Curtain rail brackets.

[plasticpigeon]

Yes, I thought they looked a bit high too, but it was that position or on the architrave as the picture rail is in the way to mount them lower on the wall!!! The misalignment of the picture rail is to cope with subsidence!!!!

 

[JoceAndChris]

Well done, a steal, good to get something up especially these chilly days, and you can always upgrade if you want.

Agree placement is about 1.5 inches too high but it really looks fine so I wouldn't bother changing.

 

[LadyArowana]

A good job, and the curtains were a steal ( would never have guessed if you hadn't said they were cheap ones! ).

 

[angrybird]

I love the toned down brass look it looks far more in keeping, how did you achieve that?

 

[plasticpigeon]

So the general consensus is that the brackets would be better lower. That is ok, this is my experimenting room, that I intend to rip apart in 5 years or so as everything in this room went quite badly, particularly the rebuilt brickwork over the arch and the plastering on the ceiling. 2 awful tradesmen!

However, since the picture rail is coincident with the top of the architrave, the only way to move the brackets lower would be to chop out a small section of picture rail next to the architrave and either mount the bracket on the wall in the gap, or I think preferably, insert a block of wood in the gap and screw the bracket to the wood. What do people think?? I need to get this right in the other 2 bedrooms.

Angrybird, I used some antiquing solution, it seems to quickly tarnish the brass. Apparently it is quite poisonous, but definitely works!!!!

http://www.restoration-materials.co.uk/www.restoration-materials.gbr.cc/info.php?p=6&cat=31349

Thanks all.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Don't change the height--I doubt that it even shows when you are in the room and certainly not when the curtains are closed!! Given an unobstructed fixing I usually place poles 'by eye' itt's easy to see if it looks ok! Good luck with the next lot!!

 

[Feltwell]

I had a similar problem, but as I was getting the brackets & pole custom made by a blacksmith I got him to make the brackets to suit. In my case it was windows sitting directly beneath heavy cornicing, and I really didn't want to cut the cornice. A centre bracket was made to a T shape - on this old post:-

http://periodproperty.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9837&hilit=blacksmith+bracket+curtain

I can't really tell from your pictures, but is it possible to mount the brackets upside down if they fully encircle the pole? Clearly not an option if they are open cups!

Alternatively, could they be heated and twisted sideways, so the screws fall behind the line of the pole? Providing the pole could go in after the brackets are attached to the wall - or that the angle is such that you could still drive the screws in past the pole.

 

[JoceAndChris]

I agree the bracket is too big. I'd use these, and mount them adjoining the picture rail.

http://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/ProductDetail/5279/25mm-Brass-Centre-Bracket

I know I said put curtain poles higher into the dead light than you might think but when you've got walls cutting across like that they're better a bit lower in my opinion, but as the others said, wouldn't bother to alter it now.

 

[Lime]

The brackets look fine to me.
To look right the brackets need to be mounted over the picture rail.
There are three ways to do it using the brackets you have.

1. Shape 2 wooden blocks to fit over the picture rail large enough to take the length of the brackets and screw the wooden blocks to the wall next to the window surround. Screw the bracket to the wooden block. You can make the blocks decorative if you possess a router or are good with wood tools. However if the blocks are skilfully painted the same colour/s as the background or window frame you will hardly notice them.

2. Use metal, wood or plastic spacers (as long as the picture rail protrudes from the wall) on each screw under the brackets. I'd make the spacers out of junk. My junk boxes hold 1000s of items that may come in useful in such a situation. Alternatively large doweling with a hole drilled down the centre may also do the job.

3. Cut 2 sections out of the picture rail and screw the brackets to the wall. Not recommended not least because the rail may not be fixed to the wall well enough to support the cut pieces that are left. It also damages the fabric of the house which I will always avoid if I can.

Be aware the distance that each picture rail protrude from the wall may be different.

 

[plasticpigeon]

I could use these next time, but they are really meant for support in the middle of a long pole. The only problem is that being cantilevered on a thin bit of brass I wonder if they'd be strong enough.

It seems to me after all this that curtain poles need to be positioned with respect to the window and not the ceiling. I'm still not sure what the optimal height would be but my eye would suggest just above the top top of the architrave, so about 3" down from where it is now.

 

[Lime]

By coincidence this lunchtime I was standing in the offices of our local council.
Their offices still have many features from two centuries ago.
for instance the chambers used to have gasaliers hung from huge ceiling roses that still have ventilation grills fitted in them.
Also the windows still have massive curtain poles and brackets fitted in exactly the same way in relation to the window frame as in plasticpigeon's photo.

...so there you go.
.....our sense of style isn't the Victorians' style.

 

[plasticpigeon]

Thanks Lime, that is nice to know, I don't feel like I've made a big error now.