There are LOTS of decisions to make when specifying custom drapery hardware. Metal or Wood? Finish selection and pole diameter? Finial shape and ring size? The bracket can be an afterthought, but the seemingly insignificant bracket has a big impact on function and aesthetic.
How Many?
When considering brackets, the first question to be answered is “How many brackets are needed?”. Quite often the answer to this question will point you towards a specific hardware vendor. The general rule is brackets should be spaced 4 feet apart. If you are dealing with single windows, almost any bracket style or line of hardware will work because you only need two brackets — one on each end of the rod.
If you are dealing with a wider opening, such as a sliding glass door or triple window, a center bracket(s) will be required. Drapery rings or grommets on operable drapery panels can’t pass through standard brackets. One option for dealing with a wide span is to choose a larger diameter rod. Although 4 foot bracket spacing is the rule of thumb, as the diameter of the rod increases so does the minimum spacing required between brackets. Helser Brothers offers 2″ round metal rods with a 140″ bracket to bracket minimum — that’s almost 12 feet between brackets! For these split draw operable grommet panels, Helser Brothers 1-1/4″ diameter rods were chosen so that only 1 center bracket was needed on this 15 foot span.
What Style?
Even when you have stationary side panels (that don’t need to move past a bracket), nothing ruins a beautiful custom window treatment like a cheap looking bracket taking center stage on a long span of rodding. If you must have a center bracket, why not choose one you want to look at? Here are two examples: The first is hardware from House Parts’ Bamboo Collection and the second is Helser Brothers’ 1-1/4″ twisted iron rope rod with Artigiani brackets. A custom touch is to plan your rod splices and bracket spacing so the center brackets align with the breaks in the window as shown with the Aria Drapery Hardware brackets in the third example.
Another option for dealing with a wide span is to choose a bracket style that visually disappears. Most brackets have a vertical mount plate. But some hardware lines offer brackets with a horizontal mount plate. The horizontal plate is hidden behind the rod itself. Can you find the three center brackets on this Orion Iron Art hardware?
Parkway Window Works partners with busy interior designers to take their window treatment vision from concept to reality. We are here to help you work through all the technical questions related to your drapery project down to the last detail including what bracket to use. Ready to specify custom drapery hardware for your next project? Contact us to get started.
