DIY Tutorial: Acrylic Drapery Rods

20 Jul DIY Tutorial: Acrylic Drapery Rods

Posted at 08:00h in Decor, DIY, Inspiration, Living Room, My Home, Projects, Tutorials by

 

THIS POST HAS AN UPDATE!!!  CLICK THIS LINK FOR THE UPDATED VERSION, & ENJOY!

I have loved acrylic curtain rods for years (name is interchangeable with lucite drapery rods).  They add a bit of sparkle to a room, and I think they are so simple and beautiful.  An elegance is effortlessly ushered into a room with their presence.  Take a look at these inspiration photos.  Love the square rod!  And the brass hardware? Swoon.

Gretchen Everett Hardware & Home

Mary Anne Smiley Interiors

Sarah 101, “Contemporary Living”

Sarah 101, “Contemporary Living”

DHome

http://stitchdrapery.blogspot.com

However, they have always been something I put out of my mind because of budget.  A quick visit to this site, and your mind reels at the cost: 8 foot 2″ acrylic rod $550 + pair of endcaps $195 = $745 FOR ONE ROD!! Eek.

Well, I dismissed the idea until I had an epiphany one day…why not find out if there is a plastic company that will supply the rods for me?  Maybe I could save money by not going through a fancy curtain rod company?  After calling around for pricing, I finally landed on Nationwide Plastics based in Dallas, Texas.  I have to give credit to their A+ employee, Kip, who sat with me on the phone a long time and answered my questions.  He taught  me quite a lot about acrylic, valuable information I can now share with you!  Side Note: Not in the DFW area?  No problem, Kip will ship to you!

Basically, there are two different types of acrylic: cellcast and extruded.  Extruded acrylic is the lower end type – it is more like plastic, may have imperfections, yellows over time, and scratches easily.  It is much cheaper than cellcast if you just want the look and are willing to take the chance it may not look great very long.  Extruded acrylic is not as strong either so you might need a center support if you use this as your rod.  Per Nationwide Plastics pricing for one six foot rod length, see table below for cost of rods by thickness.

Extruded Acrylic Rod (six foot length)

½ inch

$3.26

¾ inch

$7.63

1 inch

$12.50

1 ½ inches

$31.63

2 inches

$72.86

Cellcast acrylic rods come in eight foot lengths.  Compared to extruded acrylic, it is much much stronger, more clear, is similar to glass in weight and feel, does not yellow over time, and gives off more sparkle.  In my opinion, it is a superior product for this type of application, and therefore, what I chose for my home.  See table below for pricing by thickness.

Cellcast Acrylic Rod (eight foot length)

½ inch

$20.31

¾ inch

$24.00

1 inch

$31.26

1 ½ inches

$58.22

2 inches

$105.23
Now, you may be wondering…what if I want cellcast acrylic, but I need it to be five and a half feet wide?  No problem, says Kip, he will cut it to the length you need for free, but you have to purchase by the rod.  You will still be buying the rods in eight feet lengths for cellcast, and six feet lengths in the extruded.  If you need two four foot lengths of cellcast, you are good because you just have to purchase one rod.  But if you require two five foot rods, you will have to buy two lengths.  Side note on curtain rods:  I always make sure my curtain rods extend six to ten inches past my frame to give more width to my windows, and to ensure the drapes will frame the windows nicely.  

I also thought you should know that 1/2 inch is tiny for a curtain rod thickness, but I thought some of you may desire that if you have a light project so I am including it.  However, for regular drapes, I would recommend at least a 1″ thickness.  As for me and my house?  1 1/2″ rods.

Image by Kat Phillips, TheGrayAttic.com
On to end caps…  You may decide you don’t want end caps as shown below.  The thing is, you have to make sure you get the ends of your rods polished which Kip will do for an extra $7.50 per rod.

designreduxx.blogspot.com

designreduxx.blogspot.com

When I first began this project, I thought, “Okay, so I will get my rods for a totally awesome price, and then I will be home free!”  Well, not so much.  Since I wanted end caps, I had to add those on, plus wall brackets, and rings.  For my end caps, I was hoping to find simple ones in an antique brass color to tie in with the darkened bronze on the wedding cake chandelier in my living room.  Some of the cheaper end caps I found online were at least $20 EACH.  Bad news for me, so I had to come up with a different plan.

