Custom Coat Racks

Time for another round of some of our latest custom mosaic coat racks! Scroll down to read more about the ideas that inspire our custom coat racks and see the resulting artwork.

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This piece in ocean colors was for a family that lives near the beach.

A few process shots, clockwise from top left: sorting colors, a blue and white piece inspired by an earlier coat rack, a gradient of cool colors on the worktable, and a finished shot of the cool colors piece. Would you be surprised to learn that greens and blues are by far the most popular colors for custom coat racks?

This red and tan piece was a special request for a coat rack with three hooks.

Grouting a silver, blue, and purple mosaic in a white frame. This was our first request for a painted frame.

Saving the best for last.... this special piece stars the Chicago skyline. Several landmarks in particular were requested (from left to right): the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower, Cloud Gate (aka, the Bean), the Navy Pier ferris wheel, and the Cubs logo. We used found materials to set these points apart from the rest of the cityscape. All in all, a fun and satisfying piece to create!

Want to see more?? You can see the previous group of custom mosaic coat racks here.

To order your own custom mosaic coat rack, stop by our online shop. Have questions or something unique in mind? Use our contact form or email Johannah at johannah@phoenixhandcraft.com.

Custom Porch Stair Railing

Ever wonder how a hand-forged railing goes from an idea in a homeowner's mind to a beautiful addition to their home? Here's the story behind the first of two custom residential porch stair hand railings we created and installed recently. (You can find part 2 here.)

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Once the client has approved a design for a custom railing and we begin production, the first step is a full-scale drawing on our steel layout tables. This exterior stair railing design included scrolls big enough to require a little creativity to fit them in our small gas forge!

There you have it! The finished product, a custom hand-forged stair rail, painted and installed in the brick steps and slate patio.

Mosaic river panels

It's not every day a commission comes along in your favorite colors AND your favorite theme. But that's exactly what happened here! This client was looking to add something special to the entry of their riverside home. We created two mosaic panels inspired by the James River in shades of cool greys and blues.

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We used this sampling of colors found throughout the house to create the palette for the mosaic panels.

Abstraction of natural imagery is one of Johannah's favorite inspirations. For the mosaic panels, she created waves of color to reflect the shimmering movement of the river. You can see some of the notes she used to create the shading of color in the photo above.

More progress shots, from complete color palette in the top left to grouting in the bottom right.

First panel installed! With the door slightly ajar, you can see how well the mosaic colors coordinate with the palette in the house. Success!

The second panel, and the gorgeous view of the river from the house. The wall of windows directly across from the entrance where the mosaics reside immerse you in the greenery of the lush woods along the river's edge. What an honor to be part of this beautiful retreat from the world.