"Art Bars" © A Unique Method to Display Fine-Art + Photographs

Randall KRAMER © 2014 Kramer Design Studio

Hand-forged Cold-Rolled Steel Bars + Brackets & Straps combined to create a MODERN method of displaying ART!

 Against a Wenge-Wood clad wall(s) - these ART BARS really look elegant !

Randall KRAMER ©2014 Art Bars- Stacked atop each other

Order some today- from KRAMER DESIGN STUDIO- Chicago  

contact @ kramerdesignstudio.com

Knocked-Off! (and pissed-off as well!)

It's clear to me- that there are many, many folks - 
especially Interior Designers & Decorators- that do not respect Intellectual Property Rights.

Why is that? 

If as Designers- we are required to solve problems, and are paid for our creative problem- solving skills (and their execution- for an "idea" is meaningless- unless it's implemented, right?) do other Designers feel it's acceptable to STEAL someone else's ideas?
Cheating- yes....but more akin to STEALING, I'd say!

Knock-Offs - whether they are a Hermes Handbag- a Prada Purse or a Randall Kramer designed Interior Element- are amongst the lowest form of THEFT.

That's right- theft.

Know what they do in some countries when you are caught "thieving" ?
They'll chop off your hand.

OK- I'm not callin' for Sharia Law- in fact- I personally abhor that system of "Justice",
and find it Medieval and archaic at best.
But - I do know- that I am hired to create and execute ideas- and when someone else-
helps them-self- to MY ideas-and calls them his/her own- 
that's no different, than
Reaching-into-my-pocket-&-stealing-my-stash-o'-CA$H !!

When I was commissioned by Tracy Hickman to design these shelving brackets- all I was told was that I should make em out of Steel- and they should look "like-this" (holding her fingers apart to show the steel bars width) and I designed and drew several unique solutions- all of them different and striking- yet- this is the design that Tracy and her client selected for this home in Hinsdale.

There are ALWAYS- lots of design-solutions.

And- that is why I am always bothered- that a "designer" can be so unoriginal- that they COPY another persons Design(s)- and think- that it's OK?! Don't even call yourself a "designer" then- if that's the case- just call yourself an "assimilator" or a "idea-stealer-like-Pinterest", rather than a Professional Designer (or Decorator).

Please don't steal. It's unethical- UnProfessional - and if caught doing it in ISIS-controlled Syria / Iraq - you may find your "reach"...........shortened slightly !

Finding a BRASS PLATER in The Greater Chicagoland area

112 inches long by 22" wide by 33" tall

This is how big of a part Imperial Plating Company 
of Chicago can accept to be Brass Plated.

Mid-Century-Modern Brass Plated Fireplace Screen © KRAMER DESIGN STUDIO 2014

There are fewer and fewer Metal Platers left in Chicago these days.
Chicago, at one time ("back-in-the-day") had so many Metal Finishing and Metal Fabrication Companies that it rivaled (and surpassed)  Detroit and Los Angeles.
Most of the business has gone to Asia and Mexico.
The remaining companies that do Brass Plating are so overwrought w/ Regulations- 
mainly from The EPA- that they can no longer afford to stay in business.

One of the more toxic chemicals known to man- Cyanide- is used in Brass Plating, 
so it is important that it be used and stored and disposed of properly.

Furthermore- the larger the "part" that needs to be plated- 
naturally, 
the larger the amount of liquid being held in a plating tank- 
and the larger the tank - 
the larger the Environmental "risk" incurred.

I've used Imperial Plating twice now- for Decorative Fireplace Screens, and both times the results have been superb. 
Not only the final product- but dealing with people as kind and thoughtful as 
John Griffin- the Sales Manager @ Imperial Plating Company.
John made sure to cover all his bases- understanding that the Fireplace Screen I was to have plated was NOT just some part- and truly "got" how much of my heart and soul went into the fabrication of this Fireplace Screen.

Brass Plated Fireplace Screen with demountable Screen + carved foot detail © Kramer Design Studio-2014

John and I discussed details as minute as the the direction of polishing after the part was plated, and how my client requested NO LACQUER to be sprayed after polishing- something they automatically do to a Brass-Plated part. We also discussed the risk of the plating filling in the holes in the the 10mesh screen I used- so I had to "engineer" a 
"demountable-screen-system" to make this work. 
None of these details seemed to ruffle John's feathers at all- 
a consummate Professional Businessman.