That led me to a local hardware store to find something that maybe wasn’t an end cap but looked like an end cap.  Something affordable.   After walking through the hardware section with no luck, I meandered over to the plumbing section.  And there, there in the land of PVC pipes, I found my end caps.

They actually are called plumbing caps, and you have two options – PVC or copper.

Here is a picture for sizing and shape of the PVC end caps.  They start at 1/2″ and go up to 2″.  You can see they have a bit of a rounded top which I did not want.  You have to use the 2″ to get the flat top, and that would have been too big for my rod.

½ inch

.36

¾ inch

.46

1 inch

.66

1 ½ inches

.97

2 inches

$2.26

 

Therefore, I opted for the copper.  It is a little more expensive, but I liked the weight and the thickness better.  I wanted my rods to be sleek, and the PVC caps are more bulky.  Only the 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″ copper caps are pictured.

½ inch

.74

¾ inch

$1.19

1 inch

$2.62

1 ½ inches

$3.87

2 inches

$5.63
I also preferred the copper because I felt it fit the rod better.  PVC pipe is hollow so the inside diameter of the 1″ rod is 1″.  Therefore, the cap is a bit thicker to make up for this. You can see the contrast between a 1″ copper cap and a 1″ PVC cap.  It is pretty different!

Obviously, copper is not an antique brass color, it is copper color.  A quick spray with some trusty metallic Rustoleum in “Antique Brass”, and we were good to go.
Surprisingly, it was difficult to find some affordable wall brackets to hold the rods in the 1 1/2″ size.  I ended up using these from West Elm and also painted them in the Rustoleum antique brass color.
In order to slip the rod through the bracket and secure the end caps, I hot glued white velcro squares to the inside of the end cap and the end of the rod.  I  used hot glue to ensure the velcro would stay on.
For rings, I found these antique brass rings at Cutting Corners that are a perfect match with the paint color.  I don’t remember how much they were, around $5-$6 – very affordable.
I took the little clips off and used drapery hooks instead.  Designers Tip:  when you are using drapery hooks, always turn the last drapery hook in to get a nice curved edge to your drape.  So on the right side, push the tip of the hook through the ring to the left, and visa versa.

Ready for the big reveal?  I have some more work to do on my living room, so I am not ready to show the whole space to you quite yet.  For now, enjoy some shots of the windows with my lovely rods.

Image by Kat Phillips, TheGrayAttic.com

 Image by Kat Phillips, TheGrayAttic.com

Image by Kat Phillips, TheGrayAttic.com

 

As keen as I am on my acrylic drapery rods, I had to show you two other ideas I love.

Closet rods!

Sarah Richardson

Staircase railing!  Love it!

La Dolce Vita

All in all, my rod and end caps cost around $65.  Nice savings, huh?

How will you use this idea?

If you love this post, please become a subscriber by entering your email in the “Subscribe By Email” box in the sidebar on the right.  You can easily keep up with my DIY’s, interior design work, and renovation of my 1920 home.  Thank you so much to all of you who daily spend a little time with me. 

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80 Comments
  • Kimberly
    Posted at 08:18h, 20 July

    I love the idea. I also love the fabric you chose for your drapes. I am using that same fabric for pillows and love it. I am wondering about the panels behind the blue chest. Is that fabric covering the panels or wall paper?

  • Grace
    Posted at 08:32h, 20 July

    Hi Kimberly! So glad you like it! I’m sure your pillows will look great, the linen texture of that fabric is so great. That vintage screen is my most favorite piece in the whole house. It is fabric on the panels, deliciously beautiful vintage fabric. 🙂 It is one of Kristen’s awesome finds (check out the “Available Pieces” tab on the blog), and I love it!

  • Kelly
    Posted at 09:11h, 20 July

    FABULOUS post! Love the light and shine the lucite brings to the room, reflecting the natural window light. Lovely. Well done!

  • Grace
    Posted at 10:10h, 20 July

    Thanks Kelly Kay! This would look great in your house somewhere with all of your pretty windows!

  • Jan Tobey
    Posted at 15:01h, 20 July

    Hi Grace! I am having so much reading your posts! You are just so talented! BTW…I am also totally obsessed with the Mora clocks! 🙂

  • Grace
    Posted at 19:22h, 20 July

    Hey Jan! So glad you are enjoying the blog! I know, there is one on Ebay right now. It’s only like…eight thousand dollars. 🙂

  • Shalene
    Posted at 16:34h, 22 July

    OK, it’s official! You need to come over, let me serve you lunch while our kiddos play and collaborate with me regarding design ideas for the house! 🙂

    • Grace
      Posted at 02:47h, 23 July

      Shalene, you are so sweet! I would love to see you! Collaborating on ideas is fun, too. 🙂 Let’s work it out!

