This weekend I was helping a friend put up curtain hardware, and we were looking for a fast and inexpensive solution for a double window. The apartment is a rental and my friend had no interest in fancy hardware. And neither was there time to order custom rods. I have a knee-jerk reaction to putting up “extendable” rods, the one-size-fits-many variety. Not only do I not like the way these rods look, I dislike that each time you open or close the curtains, the rings, (or rod pocket), catches on the join; every single day as you yank the curtains over the join you have the irritation of a badly designed product. I use wood rods a lot because they are cut to fit. Metal rods I often have custom fabricated, so that I can get one with out that extension joint in the middle.
As we didn’t have time to go to my drapery hardware supplier, I did a dive into Home Depot to see what they offered for speedy installation. A serviceable wood rod was available in an ok color. Then the finials, and the rings…it was starting to get pricey, and I was thinking the wood was just fine, but not spectacular. Alas, they ended up not even having the right brackets (in a disappointing marketing plan they don’t even carry the right brackets).
I have in the past used plumbing pipe for hardware, so I took a stroll over to that department. I found a great looking steel pipe with threaded ends, in just the right size. It had nice little caps to use as finials. And it came in a “gun metal” black –gray finish, similar to one I had specified on some pricey custom metal rods. For about $12.00 I had a fantastic rod and finials! I went back to the Décor dept at Home Depot, and found a “Universal Bracket” for around $14.00/pair that could be used to hang the rod. I made sure brackets seemed sturdy – the rod was a hefty weight and I was glad I wasn’t hanging super-heavy curtains on them. There were nice metal rings available that fit the rod as well. The brackets and rings were both a matte silver that worked well with the gunmetal finish of the rod.
I have used a lighter weight copper pipe for drapery installations before, in my friend’s framing shop. We found all the parts we needed to run the curtains from wall to wall. It’s a little tricky in this case as you have to assemble first and then install (so you need to know how many rings you will need before you start) but it’s a great industrial look and less expensive than custom metal rods and brackets. I show the parts used here. There is a threaded sleeve that screws into the base, which in turn is mounted to the wall. The pipe fits into the sleeve. Again, all must be assembled and then lifted into place and screwed into the wall- and takes down the same way. Adding a few more rings later is not terribly convenient- best to plan ahead for this type of treatment. In my installation we had painted the non-copper metal end piece black and the contrast was great looking.
I often use plumbing pipe in my lamps. I like the oxidized copper, and am getting ready to use some galvanized pipe on a pair of silver lamps. I like to use other “humble” parts, and recently built a pair of lamps from hardware I had bought for this purpose- and some I upcycled from pieces I found when cleaning out my dad’s workshop. I usually choose not to put a finish on these lamps and enjoy their “natural” patina. I do mix humble parts with fancier vintage pieces as well. For a “dressier” lamp I may give the humble parts a little polish and shine and find that when used judiciously, they step up to the occasion.