apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

The secret is to have a very light, high tension wire that won't droop and which will smoothly allow cloth to pass across the top (aircraft cable is coated in plastic. Perfect!).

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We use:

1. aircraft cable

2. Turnbuckles

3. Wire rope clips

4. and regular screw in hooks with anchor to match the composition of the wall

None of these ingredients are hard to find, nor are they expensive, and the cable needs to be cut with a small cable cutter, which you can buy or have done at the store.

1. site your line and mark two level holes for the hooks
2. drill hole, push in anchor, screw in hooks (for big expanses use mushroom anchors)
3. make loop at one end of cable and secure with wire rope clip
4. expand turnbuckle and attach to other hook
4. stretch cable to turnbuckle and cut cable, leaving 6" excess
5. take turnbuckle down and secure cable through one end with rope clip
6. pull cable up with turnbuckle and attach to hook
7. tighten turnbuckle until cable is rigid

After doing this and testing your anchors, you are ready to trim down any excess cable and slip your curtains or panels onto the wire. Enjoy!

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(ReEdited from 2004-08-17 - mgr)