  • Mommy Chic
    Posted at 23:13h, 22 July

    I’m obsessed w that home in DMag. So much that when it was on the market recently, I wanted to buy it with everything in it! I’m currently on the hunt for acrylic tables.I’ll have to see of Nationwide (and Kip) have what I want! Great post w wonderful info! Keep it up!

    • Grace
      Posted at 02:48h, 23 July

      Hi Mommy Chic! I know, so gorgeous! Kip is awesome, he can totally help you!

  • Tiffany
    Posted at 21:12h, 23 July

    Grace – I read a bazillion blogs and this is on my “top five” for best posts ever. You’re really rocking it with this blog, keep up the good work!

    • Grace
      Posted at 23:02h, 23 July

      Oh wow, thanks Tiffany! I really appreciate the encouragement! I actually just got some better pictures taken by my super talented friend Kat Phillips so I am going to replace my mediocre ones. 🙂 Thanks for reading!

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  • Patsy
    Posted at 20:29h, 05 December

    I love, love love the acrylic drapery rods! I live in FL and don’t want the outside view through the doors obstructed so I just want a drapery panel on each end of the sliding glass doors. The sliding glass door goes right up against the wall. Can you tell lme what hardware to use to put the rod in on the end that butts up against the wall? On the other end of the rod I want to use one of the Restoration Hardware Finials. How does that attach to the rod? Thanks so much! Love your blog.

    • Grace
      Posted at 11:06h, 19 December

      Hi Patsy, thank you so much for your comment. I try so hard to answer each one within 48 hours, but sometimes, one slips through the cracks. Okay, on the end of the rod that goes against the wall, you need to get a rod socket set. (Think the circular pieces that attach to the walls inside your closet that you set your rod into.) I would do a google search if you are trying to find a specific metal or finish for this. I don’t know that you can attach a Restoration Hardware finial to the other end unless you can somehow take the screw off and glue it to the end. (which may be possible). The finial will not screw in like it would into a RH rod, but I would imagine you can figure out some way to finagle it. Hope that helps! G

  • Susan I
    Posted at 21:24h, 03 January

    My youngest daughter has a small room (approximately 9 x 11) so I am planning on taking her bi-fold closet doors off and using curtains as the “doors” instead. So I was thinking that acrylic drapery rods would be perfect so as to not add a lot more “clutter” to her room since she also has two windows that I have drapery on already. I’m thinking that I’m going to go whole hog with the acrylic drapery rods and use acrylic brackets and ends. But I’m kind of digging the copper plumbing caps that you used in case the acrylic ends are too costly for my budget.

    • Grace
      Posted at 21:51h, 04 January

      Hi Susan, sounds like a great plan! If you decide the extra fabric in the room is too much, you might consider adding mirror to the bifold doors. The mirror would help make your room look bigger also. Just a thought…But of course, I LOVE acrylic rods so I think that would be beautiful, too! Acrylic ends are pricey, and I’m not sure how they would fit onto the rods, but it is worth a try! In my dining room, I used the same acrylic rods as my living room, but left the ends open. (I had the ends polished) They look awesome! You can check it out here:

      http://www.astoriedstyle.com/index.php/2012/11/my-dining-room/

      Hope that helps, Susan! Send me some photos of your finished product! xx G

  • jess@hillcountryhomebody@blogspot.com
    Posted at 14:24h, 17 January

    Love this! Thanks for all of the great information! I’m about to have a ton of windows to cover and due to budget we are forgoing any blinds and going straight to drapes for the look and privacy. Cutting any corners we can will be a hug help!

    • Grace
      Posted at 09:55h, 18 January

      Oh yay, Jess! I think you will LOVE these! I just out them in my girls room as closet rods, and they look fab! Send me a picture when you are done! Thanks so much for reading!