Brass Plated Fireplace Screen with demountable Screen © Kramer Design Studio-2014

So, remember these dimensions the next time you need to get sumpin' expertly 
BRASS PLATED in-and-around-Chicago- 112 inches long by 22" wide by 33" tall,
if it's smaller than that- they can take care of you !

Feel free to tell 'em "The Man of Steel" sent ya!


Imperial Plating Company
7030 West 60th Street
Chicago,IL.60639

773.586.3500
wkuziel@iplating.com 

Black Oxide Finish on Cold Rolled Steel = H O T !

A GREAT look for finished Steel Furniture and Interior Elements 
that's been around for Nuts & Bolts,
Guns and other tools forever, is one that I recently explored for 
The Fine Custom Furniture,Interior Elements and Lighting that I Design and Fabricate.
Black Oxide- Cold Dipped- by Expert Metal Finishing, River Forest,IL.

The finish almost looks like an Oxidized Bronze !

Adding a "grain" or texture w/ a Heavy Duty ScotchBrite made all the difference!

Rich warm yummy dark brown/black color- enhanced by graining w/ a ScotchBright

The Company that I resourced is in an area of the Western Suburbs of Chicago- just off of North Avenue- between 1st Ave. and 15th Ave.
The Industrial Park area is "technically" River Forest- but has about as much in common w/ River Forest as Cicero does w/Chicago.
Expert Metal Finishing is run by Gus Garza and his Partner from Poland-Jerzy Kozik.
They do have a "lot" charge- which is more than I'd like it to be- but- comparing the time and labor and chemical requirements to do the job in-house, it certainly is a worthwhile Finishing Option for Steel.
The only downside is that they "automatically" want to oil the part you bring- after being oxidized- so it won't rust. I had wanted to either clear coat w/ a Matt Clear PowderCoat-
or use a Hot Wax hand rubbed finish- which must be maintained over time. Getting them- to "understand" this- and to execute- was 50/50.

One of the challenges I face in interfacing w/ Industrial Materials and Processes is that often- They will want to do something a certain way- because - "thats-the-way-we-allways-do-it"
which I find- not always what I want.
And- since I'm paying for the work to be done- shouldn't I be able to get my metal left WITHOUT OIL?
I think so.........
Anyway- if you are looking to get a  warm rich finish on Steel- try:

Expert Metal Finishing

2120 N. West Street

River Grove, IL 60171

708.583.2550

Need Steel? Osorio's Iron and Metal,Chicago,IL.= Service with a Smile!

Square Steel Tubing @ 1.5" Square @ OSORIO'S IRON WORKS,CHICAGO,IL.

Shopping for Steel can sometimes be a Pain-In-The-Ass.
Why?
It's certainly a "Commodity" item. 
Not that Brand "A" is any better or worse than Brand "B".
Steel is Steel.
Yet- if a small fabricator or individual's looking to buy- one length of this, and another length of that- cut in half please (to fit in my Van) - the "rolled eyes" look is certain to appear from the often crabby Steel Man.
Au Contraire- Mon Fraire
......certainly NOT the case @ Osorio's Iron and Metal in Chicago.
When you walk in the door - you are greeted w/a friendly "Hola" by either Jazmina, Angelica,
or Oscar. If they don't have what you are looking for- they will gladly help to source if for you.
For example- Cold Rolled Steel- also called 1018- isn't an off-the-shelf item.
No Problemo.
Jazmina will make a call to her supplier- and be able to provide the material for you w/in a day or so. Same thing for Stainless Steel.

They primarily support the Ornamental Fence Industry- all the small shops in town that make gates,railings and other "wrought iron" that you commonly see- but never pay attention to.
BUT- they are also "used to" Artists, Furniture Designers, and others who aren't pulling up in a PickUp Truck ready to load a 20 foot long piece of Steel.

Osorio's is a recommended Vendor-  as well as someone I "like" to do business with (&you will 2 !)

Bandsaw they use to cut 20 foot lengths to fit in your Vehicle @ OSORIO's 

Osorio Iron & Metal
4515 W. Thomas
Chicago,IL. 60651

773.772.4060

Hard to "find"- Easy to work with!