Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Tension Rod Love

Per request: How I use tension rods in my kitchen. Jules recently posted about tension rods used in drawers for a DIY shoe organizer, and that's where the rabbit trail started. One of her readers saw my comment and emailed me wondering how exactly I used them in my kitchen.

I actually mentioned this set-up briefly back in '09, but here's a picture of their current status. As you can see, I've added more rods and it's turned an otherwise ordinary cabinet into a clang-free zone. I know it sounds dumb, but I say a silent 'thank goodness' almost every time I open this cupboard door; that's how much I love the tension rod organizational set-up!
Each rod is about 5 Euro at Obi, but they are pretty much worth their weight in gold considering how multipurpose they are! I first got the idea to do this after seeing it in a Martha Stewart magazine; the project is online here. I recently completed a project in my office using tension rods and hope to be using one in a bathroom-related project shortly.

Any other tension rod lovers out there? What do you use them for?

PS- yes, I'm a dork for making a collage about tension rods. But aren't the elephants cute? =)

9 comments :

Allison said...

It's totally O.K. to geek out from time to time. Love the Ikea tray... I've been trying to figure out how to make blue work in my kitchen. No luck yet.

Great idea with the tension rods.

Monica said...

Nice! Real nice! I have been thinking about re-arranging some of my kitchen cabinets and this could work in one of mine. Off to ponder...

Valentina Fussell said...

This is such a great idea! I'm going to tuck it away in case I ever have cabinets again! I have all drawers in my kitchen and bathroom!

Jules said...

I have that IKEA tray! And I think I forgot to reply to your comment (bad blogger), so I'll do it here. That is a GREAT idea. I will have to borrow it from you. (And give you credit, of course.) :)

tracey said...

uh, well now I think I may have to try this as we just moved and I have this horrible tall cabinet that is basically useless. I shoved my cookie sheets and trays up there but they are "clanging" around. I need to say "thank goodness" every time I open the door!

Anonymous said...

i own two of ikea's expedits. expedits are cubical bookshelves in grid formation and each shelf is pretty deep. i can see how tension rods can help organize some of my things. you (and martha) are ever so clever. :)

pippa said...

Aha! You can buy tension rods in Germany (and hopefully Austria too!). What on earth is the German name for them so that I can ask for them at my local Obi and Bauhaus?

Juliette said...

Thanks guys!
@Pippa: I'm not 100% sure. I do the describe-what-it-is game (aka Taboo) ALL the time in Obi and usually come out with what I need, LOL. For what it's worth, the online dictionaries tell me the term could be 'Stangenanker'or 'Zuganker'. Good luck!

Barbara in Erfurt said...

Hi, I subscribe to apartmenttherapy and there was a great article about the 15 uses for tension rods. Not so easy to find in Germany, but they are called Spannstangen and/or Telekopstangen.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/15-renters-uses-for-tension-rods-you-never-thought-of-205929?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DAILY+--+71714+15+Uses+for+Tension+Rods+Youve+Never+Thought+Of&utm_content=DAILY+--+71714+15+Uses+for+Tension+Rods+Youve+Never+Thought+Of+CID_923928b93ba40b395e91a5b000dd57c7&utm_source=email_newsletter&utm_term=Go%20to%20full%20post

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