  • Alison
    Posted at 09:06h, 25 January

    Thank you so much for this information. I have always adored the lucite rods but was not willing to pay the price. Now, they may be well within my reach. 🙂

    • Grace
      Posted at 22:55h, 27 January

      Hi Alison, I hope so! Send me a pic when you get them installed, I would love to see them! Thank you for your comment! G

  • Julie
    Posted at 09:27h, 25 January

    OMG! These look so fabulous! I absolutely LOVE lucite too. Great job -I am goig to pin this 😉 Thanks! http://www.JulieLovesHome.wordpress.com

    • Grace
      Posted at 22:56h, 27 January

      Yay Julie! I’m so happy you like them – I LOVE me some lucite, too! Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment! G

  • Jessica
    Posted at 22:19h, 18 February

    This blog post is ah-maze-ing. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! Your room looks beautiful!

    • Grace
      Posted at 07:22h, 19 February

      Hi Jessica, you are so kind! Thank you so much! I love a beautiful, budget-friendly DIY as much as the next gal. 🙂 Hope you can find more posts you love!

  • Ashley
    Posted at 21:38h, 19 February

    Awesome thanks! After a little perusing, also found ready-made lucite and brass curtain rods on Etsy.

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/124037681/lucite-and-brass-drapery-rods

    • Grace
      Posted at 01:46h, 22 February

      Oh wow, Ashley! So cool! Thank you so much for reading! G

  • Jie Morris
    Posted at 11:01h, 06 March

    I love your blog! I need a 10 foot rod. Do you know a way to connect to rod together?
    Thanks!!!

    • Grace
      Posted at 08:06h, 08 March

      Hi Jie, I am doing a post soon on this very problem! But if you can’t wait, email me at submissions@astoriedstyle.com, and I will give you the scoop! Thanks so much for reading!

  • Jessica
    Posted at 20:21h, 11 March

    Hi Grace! Love your blog and this post! Your room looks awesome! I would love to do this in my little girl’s nursery however I’m trying to figure out the brackets. I was searching for the ones you posted about from West Elm but havent been able to find just brackets. Yours look like those used with the “Oversized Metal Rod”. Is this what you used??
    Thanks so much!

    • Grace
      Posted at 22:39h, 13 March

      Hi Jessica, thank you so much for reading and taking the time to comment! Yes, I did use the brackets from West Elm – they used to sell them individually, but I think they only sell them with the rods now – bummer! I would just search Ebay for them or fins another pair you like and order the size of rod accordingly. Hope that helps! G

  • Melissa Clark
    Posted at 15:40h, 26 March

    Hi Jessica! Your blog is gorgeous! I love this idea and can’t wait to give it a go!!! I have a question for you, I need 14 ft. This means that I will have to join the rod in the middle with a coupling. In your opinion will that look odd? I was thinking that I would spray paint the coupling gold and the end caps gold. I would also need a support in the middle, probably where the coupling is? I’m thinking it will look okay but wanted your opinion!

    Thanks so much!
    Melissa

    • Grace
      Posted at 21:51h, 26 March

      Hi Melissa, thank you so much for the kind words. 🙂 I am working on a DIY right now that will show you how to connect a long rod, but you will definitely need a support bracket that will hold both rods in place. That means it will need to have some thickness. Keep your eye out, and good luck! Let me know if you have any other questions! xoxo, Grace

  • Tiffany
    Posted at 18:48h, 01 April

    This was such a great post, so informative, honest and helpful! I have loved acrylic rods since Sarah Richardson used them in the episode you pictured above. Nice to know there is an affordable option! Kip sounds like a gem. xo

    • Grace
      Posted at 00:32h, 02 April

      Tiffany, thank you so much! Absolutely, affordability and ease make this project a gem – lots of bang for your buck here. And yes, Kip is awesome. He’s quite the character – I’m actually placing an order with him tomorrow! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. G

  • Jenn
    Posted at 14:20h, 16 April

    Any advice for those of us who need a length over 8 feet? I called Nationwide plastics and it costs $100+ to have them insert a screw so that you can connect two rods together, plus the cost of two rods (one 6ft. and one 8ft). That makes the cost almost as high as acrylic. I deperately want this look for my dining room and would greatly appreciate any ideas you have!

    • Grace
      Posted at 01:59h, 17 April

      Hi Jenn, thank you so much for inquiring. Solution: since you need 14 feet, how about making both rods seven feet, using a center support bracket that goes all the way around the rod and has some thickness to it, and joining the rods via acrylic glue? Ask Kip at Nationwide Plastics about it. I think if you have good support in the center, you should be fine using the glue. Hope that helps and please let me know if you need anything else! Also, keep your eye out on the blog – I am working on a new acrylic rod tutorial right now where I am joining two rods and making my own brackets! Thank you so much for reading and for your comment, Grace

  • Nikki
    Posted at 08:53h, 17 April

    Oh my goodness… you are an absolute genius! This is so practical yet gorgeous!

