RMH/Jennifer Hoey Suede Studio Partner Website

Summiting Sustainability

Bronze Brilliance Meets Suede Sophistication: The Phases Collection

by Jennifer Walton

Rocky Mountain Hardware’s 30-Year Legacy, now enhanced with Suede Studio’s Design Ingenuity

In the serene yet vibrant Wood River Valley of Hailey, Ketchum, and Sun Valley, Idaho, where the air is crisp and the mountains stand tall, an extraordinary encounter unfolded—one that could be described as a “meet cute” of the design world.

Picture this: the leading manufacturer of bronze architectural hardware, Rocky Mountain Hardware, renowned for its 30-year legacy of sustainability and craftsmanship, found itself at a milestone, or what many would deem a significant achievement. With a headquarters in Hailey and three production facilities, including a rare metal foundry, Rocky Mountain Hardware has a reputation for exceeding design expectations with exquisite pieces that beautify homes and exclusive hospitality venues locally and globally. Their 90% post-consumer recycled materials have the magic touch, and their international audience continues to desire more.

Meanwhile, in a Main Street atelier in nearby Ketchum, Suede Studio, an award-winning design firm with 20 years of experience formerly known as Jennifer Hoey Interior Design, was crafting dreams into reality, honoring holistic approaches that merged softness with strength, edginess with classicism, and luxury with practicality. Before long, their distinct energy, expertise, and style imprinted the mountain region, and clients praised their experiences with the team. Their innate sense of how to create unique homes that reflect their clients’ lifestyles and personalities is widely known.

“The Phases Collection is a nice collaboration between both brands. It embodies a contemporary essence that resonates in the kitchen and bath collections, offering a versatility that marries functionality with beauty effortlessly.”

–Jennifer Hoey, Founder, Suede Studio

The “bronze” and “suede” paths converged unexpectedly and often, like characters in a romantic comedy stumbling upon each other in the most promising places. With its rugged and refined appeal, Rocky Mountain Hardware kept catching the eyes and knocking on the doors of Suede Studio’s diverse clientele. In Rocky Mountain Hardware, Suede Studio saw a partner that could bring its visionary designs to life, adding a dose of bronze brilliance to their already stunning ideations. RMH knew a good partner when it observed Suede’s graceful movements in the world of interior design. “Rocky Mountain Hardware approached me to design a new line of bath accessories and cabinet hardware. I was looking to fill a gap that they had in this category with a more modern take than what was currently in their line. I was inspired to use some curvy shapes and to challenge the inherently heavy look of bronze with a more refined proportion. At Suede Studio, we are known for a more contemporary mountain aesthetic. My goal was to conceptualize pieces that we would use in our projects on an everyday basis,” states founder Jennifer Hoey.

From conception to completion, the Rocky Mountain Hardware Marketing Director and President collaborated with Hoey. Ideas flowed like a mountain stream, blending the timeless elegance of hand-cast architectural pieces by multi-generational artisans with the innovative spirit of contemporary and modern design. It was a match made in design heaven—a collaboration that promised to redefine luxury and sustainability in the architectural world.

And so, against Sun Valley’s majestic peaks, Rocky Mountain Hardware and Suede Studio embarked on a journey together, where softness meets strength and sustainability with style. It was a love story of design, creating something remarkable—a partnership that would leave a lasting impression on architecture in the Wood River Valley and beyond.

Enter the Phases Collection—a revelation that gracefully bridges the gap between time-honored traditional designs and the sleek allure sought in today’s architectural landscapes. “Phases” resonates deeply within the realms of art, architecture, and design, evoking a multitude of meanings and interpretations that enrich creative endeavors in various ways.

In “art,” phases often refer to distinct periods or stages in an artist’s career or movement. Artisans may undergo “phases” of experimentation, exploration, and evolution, each marked by styles, techniques, and thematic concerns. These phases chronicle the artisan’s growth and development, reflecting perspective, inspiration, and artistic vision shifts.

“I named it Phases because everyone can relate to the “phases” we go through in life.Whether it be a design phase or trend, a life phase, or a complete diversion in your life path—this concept is relatable to all. The name of each individual piece relates to that: Rendezvous, Dilemma, Kinked, Detour, and Pivot. I tell all my clients, ‘Interior design is a luxury service. The process should be fun!’ So why not have a little fun with the naming of our new hardware line?””

–Jennifer Hoey, Founder, Suede Studio

In design, “phases” encompass the cyclical nature of trends, movements, and styles, reflecting the dynamic interplay between past, present, and future influences. Designers embrace revival, reinterpretation, and reinvention phases, drawing inspiration from historical precedents while infusing contemporary sensibilities and technological advancements. Whether exploring minimalist simplicity, maximalist opulence, or somewhere in between, designers navigate through phases of discovery and transformation, forging connections between form and function, beauty and utility.

“The Phases Collection is a nice collaboration between both brands,” Hoey continues. “It embodies a contemporary essence that resonates in the kitchen and bath collections, offering a versatility that marries functionality with beauty effortlessly. In particular, the TP holder with the iPhone shelf is quite current and something that our clients ask for on a regular basis! It was exciting to design a product that I knew was fresh for the market and very current.” Each piece within the collection speaks a language of cohesion, where scale and lines harmonize to facilitate the mixing and matching of knobs, pulls, and grips, plus towel bars. Phases isn’t just a collection; it’s a testament to the enduring bond between craftsmanship and innovation and the endless possibilities when passion meets precision.

And now, complements of this “meet cute,” there is a myriad of cabinet pulls and knobs, door pulls and grips, towel bars, hooks, and that ingenious toilet paper holder with a shelf that could redefine your visit to the bathroom. “One of the most exciting aspects of this project for me was naming the collection and each individual piece. I named it Phases because everyone can relate to the “phases” we go through in life,” reflects Hoey. “Whether it be a design phase or trend, a life phase, or a complete diversion in your life path—this concept is relatable to all. The name of each individual piece relates to that: Rendezvous, Dilemma, Kinked, Detour, and Pivot. I tell all my clients, ‘Interior design is a luxury service. The process should be fun!’ So why not have a little fun with the naming of our new hardware line?”

In the midst of the majestic mountains, the collaboration has blossomed into something truly remarkable. The partnership has yielded the exquisite Phases Collection and ignited a spark of creativity. Its glow serves as a reminder of the beauty in the synergy of craftsmanship, innovation, and passion. It invites us all to embrace phases with joy and curiosity. Phases will continue to inspire and captivate, leaving an imprint on the hearts and homes of those who encounter its timeless appeal.