In a collaboration that marries daring design with expert craftsmanship, Australian interior design studio YSG has partnered with door hardware brand Bankston Architectural to create the Wide Guy door pull. A key piece in the new Streaks collection, the pull is a striking object defined by its deliberately oversized scale and a beautiful striped pattern crafted from different-colored woods. It is a piece that directly challenges traditional notions of door hardware, elevating a simple functional object to a bold, sculptural statement. By drawing on YSG’s signature approach of manipulating scale in its interior projects, the Wide Guy door pull becomes a focal point in its own right, a testament to the “unadulterated beauty of timber” and the power of a single design element to transform a space.
The Power of Oversized Design
The Wide Guy door pull is a product born from a specific design philosophy: the deliberate and impactful manipulation of scale. YSG, a studio celebrated for its audacious and highly personal interior projects, has long experimented with producing custom oversized hardware to create dramatic visual statements. The Wide Guy is a commercial realization of these successful experiments. The pull’s sheer size is intended to be “perception challenging,” in the words of Bankston co-CEO Steve Bradley. It forces a viewer to reconsider the function of the object and to appreciate its form as a work of art.
In an architectural context, hardware is often an afterthought, a functional necessity that fades into the background. The Wide Guy rejects this passive role. It is designed to be a prominent, sculptural element that can anchor a door or an entire wall. This intentional over-scaling is a powerful tool in interior design, allowing a single element to define the character of a space. It’s an approach that is both playful and serious, demanding attention and inviting a new way of looking at the details that make up our built environment.
A Palette of Tonal Timbers
The Wide Guy door pull’s most compelling feature is its aesthetic composition, a sophisticated interplay of striped, tonal timbers. The handle is not made from a single type of wood but from sets of two distinct timbers, which are expertly joined together to create a seamless striped pattern. This approach highlights the inherent beauty of the material, showcasing the different hues, grains, and textures of the chosen woods. It is a celebration of nature’s artistry, framed by a precise and modern design.
The timber pairings range from the subtly elegant to the boldly unconventional. For those seeking a more restrained aesthetic, the Light Band option alternates between the light-hued American white ash and the slightly deeper Australian blackbutt. For a more adventurous and visually striking look, the Colour Band combination features the deep, reddish tones of New Zealand purpleheart and the rich, vibrant hues of African padauk. This range of options ensures that the Wide Guy can be integrated into a wide variety of design schemes, from minimalist and light-filled spaces to more dramatic and color-saturated interiors.
Expanding the Streaks Collection
The Wide Guy door pull is a key element of a larger, cohesive collection known as The Streaks. The same striped approach, celebrating the tonal beauty of wood, is echoed in other handles and pulls within the collection, providing designers with a comprehensive suite of hardware options. This consistency allows for a unified design language to be carried throughout a project, from main entry doors to interior cabinetry. The collection’s design philosophy is clear: to elevate everyday hardware into custom, beautiful objects.
For designers seeking even more versatility, The Streaks collection also includes a few pieces cast in patinated bronze. This option allows for a dynamic interplay between the warmth of the timber and the cooler, industrial feel of the metal. The ability to mix and match finishes across the collection provides a unique level of customization, enabling designers to create a truly bespoke look that reflects the specific character of their project. This integrated approach ensures that the Wide Guy is not just a standalone statement but a part of a larger, well-considered family of products.
From Residential to Hospitality
Bankston Architectural has a clear vision for where the Wide Guy door pull can make its most significant impact. While its bold design makes it a perfect fit for a luxury residence, its durability and striking aesthetic also make it an ideal choice for high-traffic commercial settings. The company envisions the door pull being used in hotels, bars, and restaurants, where it can serve as a key design feature in lobbies, on restroom doors, or on a grand entrance. This versatility speaks to the quality of both the design and the craftsmanship.
The use of distinct timber pairings and the oversized scale makes the Wide Guy a powerful branding element in a hospitality context. It can be used to create a memorable first impression, communicating a venue’s design-forward approach and its commitment to quality and detail. This dual-purpose—as a functional object and a design statement—is what makes the Wide Guy door pull particularly valuable in both the private and public sectors.
The Intersection of Art and Function
The Wide Guy door pull stands at a fascinating intersection of art and function. It takes a mundane, everyday object and imbues it with a sense of purpose and beauty that transcends its practical use. It is a bold statement that challenges a common perception: that hardware should be seen and not heard. Instead, this piece demands to be seen, to be touched, and to be appreciated for its material honesty and sculptural form.
The collaboration between an interior design studio and a hardware manufacturer is a powerful example of how creative synergy can produce a product that pushes boundaries. By marrying “perception challenging design with the unadulterated beauty of timber,” as Bankston co-CEO Steve Bradley stated, the Wide Guy door pull becomes a symbol of an evolving design landscape—one that values craftsmanship, embraces scale, and celebrates the artistry of even the smallest details.
