French Style Curtain Poles
French style curtain poles are wrought iron curtain poles with bends that allow the curtain or curtains to return to the wall. Known as a French return, this minimises light and draft leakage and so manages to be both practical and charming at the same time! We prefer a clean and simple provincial style, with the plate having a proper capture ring to retain the curtain rather than the improvised grub screw commonly found elsewhere.
By the way, we are one of the very, very few businesses who really can make bespoke Bay Window poles and Double straight poles with French returns!
Above: French Curtain pole in Traditional Black with collar detail (16mm)
The current style is without collar.
Above: French return curtain pole without collar (16mm)
Details for 16mm dia French pole:
Length of returns (inside distance between pole and wall) can be specified from 100mm to 150mm.
The fixing plates’ dimensions are approx 100 mm x 40 mm. The pole returns sit in the centre of the bracket plates which gives 20mm from the edges of bracket plate to pole and screw hole centres.
25mm diameter French poles:
This is the most popular and practical size for French poles; they have approx 100 x 40mm fixing plates too. French poles in 25mm are by default supplied in two pieces and joined together with a spigot.
If you prefer, French curtain poles can also be made with a simple, plain fixing plate…without the hammered corner detail. (25mm dia pole shown here)
French style bay window pole. A 25mm dia pole with return bends and ceiling fix within the bay, soon to be wrapped and ready for our customer.
Centre Joining Bracket for a 16mm diameter French curtain pole (100mm projection) in Beeswax.
How to give measurements for French Poles
For French Bay Window Poles, once you’ve measured your bay window, let us know where you’d like the bracket plates located.
Double French Curtain Poles (main pole with voile rod)
“Hi Stephen, I ordered this pole from you last year and had sent a photo at the time when I just had voiles up which I’ve seen you’ve popped in your website. Well now I have had the curtains made and hung and I can fully appreciate the beautiful french pole now! It’s fantastic. I love it so much. Here are some photos showing both poles put to use. I used antique french linen sheets for the curtaining with a Tailored Pleat and together this looks amazing. Thank you Regards,” … Emma Lovenberry (May 2021)
Double French Pole with 12mm dia Voile Rail
“Hi Stephen, The pole is up! Need to get my curtains made now its up and they can be measured for but here’s a glimpse for now with just the unlined linen sheers! Absolutely love this pole!! It’s perfect! Once the rest of the room is finished I’ll forward further photos. Thank you”…(Emma 2020)
FYI…By default for Double French Curtain Poles, the main curtain pole would be 130mm (gap) from the wall with the 12mm diameter Voile rail at 28mm (gap) from the wall. (if you have window frames or sills to accomodate, please see below). There are options.
The minimum wall offset difference for the voile rail and the main pole is 90mm. e.g. If the main pole is offset at 150mm, the maximum offset for the voile rail would be 60mm.
Double French poles have a 25mm diameter main pole with a 12mm diameter Voile rail.
French pole fitting guidance
Fitting a French pole is ideally a two man job to ensure the pole is properly supported and located before being fully secured. After positioning on the wall we suggest marking, drilling and fitting screws in the following order for single length poles: 1. Top Left (not fully, to allow movement for levelling) , 2. Top Right 3. Bottom Left 4. Bottom Right.
For 16mm poles with Centre Joining Brackets you’ll need to position the Centre bracket before the other pole half. You’ll probably need to allow some movement to locate both pole halves before fully tightening the screws. Once you’re happy with everything you’ll need to carefully remove and refit once more to add rings.
French style curtain poles ordering and prices
Please view our prices here.
Information on ordering can be found on the Ordering page here, but you can just drop us an email with your requirements.
We’d need to know…
- Pole diameter (25mm or 16mm)
- The distance between bracket centres for the pole
- The Main Pole offset (gap between pole and wall), 100mm, 150mm or 200mm (25mm dia only).
- The finish (Black (25mm and 16mm), Pewter or Beeswax (16mm only)
- For Double French poles consider the Voile rail offset if you need to clear a window frame, window sill, etc. Please advise us of any specific requirements.
“Hello again, just wanted to drop a quick note to say how thankful we are for the poles that we received last week. They went up yesterday and we are delighted with them” Mandy (Nov 2022) …