    • Grace
      Posted at 22:32h, 17 April

      Nikki, yay! I’m so glad you like the tutorial, let me know if you need anything else, and I would love to see a pic if you use it in your home! Thank you so much for reading and taking the time to comment. G

  • Melissa
    Posted at 16:04h, 19 April

    Love the rods– so excited about using this for my bay window. Only prob is that I need an 11ft rod. Do you know if they cut a rod in that length even if I have to buy 16ft of rod?

    • Grace
      Posted at 00:52h, 22 April

      Hi Melissa, they can only get rods in 8 foot lengths. I would just have them cut two rods 5.5 feet long and join them in the middle using acrylic glue (ask Kip about it) and a center support that is wide enough to cover the seam where the rods come together. On April 29th, I’m updating my tutorial with a new design. Check it out – I think it might help you! Please let me know if you need anything else. Thanks so much for reading! G

  • Ashley
    Posted at 19:37h, 24 April

    Hi Grace, Thank for sharing this information. I have wanted acrylic rods for quite some time and like you shy away because of the price. Just wondering if the cellcast is completely solid then could you possibly drill a hole to attach drapery rods that are can be twisted on by a screw? Not sure if Kip mentioned anything to you about drilling and if it was recommended? Thanks again for your wonderful post! I am looking forward to the April 29th blog post!

    • Grace
      Posted at 07:40h, 25 April

      Hi Ashley, it is completely solid so I don’t know why that wouldn’t work. I’m assuming you are talking about putting finials in the ends, yes? If you did that, I would just be careful that your screw doesn’t come out too far to where you can see it at the end of the rod since the rod is clear. Does that make sense? Hope that helps! G

  • Shel
    Posted at 20:56h, 03 May

    SO excited about my new curtain rods, thanks to your genius! One caveat, though…I can’t find any brackets for under $20 each. As far as I can tell, West Elm only sells the ones you feature here as a set with the matching rods. My curtains are ready and I’m driving over to Dallas to pick the rods up next week, so I’m racking my creative, albeit impatient, brain for another option. Any suggestions or should I just bite the bullet on the $40 per window cost since I’m already saving a bundle? (Can you tell that I’m already rehearsing my “justification speech” for the hubs?)
    Thanks ever so much, love your blog!
    Shel

    • Grace
      Posted at 18:56h, 05 May

      Hi Shel, I’m so glad you are doing this! Please send me a photo of when they are done! I have been wanting to post a roundup of folks who have used the tutorial. As far as brackets, hmmm….have you tried Bed Bath & Beyond or Target? They may have something you can paint like I did mine if you don’t like the color, or you may even like them as is! I’m so sad West Elm doesn’t sell those brackets separately anymore. Good luck! Thanks so much for your comment, G

  • Nina
    Posted at 11:09h, 14 May

    OMG I am exstatic about finding your blog post. I’ve seen the same expensive curtain rods and thought they were another item on my dream list until now!!! Woohoo! You just don’t know how happy you’ve made me with this discovery. 😀 THANKS to the 10th power. lol

    • Grace
      Posted at 09:42h, 16 May

      Nina, you are welcome to the 10th power! 🙂 I hope you do it and love it! Send me photos! Thanks for reading, G

  • Anonymous
    Posted at 10:02h, 12 June

    This is brilliant! I’m doing this!!

  • Shel
    Posted at 11:38h, 12 June

    I finally got all the pieces together to install ours, and am SO very pleased with the turnout. Preston from Nationwide Plastics was a doll to work with, and oh so patient with me on the phone and in person. I had Nationwide polish the ends of the rods so that no finial or endcap is necessary, and found simple, clean lined brackets to fit the 1.5″ diameter rods online at http://www.buycurtainrod.com. JoAnn had lovely, modern 2″ rings that took a jif to sew to the tops of my sheers, so I did that this morning. The only things left to do are to rub n’ buff the brackets (they are a dark bronze now, but will be brass by the time I’m finished), touch up wall paint and stitch a few hems here and there, but I promise to send pics when they are a done deal. Thank you for this fantastic post, Grace…you saved me a ton of trial and error angst!

