are looking forward to seeing it after the garden has had time to grow and embrace it's new addition. It's going to be a beautiful way to encourage the vine and plants to flourish.

Official Blog Launch

And we're off! This is the first post of the BearHead Designs, Inc. official blog. Allow me to introduce our people!

I am Kelsey of BearHeadDesigns, Inc. (or BHD). I'm the "Director of Minutia" at BHD - I keep the pencils sharpened and the paper rolling. I'm also the wife to our Owner/President/CEO/Foreman and mother to our baby girl (in the photo with me) whom we lovingly call "Beans".

This is the aforementioned Owner/President/CEO/Foreman, Jason. He's also "dah dah" and husband. He keeps the forge roaring and the hammer pounding. Starting BHD was his idea. He earned a BFA

 in sculpture from the Atlanta College or Art and has been working as an ironworker/blacksmith for nearly 7 years. He dedided to start BHD as a way to personalize his craft and spend more time with his family.

And this silly looking beast is our mascot, the BearHead herself. Yes, that's right. We named out company after our beloved Anatolian Shepherd, Sadie Bear. She doesn't do much as far as ironwork or office work is concerned, but she makes the baby laugh and is always happy to play ball or be the recipient of a good belly rub.

That's our BHD family in a short post. Please check out our other posts (as soon as we get more going) to see what cool projects we've got going on. Thanks!