Design: Rotator Rod — The Space Saving Shower Rod
Materials: Stainless steel rod, Chrome or Brushed Nickel Plating, Molded Plastic/Nylon
Designer: Colleen O'Connell
Link: RotatorRod.com
Location: Sarasota, Florida
Price Point: The basic Original Rotator Rod, with a Shiny Ceramic White finish is $59.99. Upgraded Cap finishes are also available in Bright Chrome and Brushed Nickel.
"Small bathrooms just got bigger! They say necessity is the mother of invention and this was true for the Rotator Rod. When I downsized I found myself wrestling with the shower curtain every morning, so I installed a curved shower curtain rod, like the ones I had seen hotels."
"It worked great and my shower space felt bigger and brighter! BUT, the curve came out so far that it cramped the rest of the bathroom. So I set out to solve the problem — with Gatorade caps nailed to the wall and using lots of glue and wire, I created one that would move out of the way when it wasn’t in use. The first Rotator Rod was born. It’s come a long way since then, but now, anyone can expand space in or out of the shower with a simple ‘flip’ of the rod — no glue required. Oh, and this may be the best part — now, when wet towels or bathing suits are hung over the shower rod, they drip into the tub, and not on the floor."
STUDIO TOUR
This is where most of the activity takes place. It’s half storefront and half warehouse. In the left foreground you can see there’s a desk where mundane business is carried out. Opposite that on the right is the Design Testing Center. Right now a new design for the Accent Ball is being tested for it’s ease of installation. So far, it looks great but needs more work on the function side.
FAVORITE DESIGNER
My favorite designer is Lois Walpole. I’m fascinated when materials or objects are reused in unexpected ways and Lois is a master. Her media comes from the jungle to the junk yard and the results are beautiful and useful and incredibly creative. Her roots in basketry shine through no matter what material she’s using or what the end result may be. As much as I enjoy their aesthetics, for me, thinking about where the component parts and pieces have been makes them even more special.
FAVORITE DESIGN
Choosing a favorite piece by Lois is difficult but I love this bookshelf because it’s unique — putting square books in a round frame and, who makes anything out of a wetsuit? I love that!
• View Colleen's original entry with comments
• Design Showcase 2010 Judges
• Go to 2010 Design Showcase Main Page
- 3 finalist entries will be posted on Monday, 9/27 (no voting yet)
- 3 more finalist entries will be posted on Tuesday, 9/28 (no voting yet)
- VOTING BEGINS on Wednesday, 9/29 at 11:30 am EST with an announcement
- VOTING CLOSES on Friday, 10/1 at 5:00 pm EST
- Two winners will be chosen: 1 judge favorite and 1 crowd favorite
- WINNERS ANNOUNCED on Friday
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Finally, a clever practical affordable idea that a real person can use.
Where is the 'Vote' button? I can only seem to post a comment . . .
Yes to the clever Floridian!!!!!
The Rotator Rod was the one where many of the comments were "oh, this is such a lovely idea, but I've owned one for years." How original is this product...really?
I am sorry, I don't get it. It's at BB&B -- agree with above poster, how original is this?
I realize that you have seen many shower rods that are arched to provide more space, but this one "rotates" for more OR less space!!! That is the difference!
For a product that is already available at hsn, amazon, skymall just to name a few commercial sites, does it even belong in this contest?
As-seen-on-TV infomercial? Yes. Design Showcase Finalist? No.
This is very innovative and it more movable that some of the other types that are out there on the market. Besides, if the other rods were alike then this company would not have saw fit to add it in the competition. I think it's different and of better design and quality and should be in the competition more so than some of the other items. To those that are negative nay-sayers DON'T HATE!!!!!
makeda_nreese@hotmail.com
This is a very original idea. It maximizes space in both the shower and the bathroom. It looks easy to install and quite durable. The price premium is small compared with a high quality curved shower rod. One can rotate the rod and close the curtain when not in use which hides all the shampoo bottles, cracked tiles, etc. in the shower, when the bathroom is being used by guests during, for example, a party. A great product! What idea does this inventor have next?
"What idea does this inventor have next?"
Hopefully something that someone else hasn't invented yet. That would be refreshing.
:P
i'm in!
for the haters: what she did was to improve on something to make it more useful. it's pretty simple, actually.
A little too simple.
The other designers made the effort to create original designs.
I just saw this rod on sale at TJ Maxx for $15.00!
I didn't know they were already in production.
I am thrilled with my Rotator Rod. My small bathroom is so functional now and elegant thanks to the smart design. Living in a small space is challenging and when a new product comes out to make your life easier with what you have to work with is oh so sweet!!
Lori, are you being paid to push the Fraud Rod?
Dearest Gordon: I have used the Rotator Rod and it really does save space as advertised. The fact that Colleen has in fact sold quite a few of these and people have been very satisfied attests to the Rotator Rod being a very good product. Your last name obviously isn't Gekko because you don't seem to have much business sense at all.. I don't have a problem with the "Bottles of Hope" as I think it is a very innovative idea... I do however wonder about the feasibility of his business idea with a $2,500 price tag. (But I hope I am wrong and wish Peter Sid the best!) You however have WAY too much time on your hands and might want to find a hobby (or actually invent something yourself) rather that picking on a product (that works well) and its designer who has worked EXCEPTIONALLY hard to get this far! Good day to you!
Kevin V
This is the dumbest invention I have ever seen. People actually pay for this?
I know Colleen O'Connell she is an idiot. Now she is scamming the public with something that has already been invented?
This is definately a fast rich scheme.. another idiot in coleen oconner trying some stupid get rich scheme