    • Grace
      Posted at 06:28h, 14 June

      Shel! Yay! I’m so happy for you! Send me a photo, I’m serious! 🙂 G

  • Jeannine @ Small & Chic Home
    Posted at 08:12h, 14 June

    You know this is going to be huge, right? People are going to be referencing this blog post for YEARS. I hope Kip is ready for the deluge…and sends you a nice thank you! 🙂

    • Grace
      Posted at 21:19h, 14 June

      Jeannine, awwww, thanks! I hope you use it at some point – send me a pic! And yes, Kip loves me. 😉 Thanks so much for your comment, G

  • Leslie
    Posted at 19:04h, 27 June

    Thank you so much!! Great info! I will be doing my basement stair rail!

    • Grace
      Posted at 18:31h, 30 June

      Leslie, oh my word, I DREAM of a rail like this! I would love to see a photo when you are done, please send me one!

  • kristine
    Posted at 12:43h, 16 July

    I am going to give this a whirl! However, I’m curious when you say you like to hang curtains 6-10 inches out of frame do you mean on either side? My window is 42″ wide (with frame) and I was thinking of going out 6 inches on either side. Will that work? thanks! kristine0831@gmail.com

    • Grace
      Posted at 03:29h, 17 July

      Kristine, yes! I think you should be good to go if you are out six inches on either side. Good luck! Make sure to tell Kip I sent you, and send me a photo of your finished product! I think you will LOVE them!

      • kristine
        Posted at 08:02h, 17 July

        Will do…thank you! BTW the pic you have of your curtains it doesn’t look like you came out that far… as the hardware is about an inch over from the side of the molding/frame and then the rod extends about 3 inches is that right or am I seeing things wrong? thanks again

        • Grace
          Posted at 10:23h, 17 July

          Ha! Yes, good eye! Actually, my rods were too short the first time so I moved them to the dining room and got longer ones for this room. They’re the appropriate size now. 🙂 Ya caught me, ha. 😉

          • kristine
            Posted at 15:26h, 17 July

            lol funny i’m a stickler for these things b/c I’ve been inspired and copied so much of what I see from pics I see on various design blogs and I don’t want to mess anything up (just trying to emulate as close as possible 😉

          • Grace
            Posted at 09:01h, 24 July

            I understand. 🙂

          • kristine
            Posted at 13:49h, 23 July

            me again… so I found beautiful brackets on restoration hardware (on sale!) and not sure what diameter to get (I emailed RH and was told they come in 1.77″ inside diameter (medium) or 2.5″ (large)).. curious with the 1 1/2 inch rod you got what size bracket did you purchase? I’m worried the 1.77 medium would fit too snugly and if I get the 2.5″ diameter there would be too much room (with a 1 1/2 rod) I suppose I could get the 2″ rod but that would be more $$

            http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1224031&categoryId=cat1542019&src=rel

          • Grace
            Posted at 09:12h, 24 July

            I think I got the 1.77, and it is not too snug! Hope that helps! Can’t wait to see. 🙂

  • Amerimum
    Posted at 20:22h, 23 July

    Absolutely brilliant and ever so clever! I’m am going to use your acrylic idea for a beach house project I’m working on. Love how outside of the box you think; right up my ally. Looking forward to the next pearl of wisdom! Thanks!

    • Grace
      Posted at 09:14h, 24 July

      Hello Christina! I’m so glad you like the idea. It really is such a great budget DIY. Tons of impact! I’d love to see photos when you are done! Let me know if you need anything else.

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    Posted at 13:51h, 17 August

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  • Kristine
    Posted at 07:31h, 19 August

    I finally completed the project! They look amazing! I can send u pics or I have two pics up on Pinterest search “astoriedstyle.com” lucite curtain rod’ as I mention you in the description. I can’t seem to post here in comments.

    Thanks
    Kristine Pfeiffer- Di Nardo

  • Steph
    Posted at 15:27h, 30 August

    Hi Grace,
    I loved this article on the lucite rods! I thought this might be a good solution to an issue that I having with choosing a rod for triple windows in my dining room. The oversized crown moulding actually meets up with the window trim, leaving me wondering where best to hang the curtain rod. I was thinking a lucite rod might not take away from the beautiful moulding. (The only problem is that the windows are 104″ wide.)

