Handmade Signs & Gold Leaf
We also hand-gild house numbers and transom windows on historic homes in Annapolis, Baltimore and Washington, DC.
What We Do
We make handmade signs that last for generations: carved quarterboards, gold leaf boat names, custom life rings, dimensional signs and letters, and gold leaf house numbers.
Every sign is designed, built and finished in our Edgewater, Maryland shop, then installed or shipped wherever it needs to go.
Design
We draw up a custom design and refine it with you until it’s right.
Manufacture
We carve, paint and gild every sign by hand in our shop..
Install
We install locally or ship your finished sign, ready to hang.
Our History
Designs & Signs was founded in 1976 by Brendon J. Brandon, whose sign making career has taken him across Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and the United States. He is a past President of the International Society of Gilders and spent six years as head editor of its magazine, “The Gilder’s Tip.” He has taught gilding and sign making for the Smithsonian Institution, the Fashion Institute of Technology and other organizations. Today, his son Travis Brandon, also a master gilder, runs the shop in Edgewater, Maryland, carrying on the same traditional craft.
From The Portfolio
Follow us while we work.
Fleming Boat Name: YOHO in Burnished Silver Leaf and Black
This Fleming boat name belongs to YOHO, with her hailing port in Vancouver, BC. We lettered the name in bold capitals of burnished silver leaf film. Each letter sits on a black Avery outline. A bold Fleming boat name A short Fleming boat name like YOHO calls for big,...
Silver and Gold Boat Name: Alchemy, a Fleming from Richmond
This silver and gold boat name belongs to Alchemy, a Fleming yacht with her hailing port in Richmond, VA. We lettered the name in two metals: burnished silver leaf and burnished gold leaf. Each letter sits on a black Avery outline. A silver and gold boat name for...
Meridian Boat Name: Cielo in Burnished Silver Leaf Script
This Meridian boat name belongs to Cielo, which means "sky" in Spanish and Italian. We lettered her name in burnished silver leaf film in a graceful script, with a black Avery outline. Below it, her hailing port, Edgewater, MD, sits in clean capitals. That makes her a...
Silver Script Boat Name: Molly Maguire on a Seaway Boat
This silver script boat name belongs to Molly Maguire, a Seaway boat. We lettered her name in burnished silver leaf film over a black Avery outline. The result is a classic name with a soft, satin shine. Why a silver script boat name works A flowing script gives a...
Custom Boat Name Graphic: Wine Down with Black Wine Glasses
This custom boat name graphic belongs to Wine Down, a Meridian from Edgewater, MD. We lettered the name in engine turned silver leaf film with a black Avery outline. In addition, we drew a pair of black wine glasses right into the name, an original touch that makes it...
Boat Name Life Ring: Knot Done in Grey and Black Avery Vinyl
We made this boat name life ring for Knot Done. First, we lettered the name in grey and black Avery vinyl. In addition, a rope knot forms the K, a playful nod to the name. Like every life ring we make, we built it to order at our shop in Edgewater, Maryland. From a...
Burnished Gold Boat Name: Bonnie Sue in Gold Leaf Script
This burnished gold leaf boat name belongs to Bonnie Sue, a yacht we lettered at Burr Yacht Sales in Edgewater, Maryland. We lettered her name in a flowing script over a black Avery outline. Below the name, her hailing port, Stuart, FL, sits in classic capitals. In...
Gold Leaf Quarterboards: Bonnie Sue in Carved Teak Script
We made these gold leaf quarterboards for Bonnie Sue. We carved her name into a matching pair of teak boards in a flowing script. Then we gilded each letter by hand in 23 karat gold leaf and finished it with a black outline. Like every pair we make, we built them to...
Fleming 55 Boat Name: True North in Burnished Silver Leaf
This Fleming 55 boat name belongs to True North, a yacht we lettered at Burr Yacht Sales in Edgewater, Maryland. We set her name in bold block capitals of burnished silver leaf film. Each letter sits on a black Avery vinyl outline. Below the name, her hailing port,...
Cedar Farm Sign: Sandblasted with a Painted Dog Portrait
Cedar Farm Sign for Diesel's Farm This cedar farm sign marks the entrance to Diesel's Farm in Davidsonville, Maryland. The owner had one special request: he wanted his dog's face painted right on the sign. It was the biggest dog we've ever seen. In fact, judging by...
Marine Business Sign: Routed HDU with Gold Leaf Star Logo
Marine Business Sign for Stella Marine Services Stella Marine Services needed signs for three locations, so we made three matching marine business signs. Each one measures 4 x 8 feet, and we routed them from 1-inch-thick HDU (high-density urethane). The company has...
Community Pool Sign: Routed HDU with Gold Leaf Sailboat
Hillsmere Shores Community Pool Sign in Routed HDU This community pool sign welcomes members and guests to the Hillsmere Shores Community Pool, home of the Hammerheads. We routed it from HDU (high-density urethane) and then gave it a classic look with a gilded...
Let's Get Started!
We've been making signs by hand since 1976, from gold leaf boat names and carved quarterboards to dimensional letters and glass gilding.
The quickest way to begin is to send us a message with your project details, and we'll get back to you with ideas and pricing.
We look forward to working with you!