H-Rail vs. Cylinder Pole Hardware
If you are looking to “up the ante,” as far as hardware goes, decorative hardware opens a whole other world to the designer or hotel owner. There are almost too many variables to consider, so simplest starting point in your consideration of decorative hardware is the actual type of pole you will be using; the Cylinder Pole or the H-Rail Pole.
JW Marriott, San Francisco, CA | Cylinder Poles on Grommet Tip Drapes
Cylinder Pole
The cylinder pole is the traditional version of decorative hardware most commonly used, especially in a residential space. A cylinder pole is exactly as it sounds a straight cylinder that is installed either ceiling mounted or wall mounted above the window. The cylinder pole has no carriers and so requires the treatment to be hung upon it in three main ways which you can choose based on your design intent:
Grommeted drapes (see JW Marriott image above), which are finished at the top with grommet holes through which the cylinder pole is inserted.
Tab top drapery (see pleat style resource card for a description) is finished with fabric loops along the top hem of the drape thru which the cylinder pole runs.
Lastly, there are cylinder pole rings outfitted with either eyelets or clips (see image below) to accommodate hook hung drapery or ripplefold drapery.
H-Rail
This option is kind of a hybrid between a traditional decorative/cylinder pole look and the attachment of drapery in traditional hardware. The H-rail pole gains its name from the internal shape seen when a cross section is cut from it (Figure A). The H-rail pole allows for carriers to be inserted into the pole and a traditional hardware connection to be made with the drapery. Pinch pleat and/or ripplefold carriers can be used enabling any type of pleat style.
A Few Notes…
Both types of decorative hardware pole can be either wall or ceiling mounted and the ends can accommodate any type of finials or inside mount brackets (used if the hardware is to run into a wall). Take a look at our Hardware Styles Resource Card, downloadable below.
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