    I wondering if I posted a photo of my dining room, if you could me your opinion or any other ideas.

    • Grace
      Posted at 23:23h, 02 September

      Hi Steph, thank you, glad you enjoyed it! Sounds like you have a plan, but you are more than welcome to email me a photo, I would be happy to look at it! Send it to submissions @ astoriedstyle .com. Also, since you have more than eight feet in width, you are going to have to get two rods and join them in the middle. Hope that helps! G

  • Kristine
    Posted at 20:41h, 26 September

    What are all these weird replies these spammers keep putting up here? So annoying.

    • Grace
      Posted at 21:54h, 30 September

      Kristine, UGH, you have no idea! They are like fingers on a chalkboard to me. I have parameters in place to stop them, but they infiltrate them! Another blogger I recently met was telling me she pays someone to delete them for her, but I am not quite that cool yet. It is just me here trying to keep up as fast as I can! I’m so sorry, just ignore them. 🙁

  • Amy
    Posted at 01:55h, 17 January

    Hi Grace, love what you did! I love the lucite look and I am currently doing a DIY rod. I am having trouble finding a 1-1/2″ rod bracket…. That is affordable. I don’t mind the finish because I can spray paint it by it is very hard to find the correct size. Can you please recommend any sites?

    • Grace
      Posted at 11:41h, 17 January

      Hi Amy, thank you so much! I’m glad you like the tutorial – when you call Kip, tell him I say “hey”. 😉 I have actually run into the same thing since West Elm does not sell their brackets separately anymore. I have been using the large size Restoration Hardware brass brackets, and they are BEAUTIFUL. They run sales quite often, and they are usually about $40-$45 dollars a pair.

      http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1224031&categoryId=cat1542020

      The rod is a tad small for the bracket, but you can use the little screw that comes with the bracket to make sure it fits tightly, and it works great!

      Hope that helps, send me a pic when you are done! 🙂 G

      • Amy
        Posted at 15:22h, 17 January

        Thanks for the prompt response Grace! I will send pictures as soon as I get my room ready. I just moved to a new house and the bedroom is the first to get the rods… Then the whole house! Haha. I love the brackets from RH! Appreciate the recommendation!

        • Grace
          Posted at 16:22h, 18 January

          Amy, you are so welcome! Can’t wait to see it!

  • Kelley
    Posted at 19:44h, 27 January

    Hi,
    Love this idea, thank you so much! I’ve just ordered my curtain rod and also curtain brackets through Restoration Hardware. I also had a hard time finding brackets that fit 1 1/2″ rods. FYI, Nationwide Plastics also makes 1 3/4″ rods, which should fit the large size Restoration Hardware brackets. Also, anyone looking for the West Elm brackets, there do seem to be a fair number of them available on Ebay (as of this writing 1/2014).

    Nationwide Plastics was very nice. I live in Southern California and thought there must be someone local here that makes these, but every place I called made 6′ max and was more expensive that Nationwide Plastics (even accounting for shipping costs).

    Thanks again for the great idea! Can’t wait to see it all put together!

    • Grace
      Posted at 00:24h, 28 January

      Hi Kelley, oh, I am so glad! I also buy the RH brackets now, and I have loved them! They will fit the 1.5″ rods, but the 1.75″ would work great too. The brackets have a screw to tighten so the 1.5″ will fit, and I actually have both sizes. They all look beautiful! I’m so glad you talked to Kipp, everyone has been super happy with their rods and with Nationwide Plastics. Please send me a photo when you are done, I would love to see it! G

  • Barbara
    Posted at 09:00h, 01 February

    Can you tell me the specific curtain brackets from West Elm that you purchased for the acrylic curtain rods?

  • Sarah
    Posted at 12:42h, 10 February

    Can I reach through the monitor and hug you??!! You saved me so much time! I live in the DFW area, and am so excited to get my acrylic rod! Just ordered with Nationwide. Question-I’m getting an 88″ rod. Do you think I will need a bracket in the middle? I was trying to estimate how wide yours was. Thanks!

    • Grace
      Posted at 12:59h, 10 February

      Hi Sarah! We’re hugging. 😉 Nationwide is awesome, tell Kipp I said “hey”. Yes, I think you will want a bracket in the middle. Mine are about six feet, and I didn’t have a bracket at first, but I eventually got one to make sure the rods stayed safe and level. Hope that helps! Send me a pic when you are done! 🙂 xo, G

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