Curtain Tracks & Rods
Custom curtain tracks and rods made to measure for New Zealand homes, with expert advice on the right fit for your windows.
Custom Curtain Tracks and Rods for New Zealand Homes
The right track or rod is just as important as the curtain itself. It supports the weight of the fabric, controls how the curtain hangs and moves, and quietly shapes the overall look of the window.
At McKenzie & Willis, we offer a full range of curtain tracks and rods to suit every heading style, window size and interior, from discreet recessed tracks to decorative timber and metal rods. Each one is measured, made and fitted to suit your home.
Tracks or Rods: What's the Difference?
The simplest way to think about it is visibility. A track offers a seamless, discreet finish, while a rod becomes a visible part of the overall look. Both work beautifully, and the right choice comes down to the style of your home, the weight of your curtains and where the hardware needs to be mounted.
Curtain Track
Tracks sit quietly in the background, letting the fabric do the talking. They suit contemporary interiors, wide spans and ceiling or recessed mounting, and they can be bent to follow bay windows, corner windows and curved walls. Tracks can handle a wide variety of curtains, from heavy weight fabrics through to light weight sheers, including double systems where a sheer hangs with a separate lining or a lined curtain.
Curtain Rod
Rods are a decorative choice, intended to be on show above the curtains. They range from slim profiles suited to contemporary interiors, through to larger diameter more imposing designs. Each end of a rod is finished with a final, which can be as simple as a discreet cap, or, for a more dramatic look, a larger decorative shape designed to add to the overall décor of a room. Every style of curtain heading works on a rod and sits without tilting, giving a tailored and stylish finish. Rods can be fitted with built-in glides, or with rings that the curtains hook onto.
The Right Track or Rod for Your Heading Style
The fabric and heading style you choose plays a big part in deciding which track or rod is right for your windows. Not every heading works with every type of hardware, so choosing the two together ensures a finished result that looks beautiful and works well every day. Some headings, such as a Serpentine Wave require a specialised track to create the folds, other heading styles work equally well on both rods and tracks. Your consultant will guide you through the options to find the right pairing for your home.
Mounting Options
Wall Mounted
The most flexible option, with the track or rod fixed above the window at the height that suits the room. We can mount tracks and rods anywhere from the architrave to just below the ceiling, allowing for subtle adjustment of lengths. Wall mounted tracks and rods work in almost any situation.
Ceiling Mounted
This mounting draws the eye upward and makes a room feel taller, giving windows a sense of scale from ceiling to floor. The curtain hardware becomes something discreet, allowing the beauty of the curtains to be the hero. It is ideal for bedrooms where a more blackout effect is required, as it virtually eliminates light leaking from above the curtains. It is also the solution where windows sit close to the ceiling with no wall space above for a bracket.
Recessed
These sit within the ceiling itself for a flush, barely visible finish. They are a popular choice in architecturally designed new builds and are best specified early so the track can be incorporated into the building plans.
Pelmet or Ceiling Recessed
These conceal the track from view entirely. A pelmet is a shallow box fitted above the window, while a ceiling recess is a channel built into the ceiling above it, with the curtain hanging beneath for a neat finish. The curtain heading is hidden from view allowing the curtain fabric folds to fall below. Both options provide superior light blocking characteristics, so ideal in bedrooms.
The Right Track or Rod for your Home
Your homes architecture and ceiling height plays a significant part in determining the best track or rod for your home, as does your personal decorating style. As well as an extensive variety of styles to select from, the McKenzie and Willis range offers a large range of colours and finishes; including custom painted, gold and silver washes, metallic bronze, brass or pewter, or even special powder coating colours. Your consultant will help you select the right style and size to balance between the scale of your room, the look you’re wating to create and the practicality of what works for you and your family.
Double Tracks for Layered Curtains
A double track or double rod system lets you hang two curtains at the same window, either a sheer at the front with a lining behind, or a lined curtain on the front and a sheer behind. It is a very popular option for New Zealand homes, as it allows filtered light and daytime privacy with the sheer drawn, and warmth and darkness when the lined curtain is closed.
Double systems can be wall mounted or fixed to the ceiling, and most heading styles work on both the front and rear track. Your consultant will recommend the right combination for your fabrics and window size.
Hand Drawn, Cord Drawn and Motorised
Hand Drawn
The simplest option, with curtains opened and closed by gently drawing them by hand. Most tracks and rods can have curtain wands fitted, which are long, thin rods and these can assist with drawing the curtains open and closed.
Cord Drawn
Tracks are operated using a cord at the side, so the curtains move without the fabric being handled. This helps keep curtains looking their best over time, and it is a practical choice for tall windows, wide spans, or where access to the window is limited. The curtains also cross over each other a little at the centre, giving a better level of closure.
Automation
Tracks and rods can be operated by remote, wall switch, app or voice control. Automation is available with wired motors, including those that integrate with home automation, or Li-ion rechargeable motors that need no wiring. In many instances, the same control can operate both curtains and blinds in the same room.