Martin

Colour Trends What’s hot? The latest colour trends The following is an overview of where colour trends are going for the home. Emphasis on home wares, paint and furniture.
	Still a sense of red going forward. Red are both warm and cool. On the horizon we are seeing Burgundy gaining popularity. Rose is the Homes answer to pink, looks fresh and updated when paired with milk chocolate brown.
	Orange not dominant, but hinted of a comeback. Orange for Home goes earthy, a clean terra cotta, represents the copper family. A new soft coral warmed with pink is on the home horizon. This colour works well with neutral, brown and green shades
	A classic for home fashion. Directional yellow is going influenced by green, Dijon mustard. Gold yellow is important a sophisticated optimistic colour that works well with natural colours and ethnic.
	Green moves in all directions. Yellow, blue, greycast greens. Green is the third most popular colour used after neutral grey and brown. While yellow greens dominate now, a shift to blue green is visible and getting stronger. By Fall you will notice the shift. Green will be key due to our interest in environment.
	Denim and spa inspired hues. The colour of relax. Blues for home whether red or green influenced greyed for softness. New blues from Europe showing up on laundry appliances. Inky navy blues are showing up as an alternative to black.
	Purple is moving from blue based to red verging on a raspberry hue. Purple pairs with grey, brown, green and red for an upscale look
	Grey has moved from metallics, granite, marble and stainless steel kitchens to grey on walls and upholstery. Greys are still strong with warm greys edging out the cooler tones. This fall look for the importance of a true grey, grey with silver and blue undertones, (Jane’s new dishes from Royal Doulton.) A sophisticated green cast smoky black Grey reached to brown, beige and off white.
	Brown is the popular warm neutral story. Taupe was strong the bridge between warm browns and warm greys. Finishes are extreme matte versus gloss. Bright metallic finish with a matte graphic overlay as an example.

Click For More

At Martin's Home Hardware

2007 Floor Model spa Clearance

BBQ and Patio Sale

Benjamin Moore Paint Sale up to 30 % off (includes PE Store)

Lunch BBQ

click for More

At Martin's bicycle Shop

Super Spring Sale

BMX stunt show

Storewide Sales

Giveaways

Check out the new Tennis Shop. Win a Wilson Racquet

Lunch BBQ

A Family Business

Martin's Spa Display AreaFor More Martin's Offerings Click Here See the Home, Garden and Leisure sections

From hot-tubs to home decor to hardware, Martin's Home Hardware of Southampton has seen continual growth and expansion over the years and there is no doubt that it has gone through many changes since opening its doors in 1976.

Three generations of Martins have been involved in the Home Hardware chain and, as Bruce Martin says, "We try to give our customers what they're asking for and, as their needs and wants change, we try to change with them. You only have to watch the dramatic rise of home decorating shows on television to know that home decor has become extremely popular."

To keep up with the rising trend, Martin's has also opened a specialty paint division, Martin's Home Colors, in Port Elgin while, at the Southampton location, they have begun to carry a wide variety of upscale furnishings and accessories for every room in the house, including the out-of-doors with their new hot tub department.

"We've been installing hot tubs all through Bruce and Grey Counties," says Martin. "People are beginning to stay closer to home for vacations instead of traveling long distances. We're finding that many are now upgrading their homes with large-scale leisure items, like the hot tub, all purpose barbeques and complete outdoor furniture sets. In fact, they are turning yards into outdoor rooms to complement indoor living spaces and the backyard has become almost a vacation spa."

(next column)

(continued)

Brett Martin

Brett Martin is the next generation to become involved in the business. "It all began with my grandfather," says the younger Martin. "He was sales manager for Home Hardware, my grandmother worked in the warehouse as a young girl, my father, Bruce, began helping in the warehouse as a teenager and here I am running the cycle division."

"In fact, the sale and service of bicycles is one of our major areas of growth," explains Martin. "The demand has been so unbelievable that we had to open a separate division in a building across the street from the store. We're now getting customers from as far away as Kincardine, Hanover and Owen Sound."

Martin feels that the popularity has been, in part, because of Lance Armstrong and his success in the Tour de France and also credits the opening of the new BMX riding track in Saugeen Shores.

"There has been a huge increase in high-end street bikes since Armstrong's success and, with BMX becoming an Olympic sport, we can't keep them in stock." The sport has become so popular that Martin's now sponsors a 15-member BMX racing team . "We also run a bike camp for kids from seven to 12 during the summer," he adds, "We teach them to BMX ride on a track, then go out to MacGregor Park for some nature riding and ride the Rail Trail."

"We still carry hardware," says Bruce Martin, "but we're also trying to meet the overall needs of our customers."

Martin's Home Hardware is located at 236 High St. in Southampton, their bike division is directly across the street and their color division is at 281 Goderich St., Port Elgin.

For more see www.martins.ca