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The following is the latest in a series celebrating Nest Studio’s 10th anniversary. In this edition, we look back at the genesis and staying power of its first three collections, Classic. Facet, and Transparency 

Six years ago, Charlotte Maier was working in a showroom that boasted one of the largest selections of architectural hardware in San Francisco. Three of its products were unlike any of the others.

“The Classic, Facet and Transparency collections completely stood out from everything else in our giant showroom,” she said. “I remember falling in love with the brand.”

Today Maier has the pleasure of incorporating these legacy collections in projects as an interior designer for Atelier Davis and a member of the extended Nest Studio team. (Scroll below to see some of her favorite installs.)

A decade after their release, the trio of legacy collections remain among Nest Studio’s best-selling and most influential. Although there have been some minor modifications to a few pieces, the collections remain essentially unaltered from the time of their launch. Maier attributes their longevity to the balance they’ve struck as being progressive in their design without being “overly trendy.”

“Hardware – especially cabinet hardware – tends to be so mass-produced,” she said. “We’re used to seeing very standard bar pulls, for example, in a builder-grade satin nickel finish. Our designs have stood the test of time because they’re interesting, they’re timeless and they aren’t seen every day.”

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The Legacy Collections

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The first of Nest Studio’s hardware lines was the Facet collection, which was actually designed by Jessica Davis a year before she founded the company in 2012. Inspired by the Machine Age and the Modernist movement, all of Facet’s pieces incorporate a hexagonal shape that has been the subject of, shall we say, the greatest form of flattery.

“Facet is probably our most knocked-off collection,” Maier said. “It goes to show that even from the beginning, we were a trendsetter in hardware. There are some big brands that have knocked off this shape and we were the first to have it.”

Unlike other hardware brands, the Facet collection, like all of our hardware, is made of solid brass. Additionally, Facet was developed from a ready-made shape, but we added custom features like the reveals (the grooves at each end) and the companion knobs to truly create a signature collection.

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Nest Studio’s Facet collection featured in Polished Nickel.

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Also released in 2012 was the Transparency collection, an Art Deco-influenced series which was groundbreaking in its use of mixed materials. Transparency is named for the transparent, light-reflecting acrylic that is combined with brass, which is satinized, or plated in chrome or nickel. While shoppers may have been able to find acrylic incorporated in the designs of interior products like furniture and decor at the time, it was unheard of in hardware.

“One of the most unique details in the Transparency series is the exposed slot screws, which make it feel very mechanical. It invites a closer look when you first see it,” Maier said. “As of today, there is still nothing like it on the market and remains one of our best-sellers.”

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Nest Studio’s Transparency collection featured in Satin Brass.

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In 2013, Nest Studio released what remains its all-time bestseller, the Classic collection. Drawing inspiration from female design icon Dorothy Draper, the collection is known for its signature clipped curved corners, remarkable versatility, and a silhouette that is both classic in essence but unique for hardware. 

“Classic is special because it can be used in super-bold contemporary spaces, but it is also very traditional in essence,” Maier observed. “It can go in any kind of space.” For a bolder use of Classic, the collection’s Classic-01 and Classic-05 models are show stoppers when placed front and center on cabinets. 

In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Nest Studio revisited the Classic collection and developed a few new pieces that offer exciting variations on the beloved design. Classic is one of a handful of collections that lacked a traditional knob, but that is about to change. The new Classic knob is a beautiful compliment to the established collection with its petite size and clean lines it's perfect for kitchens, baths and closets.

Nest Studio will also release a dramatic addition to the Classic series, the Classic Mother, an oversized statement pull. The Classic Mother pays homage to our founder, Jessica Davis, and all other groundbreaking women in design. Watch this space in the weeks ahead for more detail.

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Nest Studio’s Classic collection featured in Polished Nickel.

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Charlotte’s Memorable Legacy Projects

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Below Maier shares the stories behind some of her favorite projects that included Nest Studio’s Facet, Transparency and Classic collections.

A native of Athens, Georgia, Maier actually met Davis while she was visiting the San Francisco showroom where she worked. Maier coincidentally relocated to Atlanta around the same time Davis did and would begin working for Nest Studio and Atelier Davis in 2019. When Maier moved to her new home, she couldn’t wait to install Facet in its guest bathroom, which still had its original 1960s hex pattern floor tiles. She also chose the hardware in a polished chrome, an ideal match for the period of the home.

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Design: Boutique Interiors. Photo: Green Door Photography. 

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Boutique Interiors, another Maier favorite, assigned names and backstories to a pair of condos it designed in a retirement community in Missoula, Montana. The project is a unique showcase of Nest Studio’s legacy collections, using the three best-selling collections for playful, varied designs. The first, "Pied a Terre," tells the story of a sophisticated and feminine “Uptown Girl” who loves to host and sip champagne by candlelight. The second, "Trousdale," tells a much different story about a mover and shaker in the music scene, and used pieces from the Organic and Lauhala with Ku & Moe collections. You can read more about both of these remodeled spaces on our blog.

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Design by Cecilia Casa Grande Interiors featuring Nest Studio’s Classic Collection.

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One of Maier’s all-time favorite Nest Studio installs was this bathroom project by Cecilia Casagrande Interiors. “What I love most about this install is that it’s extremely bold,” she said. “There’s a wild jungle wallpaper and black cabinets with Classic hardware installed beautifully on the vanity.” She recalled that the photographer on the scene liked the hardware so much that he purchased it for his own home. 

Our legacy collections, Classic, Facet and Transparency remain bestsellers for a reason. Their timeless designs combined with the highest quality brass construction deliver the perfect finishing touch for any interior space - from traditional to contemporary. Show us your favorite installs by sharing and tagging us on Instagram @neststudiohardware.